On the joy of editing

Like many writers out there, I'm facing my screen, mind blank. Oh, it's not about writing the story. I've spent weeks on end doing just that. A few 'blank mind' moments in there too. But now that the first draft is over and done with, THE END proudly suspended half way down my last page, the story put away for long enough so that I can come back to it with a fresh yet critical eye, bang. A 'blank mind' chronical disease hits me.

"Not a problem," I hear you say with a snort. "You got the story. What else would you need?"

"Everything!" I reply, banging my head on the nearest wall. Note for self and others: when in despair, find a wall on which to bang your head. Never, I mean never, use your laptop, screen or keyboard. Now that I think of it, keyboard maybe, why not, as long as you've got a spare somewhere.

The 'blank mind' disease - let's call it Inanis Mensicus to look clever, or Inamsicus if you really want to get coloquial - can punch you in the face long after your finish your first draft. True fact. And one thing you should have noticed in the previous sentence, you clever gizzard, is first in first draft.

Because, let's be honest with each other, that first draft is dreadful. Incoherent. Inconsistent. Badly written. Full of characters as flat as a sheshworm that's been trampled under half a mountain. Cursed with dialogues that are an excellent read if you suffer from insomnia and need something to make you snore in a minute. And a plot that look so much like a Swiss gruyere that even with a shovel - a snow one, you know, the big, big stuff - it will take twice as much time to fill the holes than to write the story in the first place.

So what should I dooooo? I hear you say as you run outside and scream your despair to the world.

FIRST - DON'T PANIC

Your first draft is a big pile of manure. Yes. That's how it is, so get on with it, it's normal. Leave it aside for as long as you need. Get creative on another pile of manure - cough - I mean another first draft about something different. Wait. Some people will say one or two weeks, some people say a month. Some will not touch the evil little thing with a barge pole for another year or two. It's completely fine.

And if you feel like crying instead of going back to the manure producing tool, do something else: run, learn yoga, go and walk the dog, remember you have kids somewhere under the discarded washing-up basket(s). Read. Why not. Read a lot.

SECOND - BE BRAVE

One day, you will eventually have to go back to your draft. Unless you think it's hopeless or just don't feel like ever working on that story againfor whatever reason. Disclaimer: if the reason is along the line of I can't do it, or I'm too bad at writing, or There's too much work to do, too much to fix... think twice. Go back a few lines above. What I'm hammering in your head with a nail gun is that you must be brave.

Get your first draft out of the cellar, brush away the spider webs, blow all the dust on the kids as they run past, and get tucked in. Not as a writer this time, as a reader.

THIRD - FOLLOW YOUR INSTINCTS

There are as many ways to edit as there are writers in this world. There is no good way or bad way to edit. Well, apart from not editing. Don't you ever think that a first draft doesn't need editing.

Some will start with not touching anything, but taking notes on the side. Some will fiddle with the story scene after scene, editing each very carefully. Some will have a first read and attack the big picture first, like overall plot and character arc. Some will go random. Whatever works for you is fine. The more you revise, the more experience you will have, the more you will know how to be as efficient and effective as possible while still be comfortable with the process.

I am not saying you shouldn't read the abundant pieces of advice available all around. You can read articles or blog posts or ask for guidance to fellow writers. It is fine as long as you don't believe there is just ONE rule. As always with writing, there are no rules. If you insist, make your own.

FOURTH - ALWAYS SEEK EXTERNAL SUPPORT

Let's make it clear. I'm not refering to psychological or psychatric support - although at times, during a long, painful revision stage, it might be tempting.

One step you should never disregard is the feedback from beta readers. You can have this at any stage. Some even have it during drafting or directly on their first draft: they are then called alpha readers and are very brave indeed, to jump into a draft still full of typos, plot holes and complete gibberish. You may pass on alpha readers, but never on beta readers.

What will beta readers bring you? The feedback of any reader who would grab your book randomly and have a go. They will tell you what works, what doesn't, and, if ever, why they stopped reading altogether. One opinion means little though, everyone has different tastes. But if you choose beta readers avid fans of your genre and the majority underlines a flaw, you might want to look at this closely.

If you have the monies, and good on you if you do, consider offering your story the services of one or several professional editors. I'll have a blog post dedicated on this in the future. Chosen well, they are invaluable. But they are - righlty so - expensive.

Last piece of my wobbly wisdom: apart from alpha readers, when you send your draft out for feedback, make sure it is as polished as you can make it. You will get no feedback or no actionable feedback, if the only thing the beta readers or editors can focus on is poor grammar, typos, confusing punctuation, absence of plot or structure, and so on.

Now, time to get tucked in and EDIT. I'm here cheering you all along!