Hi Everyone,

I’m back with two of my favorite editors, Beth K. Vogt and Edie Melson!

So Beth (BKV) and Edie (EGM), here is the first question from our readers:

How much change is too much macro editing? Is editing ever a bad thing?

BKV: Yes – absolutely yes. Sometimes we edit our voice right out of a manuscript. We end up with a story that is perfect as far as grammar and spelling and punctuation – and even key elements such as strong Obstacles and Ys in the Road and a compelling Black Moment. But all the edits strangled the voice – what sets a novel apart as your story – right out of the manuscript.

Of course, sometimes you have to edit hard – you have to make bold changes to your work-in-progress (WIP) because you realize a scene was all wrong or that you need to ramp out tension or that something you wrote wasn’t plausible. Sure, you hope to figure this all out when you are plotting your story – but it doesn’t work that way, at least not for me. What about you, Edie?

EGM: I agree completely, a writer can edit a project to death. I’ve found this is particularly true if the writer is part of a critique or craft group. It’s important to remember that our story is simply that, our story. We’re in charge and we don’t have to take every single suggestion offered. The key is balance. Get to a point where you can look objectively at your story and at the suggestions, and decide if they have merit.

BKV: True confession moment: Back in my nonfiction days, I once trampled a writing friend’s voice. I thought I was helping her refine her manuscript, but I stripped her personality right out of the book chapter. I apologized and learned a valuable lesson: If I have to choose between a less-than-perfect piece of writing and protecting the author’s voice, I’ll protect voice every time.

So Edie, what do you think about editing as you go or waiting until you complete that first draft?

EGM: Finish the book before you begin tearing it apart. I’ve written both ways, and I strongly urge writers to finish the first draft before you begin editing. This gives you a much better perspective on where the story is going and you can see the big picture.

BKV: I absolutely agree! I love plotting out my book using The Book Buddy (a work-text written by My Book Therapy founder Susan May Warren) and then fast-drafting it – no editing allowed! (Okay, I might do minor tweaks at the end of the day.) MBT Therapist and best-selling author Rachel Hauck has a great perspective on fast-drafting: It’s all about falling in love with your story. I always find out more about my characters and my plot as I write forward – and I weave all this uncovered information into my story during my rewrites.

EGM: I tend to think of myself as an intuitive writer (as opposed to a plotter). Because of this, in my first two fiction endeavors I let myself get bogged down in my story, rewriting sections and polishing ad nauseam before I even finished the first draft. I came to hate my story before I even finished it, and it was hard to fall back in love.

But, in my most recent manuscripts I’ve followed The Book Buddy and fast-drafting and it has been a much smoother process. Beyond that, it has not interfered with my style of writing.

Beth and Edie, Thank you for answering our questions!  I know many of us are gearing up for ACFW so answering these questions are very timely!

What about you?  Do you edit as you go or wait until you have a complete first draft?