Editing

I have started by making sure that I show, instead of tell. I also wanted to tie up a few ends that I might have missed the first time around, like my character has a tattoo, but my description of it is not as foreboding as I want it to be.

What are some of the things you think about changing when starting on your second drafts?

(This is relative to short stories and novels.)

-WIP for NaNoWriMo 2007: Intermission - 8513/50000

He opened the door for me, and I slid past him in gratitude.

I'm really interested in the responses to this. Maggenpye??

molly, what has been your approach to editing so far? what did you change between the first and second drafts?

I only feel that I've just got to a point where I could thoroughly edit a first draft to submission stage. I've never gotten past the second draft before. Taking that in mind, my thoughts...

When I edit my current WIP I think I will be looking at high level stuff first, making sure that the story is solid, I haven't dropped any characters and if there are loose ends regarding plot that I tie them up.

For the second edit I'd be looking for consistency, I think. For grammar and spelling errors, at pacing and how the story flows.

But then I have no idea if that will work for me, let alone anyone else!

No Excuses. Just Write.
SoCNoC - Freeing the Flame
Freeing the Flame - 30,065/40,000 words rewritten for May

Hello?

I'm not sure I'm the one to ask. I think I'm on draft 38 or so.

Character consistency. Story line pacing. Plot holes. Factual errors. Better jokes. Things that just don't 'feel' right. Spelling, grammar, POV, consistent tense, proper breaks (full stop, comma or paragraph?)

Good point about dropping characters Kerryn, getting book 1 back from the publishers, I realised that two (admittedly minor) characters just went 'pouf' halfway through - not mentioned again. Also I've changed the species of trees in one scene. I've got notes on about twenty minor incidents I wanted to change. There are more 'mirror points' (for want of the correct term) where for example, at different points of the story, two characters will have the same choice or face the same problem. They'll handle it different ways or reach difference conclusions, thereby showing their different personalities.

I make grammatical notes on the print-out and big asterisks where I want to rewrite scenes.

The Holly Lisle resources linked on this site will be a big help and I highly recommend them. She talks about listening to that quiet voice in your head that tells you when something doesn't work. Even if you highlight the text and change the colour of it on screen, that means it's visible for you to find and deal with later.

maggenpye -
"He's not my dad, he's just my father - big difference."

Those are wonderful points maggenpye and kerrynangell. There are differing opinions for the number of drafts you should do it looks like. =)

To answer your question Kerryn, I began the editing process along the same lines as you. I tied up some loose ends, made sure there was a beginning, middle, and end, The-Big-Picture Step-Back-And-Look approach.

I'm planning on doing a few more drafts to correct grammatical errors, and fix the places, as maggenpye stated, that "just don't 'feel' right."

-WIP for NaNoWriMo 2007: Intermission - 8513/50000

He opened the door for me, and I slid past him in gratitude.

It sounds like you're on the right track. I think the writing process and the editing process have something in common here. As writers we have to find the best way for us, usually in a trial and error kind of way.

Let us know how you find your way. :)

No Excuses. Just Write.
SoCNoC - Freeing the Flame
Freeing the Flame - 30,065/40,000 words rewritten for May

Molly, I found an article on editing: Common Mechanical Pitfalls. I know I'll be referring to when I'm editing. It might give you some clues as to what you've missed.

No Excuses. Just Write.
SoCNoC - Freeing the Flame
Freeing the Flame - 30,065/40,000 words rewritten for May

I've bookmarked it, I may print it out and tape it to my monitor for the duration of nano - and head it up; The Basics.

maggenpye -
"He's not my dad, he's just my father - big difference."

Me too, looks useful, thanks Kerryn.

Got a plot and Title for Socnoc 2008.
"To Be Or Not To Be: That Is The Question."

Books are Humanity in Print!

Kerryn! That site is a bookmarker. Thank you.

P.S. I just bought Eats, Shoots & Leaves by Lynne Truss and On Writing by Stephen King. One is for grammar prep and one is for inspiration. Both for NaNoPrep.

-WIP for NaNoWriMo 2007: Intermission - 8513/50000

He opened the door for me, and I slid past him in gratitude.

Molly,

Both books are amazing. Enjoy!

Want to know what I am working on?
Loose Endings

Yup, they're both great books. I know you'll enjoy them. :)

No Excuses. Just Write.
SoCNoC - Freeing the Flame
Freeing the Flame - 30,065/40,000 words rewritten for May

Although I've read through my Nano story a couple of times viewing it on screen and touching up where necessary. It wasn't until a friend who the main character in it is based on, wanted a printed copy.
Before posting it up north my husband wanted to read it, but hasn't had time to sit down and do so. While he was doing something else I decided this morning to read it to him.
I now realise it needs a lot of work, reading it out loud helps to define the flow. Quite often I noticed it was lacking and didn't sound right, and that was only chapter one. :)

Got a plot and Title for Socnoc 2008.
"To Be Or Not To Be: That Is The Question."

Books are Humanity in Print!