Editing is the process of turning the raw, unfiltered words into a story. Last week I wrote a short article about the Apple Pencil 2 and how I use it to make redlines (proofread) my novels. Several people contacted me, asking if I would go over my compete for the editing process from start to finish. So here is a basic look at my process for turning words on a page into a story worthy of reading.
Grammarly
My editing journey begins with Grammarly. Read my blog post about Grammarly. I use Grammarly as a first pass editor, correcting spelling and basic grammar errors and word flow. Grammarly isn’t the same as a live editor, but like a live editor, the writer needs to take every suggestion as that, an opinion. Sometimes I meant to say something in a way that isn’t grammatically correct, or in a way that I feel fits the flow of the story better.
Compiling The Draft
After I make some of the changes that Grammarly suggests, I paste the edits back into Scrivener, and then I create a snapshot of the document. Hence, I have a reference point where I can come back to the off-chance I want to go back to something written before editors got a hold of it. I compile the draft into Manuscript formate based on the Chicago Manual of Style (CMOS), my publisher’s choice of file format.
Redlines Everywhere
At this point, my process can differ depending on the project type, and deadline commits, so I’m only going to focus on the novel side of my writing for this article. If you want to see my process for another type of writing style, please leave a comment below. Usually, I’m months ahead of my deadlines, so I take a move from Stephen King’s playbook, and I place the book in a drawer for a few weeks. This does two things. First, it gives my beta readers and editors time to read the manuscript. Secondly, it allows me to clear my head of the project. This way, when I do come back to the book, it’s like I’m reading it for the first time.
While waiting for my beta readers and editors to make their redlines, I use my iPad with the Apple Pencil to make redlines of my own. Redlines are a term that is used by some in the publishing and other design industries to signify comments and corrections because of the stereotypical red ink used by the reviewer. I open the manuscript in Apple Pages and use the annotate feature to markup the document as I read it.
Revise, Rinse, And Repeat
Once I meet with my editors and beta reader, I open the Scrivener document and make the correction and address the comments. Then the process begins again. I typically do this twice for a novel before I reach the golden master, but your mileage may vary. Once I achieve what I call the Golden master, I don’t make any significant changes, and this is often the same as what goes to print.
In Conclusion
That is my editing process in a nutshell. How do you edit your novel, leave a comment below?