During our “Now What?” Months, we’re focusing on providing resources and information to help writers through the revision, editing, and publishing process. Today, Jes D.A., senior editor at Scribendi, a NaNoWriMo sponsor, is here to share some basic editing tips:
Before becoming a senior editor at Scribendi, an online editing and proofreading company headquartered in my hometown, and after completing my first ever NaNoWriMo, I faced a mess of a draft. As I reviewed my work, I was horrified. It was easy enough to give up on the story—and almost NaNoWriMo itself—forever.
This is not a unique situation. Many writers end up frustrated with their drafts (or themselves) after NaNoWriMo, forgetting, after prioritizing writing during November, that the editing stage is just as important as the drafting stage. As noted by Squibler, "Thorough and extensive editing is essential to any novel that makes it to the end of the publishing process."
When I wanted to quit, I had forgotten that NaNoWriMo was only the first step of my journey—that oh-so-important, and arguably most difficult, first step that helps so many writers embark on the stages of writing. But it is far from the only step in the writing journey.
Learned writers know that editing is integral to the writing process. They only allow editing to become a secondary goal to win NaNoWriMo because they know that polishing their writing is a requirement for later. In accepting that quality should always be improved, your imperfect writing can never cause fear. Instead, it feels natural.
As it should. As a professional editor and writer for over five years, I have never seen a manuscript that couldn't be massively improved upon. This is not a reflection of the quality of writing but rather shows just how powerful editing is. And how necessary it is.
Still, NaNoWriMo editing can be a daunting journey, what with so many words to improve, and especially after the considerable effort it took to write them in the first place. For that reason (and more to come), it is an excellent idea to . . .
Wait to Edit
It's a great idea to wait between the writing and editing stages. A long break is essential to ensuring you can read your manuscript anew, which is required for effective editing.
Some fear forgetting their work or its outline, for example, but revising as the writer will be much less helpful for your book than revising from the perspective of an outside editor. Fresh eyes are needed for a real evaluation of the quality of your work and the aspects of it that require improvement.
Stephen King, in On Writing, argues that you should let your manuscript sit for at least six weeks before beginning to edit it. For NaNoWriMo participants, this means you should wait until at least mid-January to begin revising your draft. I might argue that the end of February would provide an even fresher perspective. This will give you time for a true break in December and time to plan how you will tackle the editing phase of your NaNoWriMo journey. That means you will also need to . . .
Set Editing Guidelines
Since you are facing such a large draft to edit, it is a good idea to lay out a plan for your NaNoWriMo editing as you likely did for your NaNoWriMo writing. Even if you are a pantser, you had a daily word count goal of 1,667 words per day and the general outline used for all stories (beginning, middle, and end). Plans help to simplify any process, and an editing plan will certainly make the task less daunting.
At one time, NaNoEdMo was created to help writers through this editing process; the event traditionally occurred in March and specified 50 hours of editing time over the month. Choosing a similar goal or a word count-based goal, as you likely did with NaNoWriMo, is an excellent idea. And, as you may know as a NaNoWriMo participant, staying on track can mean the difference between a workable piece and a draft left finished and forgotten forever.
Don't let your manuscript collect dust for too long. Once you have had a proper break and set a schedule, you should get editing. If you're not sure where to start, it's time to . . .
Get Editing Help
Editing can feel like a huge undertaking, especially for larger works. Not knowing where to start is not uncommon, as is true when learning any professional skill. But right here at your NaNoWriMo home, you can find lots of help if you're not sure what to do after finishing your first draft. NaNoWriMo HQ provides "Now What?" resources, forums, and webcasts with advice on both editing and publishing. In addition, NaNoWriMo participants can swap novels for feedback or editing, join writing groups, and seek publishing and self-publishing advice in various NaNoWriMo forums.
There are also many online guidelines for novel editing. Scribendi's author blog, for example, outlines advice from experienced fiction editors and writers at Scribendi. For NaNoWriMo editing participants, "NaNoWriMo: Now What?" provides advice on how to actually begin editing your writing, while "Navigating the Publishing Process: A Guide for New Authors" is a helpful resource for when you're finished editing.
Another way many novelists seek help is by having a professional editor revise their first draft on their behalf. This is a good option for novelists who would like to obtain professional feedback before continuing with the writing process. It is also helpful for writers who simply do not enjoy editing and those who want to begin working on their next story while their current story is being edited.
If you're unsure if external editing would be beneficial for you, a few companies offer a free sample edit. This year, as a NaNoWriMo sponsor, Scribendi offered NaNoWriMo participants a free sample of 2,000 words of editing for their NaNoWriMo novel. If you participated this past year and would like to try editing for yourself, check out Scribendi’s NaNoWriMo free sample.
Onward!
A rough draft is called rough for a reason. It is more than natural for your winning NaNoWriMo manuscript to be a not-so-winning manuscript if you submit it before it is ready.
All novels require editing, and, though it might not always feel like it when the time for editing comes, a bad first draft is a wonderful starting place for writers. Giving yourself a true break and some breathing room away from your novel, setting guidelines for when it comes time to edit, and getting editing help can alleviate this common stress for writers and help them achieve a successful edit.
After all, NaNoWriMo editing can mean the difference between getting published and not, and your story deserves to be shared.
Jes D.A. is a Senior Editor and the Content Marketing Coordinator at Scribendi. She graduated from Western University with an Honors Specialization in Creative Writing and English Language and Literature. Her writing advice has been published on several writing blogs, including Writer’s Digest, and her creative and academic writing has been published in magazines. Jes is also infatuated with the visual arts, and her artwork has been featured in several zines.
