While writing is like a joyful release, editing is a prison where the bars are my former intentions and the abusive warden my own neuroticism.
Tiffany Madison
Editing is hard. It really has been destroying me these past few months. So much energy is expended editing and re-editing and re-writing. It really is a prison for me and I feel like I’m slowly going mad. Granted, I was already a little bonkers, but this editing process is sending me off the cliff.
I didn’t really consider how brutal the editing process would be. It never really registered in my mind exactly what went into editing and how much time I’d need to dedicate to it. When you want to be published, you sacrifice a bit, and I’ve learnt that I need to sacrifice my social life somewhat to successfully edit my novel and get somewhere with it.
The first draft is black and white. Editing gives the story color.
Emma Hill
I’ve learnt just how much editing is needed in the writing process. My story has changed immensely and become more than a crappily written first draft. The ideas are more fleshed out and my story definitely has more colour and life than it did before.
Editing is a heavy process. It’s so much more than just proofreading, although that is an aspect as well. Proofreading for me doesn’t take too long – I’ve always been an English nut so my spelling and grammar hasn’t needed much improvement (apart from removing a zillion adjectives). Editing, on the other hand, is intense.
Editing involves improving the expression and language use to create a sharp, seamless and consistent novel. It’s not easy to do this. You go through your novel so many times that things start to always feel the same. I need to take breaks from the editing process in-between drafts because it all just starts to blend in together.
Edit your manuscript until your fingers bleed and you have memorized every last word. Then, when you are certain you are on the verge of insanity…edit one more time!
CK Webb
Insanity is definitely the point I’m at. I’ve edited until my head wanted to explode. It’s the last thing I want to do now, but I know I need to. I’m hoping this is the last editing process because the thought of editing one more time makes me want to scream – I’m already at screaming level!
My novel started completely different from what it is now. I really did destroy it during the editing process and it’s become so much better. It is hard to edit initially, because I was so attached to the story and the characters, but I really had to distance myself from it and rip it apart in order to improve it so much.
I’ve found the best way to revise your own work is to pretend that somebody else wrote it and then to rip the living shit out of it.
Don Roff
I’ve ripped my entire novel to shreds and feel like I’ve almost completely re-written it. It’s been harsh and time-consuming but, as it comes together, it also feels so rewarding. I’m sure there will still be so much frustration and crying to come through this process, but I’m hoping to have it edited and ready for submission to publishing houses soon! Bring on the manuscript competition season!
Emilie Turner 