My top 3 tips for editing your novel

I love editing.

No, no, I’m serious. I’m not going add a “says no-one ever”.

I genuinely love editing.

It’s not always sunshines and rainbows, but is anything ever always sunshines and rainbows?

No, it is most certainly not.

I love to see editing as a part of the polarity of writing. Personally, I think you know you’re doing what you love when you are totally fine with the good AND the bad side of it.

For example, someone might hear “editing a 150k novel” and freak out. They would say how it’s their worst nightmare. But writers? They’re like “bring it on.”

If you’re happy putting up with it, you’re on the right path.

Before I delve into my top 3 tips, I wanted to preface by also saying that I used to avoid editing. You know how you're in an exam and the teacher says you should revise your work before you say you're finished? Yeah, never did that. I actually used to be terrified of editing. It was a way my subconscious mind protected me from feeling unworthy if I found too many mistakes in my work. It also protected me from the tendency I used to have of overthinking.

And yet, here we are today.

Here are my top 3 tips for editing your novel:

1. Find the balance between trusting your initial instincts and refining.

→ When you find this balance, you’re able to avoid the art of “over-editing”. If you’re looking at a line and thinking “I should get rid of this”, then don’t get rid of it. ‘Shoulds’ often come from someone else’s expectations, not yours. You can often feel within you whether a line is needed or not. If you’re 50/50 and you’re making more grumbly sounds than “AH-HA” sounds, get rid of it. If you’re stuck on a paragraph and no matter what do, it doesn’t sound as good as you want- get rid of it. It’s an intricate dance that takes some trial and error, but it’s definitely one that will make your editing process a whole lot easier once you master it.

2. Ensure every single line has a reason.

→ If the line doesn’t add to the story, get rid of it. If the dialogue is mundane and adds nothing to the story, get rid of it. You want to have every line you write having something to do with the story. If it’s not bringing an action, then it’s bringing a thought. If it’s not bringing a thought, it’s forming something within the reader that makes them feel a part of the story. If it’s none of the above, say goodbye to it.

3. Save your scenes.

→ If there’s a scene that you absolutely adore with prose, dialogue or storytelling that you’re absolutely in love with, but you’ve realised that it seems more like a “fun credit footage” kinda thing, save it in another document. You never know when you might need it again. Perhap it will be in another story. Or maybe, you could save it for the film or series adaptation of your novel. See it like a “BONUS” scene.

Speaking of BONUS, here’s a bonus tip for you:

→ Always remember that you have read your work 50 bazillion times. It is normal if you get bored or you think it sounds repetitive. I dare you to read a novel the same amount of times with as much focus. Then see if you still think it’s the best book you’ve ever read. It won’t be, right. You’ll be a bit over it? It’s the same thing with your own work. Fresh eyes will see a literary genius.

Editing doesn’t need to be a daunting process. With a couple of tricks and tweaks, it can be as enjoyable as writing the story itself.