I wish I wrote perfect first drafts ready for proofreading, but I don’t. (Nor do the vast majority of authors I know.) I rely on feedback from early readers and my editors, and continue to revise and edit a manuscript until it is as strong as I can make it—or until my deadline arrives, 
whichever comes first. 🙂
Currently, I am busy working on revisions for my next book due out in December, called The Bride of Ivy Green. So, since editing is foremost in my mind right now, I thought I would share some steps I go through in the hope that it might be interesting to readers and possibly helpful to writers.
- Turn it in. Take a break. Let it rest.
After I turn in a draft to my editors to review, I set is aside for a while (usually to clean my house and do other things I’ve let slide while writing). Coming back to your manuscript after a few weeks allows you read it with fresh eyes, and reveals problems and opportunities you missed before. Distance gives such helpful perspective.
- Absorb editorial feedback
My editors provide detailed feedback, including what they like, what they don’t, and what they think could be stronger. Admittedly, sometimes this feedback stings. (Thankfully, my editors are good at giving me lots of positives. A spoonful of sugar really does help the medicine go down.) But I know I would ignore their feedback to my peril. Editors are only trying to help an author make her book the best it can be. So I take time to consider their suggestions, mull them over, then dig in.
Spending a lot of time at my (messy) standing desk these days!
- Forest before the trees
In the early stages of revisions, I focus on the big picture: revising for plot, pacing, and character, not picky details or grammatical things that can be taken care of later. Who knows, that entire scene I could spend hours polishing might end up on the cutting room floor.
Of course, if I see an obvious missing or misspelled word, I fix it as I go. But this phase of editing is not primarily about such details. I’m responsible for creating empathetic characters, compelling hole-free plots, and realistic dialogue. I have to provide believable historical details, avoid glaring anachronisms, do my own fact-checking, and write with varied, effective words. That’s all on me. Some days it feels like a lot! (Thankfully, I have eagle-eyed editors who will later catch details and mistakes I may miss.)
- Read it aloud
Yes, it takes a lot of time, but reading your manuscript aloud (on screen or via a printout) is invaluable. I think it’s the key to delivering snappy, realistic dialogue. There’s nothing like reading aloud to also make you aware of extraneous words and clunky passages.
My editing buddy.
- Cut the chaff
It’s painful to cut words, sentences, paragraphs and sometimes entire scenes you’ve so arduously created. But cutting unneeded words makes your book better.
- Print it out and read it again
I do some rounds of editing on screen, but I always print out a draft (or three) while rewriting so I can read a hard copy. There’s something about sitting down in a chair and turning pages—reading it as a reader would—that reveals things you don’t see on screen, like tedious passages, the need for chapter breaks, etc.
- Fine(r) tooth comb
Once the big picture problems are solved (the forest) then you can more clearly see the smaller ones (the trees)! For example I don’t worry about timing issues until I’m done moving scenes around. But eventually, I have to review how much time has passed. Otherwise, for example, I could describe a June wedding, but the passage-of-time cues I’ve given (The next day, The following week, etc.) might mean it’s really July. Or I might pass right over Easter without even mentioning it. Printing out a calendar for the year in question with appropriate holidays (in this case Great Britain 1821 ) is helpful.
Other detail edits:
Words in Use: Double check all words in dialogue to be sure in use at the time at etymonline.com.
Echo Words (same word used too close together). Highlight while reading, then go back and replace. For example, “Such disappointing news about our new dressmaker.”
Pet Words (overused). It’s easy to use the same words, tags, or reactions over and over again. For example, I tend to have all of my characters smiling, sighing, and shaking their heads. This book, The Emotion Thesaurus: A Writers Guide to Character Expression, helps me vary my character’s reactions.
- To-do list
I keep a list of common issues that have cropped up in past books, from basic things like “Search and replace double spaces with single,” to phrases I tend to misuse like “Here, here” instead of “Hear, hear.” To checking for certain Americanisms that creep in as I write (stoop instead of porch, for example). I review the list I’ve compiled from past British reviewers and fix them again in the new book. Which reminds me, I still need to do this step.
- Fresh pair of eyes, or two
Katie Read, equestrienne
When I have done all the revising and editing I can, I reserve time in the process to ask someone who hasn’t read the book before to do so. At this point, I also send specific excerpts related to any areas I’m not sure about to a subject expert if I can find one (vs. asking them to read the entire book). For example, I asked a woman who runs a riding stables in England to read a recent manuscript that had a lot of horse and farrier details. And this next book features a dressmaker, so I plan to ask someone with historical sewing experience to read those sections.
- Final polish and….send.
When I’ve made all the changes and polished it as much as I can, it’s time to send it off to the editors once more. But no worries, I’ll see it again when galley times rolls around. 🙂
I’ve no doubt missed some important steps, but hopefully this has given you a little insight into one author’s editing process. Anything surprise you? If you’re an author, what would you add?
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Thank you for this enlightening view of the editing process. It seems to me, being a good editor would be a challenging job. Recently I wrote a review (a good one) where I stated the book seemed repetitive at times. The author wrote to me asking me if I could specifically tell her where. I could not without re-reading the book and I didn’t have time to do that. Generally, I just get a feel for that kind of thing without being able to say this scene here should have been cut or whatever the case may be. But fortunately, I’m just a reader and can enjoy the book and move on to the next one.
Thanks, Sherri. So grateful for readers like you!
This was very interesting and totally understandable. Writing those stories that I read in a couple of days reflects months of tedious work.
Thanks, Rebecca!
Wow, thank you for the in depth look at editing. It is tedious, but your hard work pays off in the end. I write for fun, and I often catch myself falling into familiar vocabulary. I’ll be using your link for period appropriate words, for sure. Loved the post!
Oh, good. Glad that was helpful. Thanks, Kris.
I totally never thought about the need to check date cues! That’s awesome to keep in mind — especially using a calendar from the time the story takes place.
Glad it was helpful, Bree.
I also print my book out and read it in that format, Julie! I agree with you — something about that is SO helpful to the revision process.
Thanks, Becky.
Yes! This was reassuring to me as a writer. While I first resented the amount of time I spent editing, and I almost cried yanking that first chapter, the effort is worth it. I was *almost*enjoying editing this last round, but last night, the unending minutiae got to me.
I don’t think most readers know –I certainly didn’t– how much work goes into a good book. So, first, thanks for the good books and added efforts you expend to make them better, and second, for the encouragement. 🙂
You’re very welcome, Cathy. Glad this was encouraging. Yes, some days it feels like “death by details,” doesn’t it? 🙂
Hi, thanks for sharing this. It’s great to learn how you produce such high-quality novels. I’m curious how long it takes you (on average) to get that first draft on paper? Also, how many manuscripts you do you typically have in process?
I’m only writing one novel a year, Robyn, so for me I’d say about 3-4 months to write a *rough* first draft followed by 3-4 months reading/revisions/editing before turning it the first time, and then another month or two of revisions after I receive editorial feedback. The entire process takes 8-9 months. Rather like gestation. 🙂
A great insight!
Thanks, Katherine.
Good stuff here, Julie! I especially agree with the reading-aloud advice. I find SO many mistakes and missteps when I read my books aloud…especially the dialogue.
Another thing I do with dialogue is to watch my face in the mirror as I’m reading a line. It often helps me find the way to describe my character’s facial expression, or even how to describe the emotion the character is feeling. (Of course, it makes you feel a bit foolish, but just another peril of being a writer. 🙂 )
Oh, I like that idea, EXCEPT I’d get too depressed about how old this ol’ mug is getting! :}
This is so informative. It makes me appreciate the books I read even more.
Best wishes in the days ahead.
Thanks, Betty!
This post was an enjoyable glimpse into the world of writing. Thanks for posting! I just finished book #2 of the Ivy Hill series and loved it! Looking forward to book #3. 🙂 Thank you for the hard work you do to share your talent with us!
Thanks, Julie. I enjoyed reading this. I agree with the “reading with fresh eyes” part. Many times someone who hasn’t yet read the story will pick up on typos and other things that the author’s eyes skip over while rereading. I’ve noticed this when I’m reading ARCs. There are often typos or small errors and my crazy brain picks up on them.
What a thorough description of the writing, revising, and editing process of writing a book! I really appreciate your insight, which makes me appreciate the excellent books by my favorite authors. While I spot grammatical and spelling errors easily, I wouldn’t have thought of checking the calendar of the period of history covered in the book and the historical usage of the vocabulary, for example. I can see how reading aloud would really help, and I like Deborah Raney’s idea too about looking in a mirror to see facial expressions while reading the novel. You’re a gifted author!!!
Gosh, Julie – this was a wonderfully informative article. I forget, when I’m reading a good book, that it goes through many stages before I get it in my hands. And also that the author goes through the long and sometimes painful process right along with the manuscript. When I was 18 I thought I wanted to write – that was many, many years ago. Needless to say that idea died due to lack of patience and ambition. I’d much rather read someone else’s wonderful efforts so thanks for letting us in on some of the secrets that make a good book.