In celebration of the art of editing

[John Dean]

I have been editing the latest Jack Harris crime novel before sending it off to my publishers The Book Folks and I thought that an insight into the process might prove interesting.

I know that some writers dislike editing, preferring the creative process of filling a blank page, but I love it. Indeed, editing is my favourite part of the whole process.

I love the intensity and focus involved in going through every page, every line, every word, to make sure that the manuscript I submit to my publisher is as near to perfection as it can be. Writers seeking that first acceptance from a publisher or agent or seeking to self-publish need to go through the same process as well, I would suggest.

However well you edit, the resulting text won’t be perfect, no manuscript ever is, but, in my view, the writer must strive to ensure that it is as good as it can be before it is submitted.

So, what does editing entail? Part of it is about the big stuff – does the plot work, are there story lines that need better explanation, does everything make sense? Is the timeline right? Is the pace right?

Also, has the reader got the information they need to understand the story or have you given them far too much detail, much of which does not really need to be there? Do any of the characters mysteriously change their name half- way through? Have you got the grammar right? Have you corrected any wrong spellings and pieces of rogue punctuation?

Actually, it’s addressing the little things that I really love, examining every word and asking if it is doing its job. Is it needed, is it a case of overwriting to keep the word count up, is it the right word in the right place, would a different one be better? Are the spellings right, is the grammar clunky? Does the dialogue actually sound like real people speaking?

In my case, the editing process means making well over a thousand changes to the first draft of a novel, everything from removing sections and writing new ones to taking out single words.

However, if you do it properly, it will reward the effort because the editing process is where everything comes together.

As indicated above, editing can be a brutal process and requires the author to have a sense of objectivity about their work. I always think that if, when I am editing the manuscript, I forget that it was me who wrote it because I am so engrossed in the story, it means that I have something solid to work on.

And it’s worth bearing in mind that when the publisher/agent sees it, they will make their own comments, suggest their own improvements. It’s the value of a different person reading your work and seeing it as the reader will.

* I have teamed up with my daughter Laura, a skilled editor and manuscript assessor, to provide manuscript assessments and editing. Should you be interested in finding out more, then feel free to drop me a line and we can discuss your needs.  For further details, you can contact [e-mail] or ring 07889 554931.