by CJ Myerly, @mdippedinink
My son curls into my side, a sheet of stickers in his lap as our preacher speaks. He points to a sticker. I peel it off, and so it goes. Over and over again, as he sticks each sticker to a blue sheet of paper. Then, comes one of the stickers that’s a little more complicated, that if you don’t peel just right, tends to rip. I take my time, but my son’s impatience reaches its max, and he pulls. The sticker rips in half.
The editing process is even more painstaking than those stubborn stickers. If we’re not careful, we end up with a finished product that is less than desirable. It’s overwhelming at times, all the aspects of our story that need fixing. And yet, we want our story to shine, to reach its full potential.
How do you finish your novel without completely losing it?
Give yourself space. Once your first draft is complete, take a week or two away from your manuscript. Fill your days with other creative endeavors. Spend more time cleaning the neglected areas of your home. Read all the books you can from fiction to writing craft books. Prepare your mind and heart to delve into editing.
Set reachable goals. If you plan to edit two scenes a day, then you need to have that much time available. Ask yourself how much time you have available to edit. Then, ask yourself how much editing you can reasonably complete in the time allotted to you.
Reach out to your writing tribe. Writing friends are special in so many ways. They understand the weird ways our minds are wired to create. They know the ins and outs of the writing process. They understand the self-doubt that creeps in at each stage of writing. Not only that, but they can offer feedback on the plot of your story, they can brainstorm ideas to make your story better.
Be patient. Editing is a necessary part of the process that refines your story into something better. Especially when you’re first learning to write, the process can seem never ending. Self-Editing for Fiction Writers by Renni Brown and Dave King is an excellent resource to break down that process and give you the direction you need.
Don’t rush the process. No matter where you are in your writing journey, each story we write, teaches us more about the process. It teaches us what works for us and what doesn’t. Nothing about this writing life happens quickly. So, pull out your chair and get to work.
CJ Myerly lives in Texas with her husband and two children. She’s passionate about teaching and writing, which she accomplishes by homeschooling and writing contemporary romance. She has a love-hate relationship with electronics, stairs, and blank pages. CJ is an active member of the ACFW and My Book Therapy. She was a 2017 Genesis Semi-Finalist and a 2017 First Impressions Finalist. To connect with her, find her on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram