This week, Poppy and Cass discuss what to do with your completed, first-draft manuscript. And no, the answer is not query it. Take a deep breath. Let's talk about editing and what it entails beyond spellcheck and filter word searches.
As promised in the episode, here are Cass and Poppy's individual checklists for editing.
Cass Editing Checklist
Gathering Info Before Diving In Combine all beta notes and make a list of problem areas and suggestions I want to addressMake notes of cupcake adjustments from areas beta readers were confusedLook over my own research notes and see what I forgot to put into the storyStudy genre for manuscript and check that I have delivered satisfying tropes and avoided negative onesPick a scene that reveals the heart/theme of the storyCheck character arcs and refernce them with themeCheck character relationships and make them believable and naturalRound One
I do a read through with the notes from this list and edit as I go. I look over the list before each chapter and see if the chapter is capable of fixing any of those problems. If a new scene or chapter is needed, I add them in on this round. Same goes if I need to combine scenes or cut/add characters.
I also check time passage at this stage and make sure it's consistent and clear.
Round Two
Now I do a read through where the focus is scene-by-scene. I check that each scene is doing a minimum of two of these things: furthering plot, furthing character arc, furthering relationship arcs, revealing cupcakes for the ending scene, or revealing cupcakes for a series arc. This tightens pacing.
I also look at character voice in this round. All metaphors should reveal something about the character, swears unique to upbringing, literaray devices implemented for outer dialogue on certain characters, and cut any meaningless polite chatter that will bore the reader.
Round Three
Here's where I look at spag. I check sentence structure and dialogue tags a lot. Make sure all movement makes senese and all sentence structures are varied. I run each chapter when I'm done reading through ProWritingAid in this read through.
Poke alpha/beta readers notes and any notes I left myself during the drafting processProWritingAid repetition check while rereading outloud and altering sentence style if needed ProWritingAid combo check Reread Send to editorDevelopmental edits from editorSecondary pokes (nitpicks) from editorCopyeditor approvalsReread for typosFriend reread for typosPublish that suckerLinks mentioned in this episode:
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