Editing: What Doesn’t Kill You Makes You a Stronger Writer

 

I hate edits.  I really do.  It makes my writing better which I love.  I love taking the words of a first draft and turning them into a novel that people will actually want to read, not a crappy novel that has 500+ grammar mistakes and content mistakes.  So why do I hate editing?  Because I’ve already seen the story.

I’m on the third draft of my novel, Read Me Dead, and if all goes according to plan, I should have it completely finished by February.  *crossing my fingers*  But, as much as I love this story, I’ve read it three times already not to mention I’ve already written it the one time already.

Wouldn’t it be nice if we could write a perfect first draft?  The thought crosses my mind every time I begin a new novel or short story, but unfortunately, that doesn’t happen.

Okay.  Editing isn’t as bad as I’m making it out to be.  In fact, I think it’s one of the most important parts of the writing process.  I have helpful tips and a guideline, for myself, that I go by which makes the editing go along better (not to mention a chocolate and caffeine intake which seems to help as well).  And I’ve shared before here and well on a guest post what my personal guidelines are.

But, I think it’s because I’ve already seen the story so much which puts me in a sour mood when it comes to editing.  I want something fresh to write, but I also want to get my work out there for the masses.  CONFLICT!

I love Read Me Dead.  I’ve always been in love with the idea, ever since I first started it back in high school.  It came to me in a dream, like most of my novel and short story ideas.  I started it, but I never liked my writing, but I finally managed to take the high school idea and transform it into a more mature and structured novel.

It’s still technically YA novel, but a lot of the adults who were betas, loved it which makes me feel AWESOME!  I’m glad people love it, and as I look over it again, I realize it’s not a bad book.  Usually, when I start edits, I find a hundred different flaws and toss the novel aside but not with this one which makes me HAPPY!

I think what helps too is putting it on my Android tablet and reading it like an ‘actual’ book and not something I have to look at in order to edit it.  It makes it feel more real, I guess.  Maybe I’m crazy, but if it tricks me into having an easier time editing, I’m all for it!

I also have ANOTHER novel to edit.  I just finished my vampire/werewolf novel that needs a title.  YAY!  I promptly celebrated with sparkling grape juice (since I don’t drink), almond Hershey kisses, and a Hawaii Five-O (the first season of the newer version) marathon.

I’m thinking the title should be either Bloodlust: A Knight’s Academy Novel or When Night Falls: A Knight’s Academy Novel.  It’s part of a series that takes place at a private school, Knight’s Academy, which happens to be full of vampires with an agenda, to use humans as breeders in order to build an army.  That’s all I’m going to say right now.  I don’t want to give too much away, and in fact, the novel might not even be published.  I’ll have to get some more opinions on it before making a decision.

But as I think about it, editing helps me write a better first draft the next time around.  Once I learn my common mistakes, it’s easier to move on to a new draft with the idea in mind that, “Hey, I screwed up this way in my last novel, let’s try to avoid that in this one.”  Still, not a perfect first draft but BETTER, which I’m perfectly happy with.  Editing may be difficult and tedious and annoying, but it does make you a stronger writer.

So, how do you deal with the editing process?  Is it something you like, or do you dislike it?  Do you think it makes you a stronger writer?  Sound in now!  (Also, what do you think about the title for my new book?)