lightning was striking today 
I did something a bit unusual today in my editing stint of “The King’s Sons.” Normally I edit through chapter by chapter, scene by scene in the order things come in the novel. However, this morning, I realized that: one, I’m starting a new pass with the beginning, only being two chapters in; two, I’m sick of working with the beginning; and three, thanks to my beta readers, I realized I need to do a number on the novel’s end. (Not rewrite it. Just consolidate and cut a lot).
So, after working with just one small scene at the beginning for a few minutes, I jumped to the end and handled a number of edits I knew I’d have to make eventually. There was a scene just over three pages long that I had an idea to cut completely. I read through it and verified that I was right, it didn’t need to be there, so I got rid of it. There was no necessary information in it at all that wasn’t strongly suggested or outright stated elsewhere. Then I touched on one other change I’d been meaning to make to one of the novel’s final developments. In the process, I realized I could cut a huge chunk of a conversation, which made me really, really ecstatic because I know the novel’s end, the part following the big action scene, is too drawn-out. Then I hit other scenes haphazardly, and every time I decided something could go, I cut it. When I realized I could shorten something, I shortened it. I’m not done with those last sections of the novel–not even close–but today’s editing session was very productive. And very cathartic.
I’m quite proud of how much fluff I got rid of without letting it get to me or feeling defensive about the passages. It’s pretty rare for me to delete an entire scene the way I did this morning. Whether I should do that more often is another discussion and entirely up for debate, but….
I guess after this morning, besides a catharsis I desperately needed, I managed to step back a bit and really see my novel tightening up and coming together. And that’s exciting, because I just haven’t felt that, while editing lately, I’ve seen much payout for all the work I’ve been putting in. It’s nice when that happens and when editing is FUN for a change. Today was one of the rare occasions where I really did have a blast editing. And I didn’t want to stop to go take a shower and handle other obligations. But hey, I’m not yet at the point where I can write all day.
Maybe some day
So, what’s your editing style, fellow writers? Do you ever jump around from time the time they way I did today? Or do you go slow and steady through the chapters?
I definitely jump around – sometimes a change is like a thread that I have to pick-up or drop all the way through the whole manuscript. Recently I eliminated an entire character – and when I realized how quickly I could manage it, I knew it was right that she go. Well – I put her in a special saved file because maybe I’ll bring her back in another novel. We never really, really cut – do we?
hahaha, nope!!! so cool that you cut a character!!! I hear that people do that but I’ve never really done it myself. At least not yet. But it makes a lot of sense that you realized if it could be done that easily, it should happen.
Congratulations on a wonderful day of editing! I’ve been doing a bit of both types. I actually did the second and third draft in one go so to speak. I was doing a general edit as I went from chapter to chapter but because my wip is made up of diaries – four different diaries I would often jump about and check details with these and I was also at the same time doing my # draft ie double checking nearly a hundred research points that I had simply marked with a # and moved on. I’m left with two on this my fourth draft – a type of car available in Australia in regional NSW (I’m going with a Buick after seeing an ad) and the correct spelling of Woolloomoollo (not sure about the number of “l”s. lol!)
haha, WOW! second and third drafts all together is quite something!
and a story made of 4 diaries sounds really cool!!!!!!
Thanks Victoria. I’m now doing the worrying draft. You know worrying that there’s not enough action (it’s not an action novel but hey) worrying that I have got my character’s descent into madness believable. Worrying that one of the diaries is too long. I sometimes wonder why I do this to myself! From your blog I’m guessing that you really are making inroads into your craft and I’m sure you will see the benefits soon!
thanks Debbie!!! and good luck! I DEFINITELY know how it is to worry about the WIP!
Thanks Victoria! Happy editing!
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