Show notes
This week, Poppy and Cass discuss what to do with your completed, first-draft manuscript. And no, the answer is not query it. Take a deep breath. Let's talk about editing and what it entails beyond spellcheck and filter word searches.
As promised in the episode, here are Cass and Poppy's individual checklists for editing.
Cass Editing Checklist
Gathering Info Before Diving In
- Combine all beta notes and make a list of problem areas and suggestions I want to address
- Make notes of cupcake adjustments from areas beta readers were confused
- Look over my own research notes and see what I forgot to put into the story
- Study genre for manuscript and check that I have delivered satisfying tropes and avoided negative ones
- Pick a scene that reveals the heart/theme of the story
- Check character arcs and refernce them with theme
- Check character relationships and make them believable and natural
Round One
I do a read through with the notes from this list and edit as I go. I look over the list before each chapter and see if the chapter is capable of fixing any of those problems. If a new scene or chapter is needed, I add them in on this round. Same goes if I need to combine scenes or cut/add characters.
I also check time passage at this stage and make sure it's consistent and clear.
Round Two
Now I do a read through where the focus is scene-by-scene. I check that each scene is doing a minimum of two of these things: furthering plot, furthing character arc, furthering relationship arcs, revealing cupcakes for the ending scene, or revealing cupcakes for a series arc. This tightens pacing.
I also look at character voice in this round. All metaphors should reveal something about the character, swears unique to upbringing, literaray devices implemented for outer dialogue on certain characters, and cut any meaningless polite chatter that will bore the reader.
Round Three
Here's where I look at spag. I check sentence structure and dialogue tags a lot. Make sure all movement makes senese and all sentence structures are varied. I run each chapter when I'm done reading through ProWritingAid in this read through.
Poppy Editing Checklist
- Poke alpha/beta readers notes and any notes I left myself during the drafting process
- ProWritingAid repetition check while rereading outloud and altering sentence style if needed
- ProWritingAid combo check
- Reread
- Send to editor
- Developmental edits from editor
- Secondary pokes (nitpicks) from editor
- Copyeditor approvals
- Reread for typos
- Friend reread for typos
- Publish that sucker
Links mentioned in this episode:
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