As I finished up editing my first novel, I spent some time considering the different things I was looking for each time I went through a new draft. I came up with a list of five things to focus on during a particular editing stage, and thought this might be helpful for people who spend all their time looking for typos or feel like they're just doing the same thing over and over each time they edit.
Focusing your editing can help keep the editing process (relatively) fresh. It can also help keep you looking for a specific thing each time you re-read your work, which reduces the overwhelming feeling you can sometimes get trying to improve the next draft in too many different ways.
So, without further ado, here is my list, arranged roughly in order of operation (e.g. do #1 first...):
- Character/setting/theme development
Why: You want to make your characters more interesting, your settings more detailed, your themes more consistent and/or subtle
How: Look for places where you use vague language, where something a character cares about is mentioned, where the pace slows, and/or where a thematic element is present. Replace vague language with more detail. Have a character say something or argue about the thing he cares about. Make sure the thematic element is doing what you want it to do--either make it more subtle, make it fit your theme better, or ensure that the counterargument is well-addressed.
You can significantly lengthen a work in this type of editing. However, it's important to watch out and ensure you don't ruin a fast-paced scene with additions right there. Consider finding a slower-paced portion of the story nearby to add those details.
More character interactions is a great way to help the reader feel a connection with them. - Adding plot complications
Why: Does something seem to work out too well or too easily? Consider adding some kind of 'S'-curve to your story where things are just too smooth.
How: An 'S'-curve starts and ends at the same places your original story did, but adds more actions and details in-between, especially actions and details that show how some accomplishment or success wasn't as easy or straightforward as it seems. Create more situations or complications for characters to deal with, showing off their unique skills or talents. Add more temporary setbacks and mistakes, which helps make the characters feel more human and less like supermen. Sometimes these 'S'-curves are also an opportunity for adding action or world-building. - Consistency check
Why: Inconsistencies can be a major source of disbelief for the reader!
How: Re-read your story at a normal pace while thinking about where characters are, what they know, what they believe, and what tools they have. Consider the timings of various events and ensure that they all make sense. Who knows what, and when, and how? Consider transit times when characters need to get from point A to point B--are these consistent? If you have a "magic system," keep your rules on a piece of paper or something nearby as you read.
You'll be reading fast, so don't worry too much about spelling or typos as you go. Those can be handled in a different draft. - Trimming
Why: It's very easy to be overly flowery in points, and tightening language can get rid of duplication as well as improve the pacing of scenes.
How: Read slowly, but not focusing on each word, but rather on combinations of actions or descriptions. Look for the same words popping up near each other, and consider whether you want the same word repeated (sometimes you do) or if you should switch one in order to keep things fresh.
Pay close attention to your faster-paced scenes and consider removing excess or irrelevant descriptions, and tightening and making more vivid the language you use.
Look for adverb-verb combinations and consider replacing them with a more precise verb.
Get rid of redundancies wherever they do not serve a specific purpose. - The most obvious--checking grammar, syntax, diction, typos
Why: These things are jarring to readers and make you look like a fool.
How: Read very slowly. Consider each word and sentence. Don't try to think too much about your plot or characters; right now you're just fixing mistakes.
Do your drafts that focus on this near the end, because all of the previous stages can add or move around material, introducing errors. The editing cycle between the penultimate and final drafts should be one of these.
This list is not exhaustive, of course, but I think it shows a good variety of different editing styles that you want to keep somewhat separate from each other, since you'll be looking at different elements at different scales, and reading at different speeds.
You may have some other things that you like to focus on while editing, so consider how fast you're reading and what you're thinking about as you redraft, and you can come up with some new editing styles for yourself.
Specialization is a huge help in keeping focused and keeping the process feeling fresh.
Also, if you want me to help edit something you're working on, head over here and see if I can be of service.
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