Imagine this scenario: you’ve spent months or even years crafting your manuscript. Your story is complete, your characters have evolved, your plotlines have all been tied into neat little bows. But, the moment you print out that final draft, you notice a glaring typo on the very first page. Will your readers overlook this mistake? Will a potential agent or publisher discard your work on that basis only? To ensure that your manuscript leaves a mark for all the right reasons, you need to edit it diligently. Here’s how you can edit your manuscript like a professional editor.
1. Take a Break:
After writing your manuscript, you need a stretch of time away from it. The time period could be a few weeks or even a few months. This break provides much-needed distance to return to your work with fresh eyes.
2. Print It Out:
Reading through your manuscript in a different format, such as on paper rather than a computer screen, can make mistakes easier to spot. Mark it up, highlight necessary changes, and write notes to yourself in the margins.
3. Look Out for Plot Inconsistencies:
Check for storyline inconsistencies. Are all your plotlines resolved? Do your characters’ actions match their personalities? Are there any plot holes that could confuse readers? Ensuring your plot flows logically is essential.
4. Scrutinize Your Characters:
Besides the plot, your characters need to be thoroughly examined. Are they developed and three-dimensional? Do their dialogues and actions accurately portray their personalities? Are your protagonist and antagonist formidable enough?
5. Keep an Eye on the Pacing:
Make sure the pacing of your story is just right. It should neither disorient readers with its rapidness nor bore them with its sluggishness. Make sure the pacing varies according to the situation’s demands.
6. Check for Grammar and Spelling Errors:
At the core of editing lies the meticulous checking for language and punctuation errors. Use grammar and spell checking tools. Better still, proofread for one kind of error at a time. This division of labor makes it less probable for mistakes to slip past your notice.
7. Manage Your Word Count:
Keep an eye on your word count. While you do not want to cut important scene-building descriptions, you also don’t want to make your prose unnecessarily verbose.
8. Engage Beta Readers:
When you feel your manuscript is in good shape, having fresh eyes on your work can be very helpful. Beta readers can provide a new perspective and spot errors or inconsistencies you might have missed.
9. Hire a Professional Editor:
Even after editing your manuscript multiple times, hiring a professional editor should be considered. They provide a level of expertise that is hard to achieve alone. They’ll help refine your book, improve its readability, and enhance your authorial voice.
10. Be Prepared to Revise—Multiple Times:
Editing is not a one-time process. Be ready to revise, refine, and even rewrite several times until your story is as polished as it can be.
The process of editing your manuscript may seem daunting at first, but remember—every refinement gets you one step closer to that perfect final draft. After all, as Arthur Plotnik once said, “You write to communicate to the hearts and minds of others what’s burning inside you, and we edit to let the fire show through the smoke.” So, be patient, be persistent and never shy away from the ‘delete’ button.