You have a first draft. Hurray!
Once you finish congratulating yourself, it’s time to fall out of love with your prose.
Here’s the great writing-related irony. When you started this process, I’ll bet you judged your work so harshly that you threatened to derail yourself. That’s why I always suggest to bind and gag your inner critic and throw him/her in the closet.
Now that you’ve got that first draft, chances are that your critical eye has magically disappeared—just when you actually need it. So open up that closet door, dust off your inner critic and scrutinize your work for flaws. Below you’ll find a list of questions to ask when editing books.
If you’re working on a novel or narrative non-fiction such as a memoir, ask yourself:
- Is the story working? Does the plot provide narrative tension and a dramatic arc?
- Am I presenting my story dramatically?
- If you have multiple plot threads, does each of them deliver fully?
- Are my characters fleshed out with an emotional life that shows them making choices and reacting externally (through their words and actions) and internally (through their thoughts and internal debates)?
- Have I created a character arc that shows how the main characters grow and change due to the challenges they face?
- Is the point of view (POV) consistent?
- Does the pacing work, culminating in a climax?
- Have I brought my story to life in a way that allows the reader to jump in with both feet and experience the story as if he/she is living it?
- Am I proving a level of detail that allows the reader to vicariously live the experience, focusing on sensory details (sight, sounds, smell, taste, touch) rather than adjectives and adverbs?
If you’re working on a nonfiction book, ask yourself:
- Have I presented my thesis and logically made my case?
- Have I summed up each phase of my argument like I would if I was an attorney presenting my arguments to a jury?
- Do I need to support my premise with research?
- Have I considered the reader perspective and focused on how my information benefits him/her?
- If appropriate, do I provide step-by-step information about how to apply that knowledge?
That should give you plenty to think about for now. We’ll take a look at other substantive editing considerations next week. In the meantime, if you’re still in the throes of the creative process, just tuck this information away for later use.
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