E is for Edit

I have written every one of my first drafts as part of NaNoWriMo (National Novel Writing Month.) At the end of November, I have a perfectly formatted crappy first draft. I spend the rest of the year editing extensively. So it is with great authority that I share with you my editing process.

Editing Checklist

Beginning

Does the inciting incident happen right away?
Are their information dumps? Or are details feathered through as necessary?
Does the first chapter/scene include a mini conflict?
Is there any back story in the first 20-30 pages? If so, remove it.

Mechanics

Use a wavy line to mark awkward sections
Star sections I like (ego boost!)
At the end of the scene, write a single sentence that defines the scene (I add these sentences to an Excel file to use in the synopsis)

Grammar

Run spell check and grammar check (duh!)
Search for all –ly words—adverbs. Try to eliminate them.
Remove prepositional phrases.
Search and remove the words: very, nearly, extremely, that
Try to change your similes to metaphors (which are stronger)
Delete italics, all caps and exclamation points. No more than five are allowed in the whole book!

Characters

Does each character (even secondary characters) have a story arc? Do they want something? Do they strive for it? Do they get it or not?
Are all your characters important? And memorable?
Does your protagonist act? Things can’t just happen to him/her. They must act.
Do not state an emotion. Show it, do not tell.
Do both your heroes and villains have good traits and bad traits? Do you sympathize with them?
Do your main characters have both an interior conflict and an exterior conflict?
What motivates your bad guys? Are they multidimensional?
Is your protagonist changed at the end of the story? How so?

Setting

Is the setting well established? Could the story happen in a different time and place?
Is each scene told in the right place?
Address time of day, season, weather, place, country, etc.
Are all the senses addressed: smell, sight, touch, sound, taste?

Continuity

Do a search for all your main character names. Make sure they are all spelled the same way (including nicknames)

Check your time line and make sure all your scenes fall in the correct time line

Double check your details against your master list (shown above.) This is a master file with character sheets, calendars, outline, subplots, discoveries, etc.

Pacing

On each page, check your tension. Does someone want something? Is there tension? If so, mark a T at the bottom of each page.
Make your fast paced scenes feature shorter sentences.
Does every scene advance the plot?
Is the ending in scene? It can’t be summarized.

Language

Remove all overused words.
On each page, is their one strong visual? If so, mark a V at the bottom of each page.
Highlight each cliché and rewrite.
Change every vague word to a concrete detail.

Voice

Can you tell which character is talking without attribution?
Use vocabulary, catch phrases, cultural aspects, educational level, worldview, frame of reference, dialect, attitude and tone to capture voice.
Let your characters make unique comparisons.
Read every piece of dialogue out loud. Better yet, have someone read your dialogue to you.
Does the dialogue earn its place? It should not reveal back story. Characters can not tell each other something they already know.
Avoid monologue—rarely more than three lines.
Avoid any attribute other than said or asked.

Finishing Touches

Double check your first and last sentences on each chapter? Do they have an amazing hook? Do they end well—leaving the reader wanting more?
Is the symbolism and motifs well developed?

Ending

Do no moralize or preach.
Avoid wrapping everything up into a neat bow. Failure had to be an option.
The closing image or scene should echo the first scene/image.

I revisit this checklist several times during the editing process. My current problem is learning how to STOP revising.

What are you editing tips?

Tomorrow’s post is about Fear.