How do you edit your novels? I am unsure whether to edit my first chapter while it's fresh in my head or move on with the second while my brain is in gear with the story? Thanks.
How do you edit your novels? I am unsure whether to edit my first chapter while it's fresh in my head or move on with the second while my brain is in gear with the story? Thanks.
I do both - when I sit down to write, I read over what I wrote the last time (hopefully an entire chapter or at least half of one.) If there's anything obviously wrong, I'll fix it up, but it won't be a "Big Edit." That only comes at the end, following a good rest, doing everything except writing. If I get stuck at a certain point, then I know there's something wrong earlier on and then I'll find myself editing to get the story going again (it's a great way to stick one in the eye of Writer's Block.) However, I do try to stop myself starting that "Big Edit" before I'm finished - it can hang you up. If things aren't going well, it's best just to get something on the page, anything, it doesn't matter. After all, it's not written in stone.
But editing is a discretionary thing: I can't continue writing and just ignore everything I've written so far.
So try to think of it as two kinds of editing: basic corrections as you go but not getting hung up on it. And a Big Edit at the end, after taking some time off.
I relate to Gayle's comments. I wrote an entire first draft, 200,000 words before I realised what the story was actually about. It evolved rather than was plotted. But I don't recommend that, if you want to, sob, minimise rewrites.
Hello, Adam!
I usually edit my chapters right before finishing some of its parts - or the entire chapter on itself. But don't worry about that. Time will pass, and when you come back to your first chapters - even the edited ones - you will probably say: - My God! This is not good!. As a result, you will edit your chapter again. So, don't waste your time. If you want to, move on!