Writing is not only about getting the words and story on paper. It is mostly about rewriting. Once you have your story written down, there are bound to be weak spots in it, loose ends, stiff dialogues and so on. That is nothing to be upset about. Most established authors require two or three revisions rounds to get the novel to a certain level. Take this as a rule of thumb: first drafts are there to be rewritten.
The Book Revision: First Write the Draft
Before you can even think about novel editing, you need to finish the first draft. Don't worry if the first draft does not turn out to be a masterpiece, because it never does. Not even for established authors. So write your novel and don't get distracted. It is okay to reread the material of your previous writing day, but you don't have to start editing it. Just keep writing and get the story on paper. Once it is done, let is sit around for about a month. This cooling-off period will make sure you get to look at the draft with fresh eyes and that is exactly what you need.
Editing Books By Reading Them
If your first draft is ready to be revised, then first print it. There is no use editing on your computer screen at this stage of the revision process. Take your papers to a quiet place and start reading. Try to get an overall impression of the story. Don't take any notes yet, just read. Afterwards, think about your draft. Were there scenes that did not make sense? Were there anachronisms or other mistakes that could irritate readers? Is the ending predictable or surprising? Jot down any ideas you have about your first draft.
Novel Editing by Writing
Now it is time to start writing your second draft. It is best to start at the beginning so as not to miss out on anything while editing, but some writers like to edit their writing in other ways. For instance by starting at the ending and working back towards the beginning. Whatever you do, just make sure you have revised all pages since you cannot permit yourself to have weak spots in your story.
If you still feel your novel is not good enough, keep editing. But also make sure you don't suffer from 'analysis paralysis' where you can never stop editing because you think it will never be good enough and you haven't applied this and that technique yet. If you never stop editing, your book will never get to the agent and it will never be published.
Do you want to know more about writing novels? Then also read these articles:
Writing Novels: The Structure of a Novel Plot
Start Writing: How to Write Books With a Great Beginning
Character Descriptions: How to Go About Character Development
Sofie De Cocker - Sofie is an experienced freelance writer and book translator. She writes for small and big companies and she is the editor of the Flemish ...
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