The Editing Monster Hit List

At long last, I’ve compiled into one comprehensive list all the steps I take when editing. 

The problem is I keep misplacing the damned list. By posting it here on the blog, it will be a lot easier to find than sifting through nested computer directories, so…let’s hear it for public archives. 

Heed all warnings. Your miles may vary. Take what you like and burn the rest. Ad infinitum.

Zero Draft Editing

I tend to begin with a zero draft (also known as the brain dump, the vomit draft, the throw-something-at-the-wall-and-see-if-it-sticks draft). My only focus on this draft is to get the idea out of my head and onto the page.

I perform next to zero edits on this draft. Pretty much zilch. I generally draft in Scrivener, then backup to MS Word, so I’ll add page numbers and a table of contents. Then, I shove it in a mental drawer and I don’t touch it for *at least* six weeks.

First Draft Editing

I work on the first draft to drive the story towards cohesiveness. The goal of this draft is to fill in any holes and clean it up well enough to send to my development editor. I search the Zero Draft for “fix this” notes, any missing scenes or incomplete transitional breaks, etc. 

I want the story to be as complete as I can make it, but I don’t get too invested in making it perfect, so I’m not stripping adverbs or assessing overall sentence structure. Basic formatting, complete from start-to-finish, with basic spell-checking, but that’s it.

Then, I ship it to my development editor, and ask her whether or not the story sucks. 

Second Draft Editing

By this point, I’ve got a stronger, cleaner draft. The plot holes have been fixed, the story itself has been solidified—I’m closer to the delivery target, whether that’s publication consideration or web posting or sending to my list. 

Now, the editing gets interesting, with four sub-categories that must not be skipped.

1. Overarching Checks

  • Stick the intro landing: Start strong by establishing scene, creating  conflict and/or generating mystery.  Whenever possible, CUT exposition (move to later).
  • What’s vital/integral? WHAT must the reader know WHEN for the story to move forward?
  • Genre promise: What’s the core genre of this story, and what elements must be present? Are they all accounted for?
  • Keep antagonist active: Keep in mind what the antagonist is doing in the background, even if it’s never explicitly stated in the text.
  • Deliver promised elements: No disconnected endings. No loose ends. No plot holes.

2. In Each Scene

  • What’s new: what events/actions in this scene can only happen here? Why is this scene important?
  • Character motivation: what does each character want? Who/what is the opposition? Who wins/loses, and what comes next as a result?
  • Simplify descriptions: what would the POV character notice, and why? What details don’t matter and can be removed?
  • Protagonist agency: what action does POV character take that changes the scene’s outcome?
  • Reader engagement: what should the *reader* feel in this scene?
  • Sensory pass: check for see, hear, feel, taste, smell and sense integration.

3. Comprehensive Chapter Checks

  • Print out, red pen: at least once with every manuscript, no matter the length, print out each chapter and walk through it with a red pen.
  • Fight scenes: Eliminate tech jargon, work backward from desired injury/outcome, remember to incorporate character POV fear and limitations, avoid punching, remember adrenaline aftermath.
  • Love scenes: romance, desire, emotion, sensory elements, heat
  • Up/down rhythm: If possible, adjust chapter wins/losses and ending up/down beats
  • Kill scene breaks: whenever possible, transition to next scene instead of breaking flow of text.
  • Relevancy: if this whole chapter was cut, how would the story suffer? How could I make this chapter someone’s favorite in the whole book.

4. Final Checks

First, a word about the “filler word” lists. These are the empty words that dilute meaning and must be removed. 

This part SUCKS. I cut corners *every* *single* *time* I get to this stage because I’m so damned tired of the manuscript. And the list just gets longer the more I write.

Doesn’t matter how I feel about it, though, because this stage absolutely tightens up the writing. With each manuscript, though, I get a little better at making sure this gets done.

Onward.

  • Editor/Beta reader: For development editor, get feedback on overall story (plot, characters, etc.) For beta reader, ask ABCD (what’s awesome, boring, confusing, or disbelieving—meaning, what pulls them out of the story?)
  • Filler word and crutch phrase lists: Allot time and don’t skip; go through *entire list* to trim excess, even if it takes multiple sittings.
  • Tighten writing: at minimum, search for “line widows” to find opportunities to trim words.
  • Kindle pass: send doc to Kindle; make revision list
  • Final notes: make sure every last revision note is integrated into manuscript

The Final Draft

At this point, the story itself is finished, and these final checks ensure the cleanest manuscript possible before submitting for publication consideration, self-publication, or posting.

  • AutoCrit pass: Mandatory check of adverbs in dialogue, overused words, phrase frequency, cliches, and redundancies, at minimum.
  • Read aloud pass: If changes are made in a line, go back to its beginning and resume.
  • Final spelling/grammar check: watch out for AutoCorrect bullshit and make sure names aren’t botched.

And then, my friends, it’s DONE! I ship that thing wherever it’s supposed to go, and get on to the next story.

How does your process vary? Hit me up on Twitter @virginiablk517 and let me know! And if you want to read one of my latest stories, check out my lesbian paranormal novella UNSEEN, available here: https://dl.bookfunnel.com/3c5hmvd856

14 Ways I Learned To Level Up My Writing

Recently, the question of how I’ve improved my writing over the last few years has come up more than once.

I’m not saying I’m a great writer. (I mean, I’m cocky but I’m not *that* cocky.) The point here is that my work has improved over time – enough that when I look back on what I wrote a few years ago, I can see (once I stop cringing) how much I’ve learned since then. That can be encouraging when I’m facing the current wall of a story.

Probably shouldn’t post my own photos, but I won’t let anyone else in my lair – er, office.

Here are the steps I’ve taken, along with a few recommendations that might come in handy for you.

Let’s start with the two things not included on this list that are nevertheless crucial (suggested by experienced writers everywhere, not me): reading and writing. 

Like many writers, I read a lot – the equivalent of two or three novels a week – and I try from time to time to read something different. (For example, in addition to the usual lesbian romances or fan fiction I consume like potato chips, this week I’m also reading Jeff VanderMeer’s BOOKLIFE, a stack of role playing game guides, Victor LaValle’s EVE comics, and as I was writing this, SKYE FALLING by Mia McKenzie mystically appeared on my porch.)

It should go without saying that if I want to improve my writing, I should actually write, but sometimes I need to break out the cattle prod. Daily goals are usually reserved for specific projects since I’ve never been a fixed-minimum-per-day-every-day kind of writer, but whenever possible, I’ve got something in the works.

Some things worked better than others, and your mileage will most definitely vary, but these were my attempts to improve the quality of my writing. (This post will also serve as a reminder to Future Me about the things that worked, so I don’t go back to trying the things that absolutely didn’t.)

1. Stopped saying “aspiring writer”

This includes not berating the quality of my rough drafts. I’m also not allowed to downplay my work because it’s not as good as someone else’s, or publicly make excuses for earlier work that still lives in the world. Am I writing? Then I’m a writer. There’s no aspiration about it if I’m involved in the execution.

2. Allowed my work  to suck “right now”

Every once in awhile, I’ll go back and re-read an older piece of my work. While I’m always pleased with the story I wanted to tell, I often cringe at some literary faux pas I committed because at the time I didn’t know any better. This leads to me wonder what it is about my current work that future me will find cringeworthy.

The result?  Paralysis. Is the current word under the cursor the perfect choice? Does this even make sense? Could I do this differently and have the same effect? What should I be doing better right now – etc. Then I get zero wordcount for the day, which is The Worst Thing Ever (TM). 

New goal: it’s alright to suck in the short term. Get the words down now before the story slips away, and wordsmith them to perfection later.  

3. Attended a writing conference (LCLC)

One of the smartest investments I ever made was to attend my first writer’s conference, the Left Coast Lesbian Literary Conference in 2018. I’ve written about this experience before, but in this context I’ll add that it was extremely helpful to find out what kind of resource materials and references more experienced authors find valuable. The quality of my writing leveled up as a direct result of attending.

Some folks can’t travel, or find such an investment cost-prohibitive. (Also, most in-person conferences were canceled or virtualized in 2020-2021.) Fair points, so I’ll add that *online* conferences can offer similar experiences. Many conferences post their session videos after the fact, and these are invaluable as well.

4. Attended a writing academy

That same year (2018), I was accepted into the Golden Crown Literary Society Writing Academy, a ten-month intensive for writers who want to improve their work. The classes were streamed, the homework was submitted online, and a forum for my co-hort provided conversation and feedback. Published authors and industry professionals taught the classes and  provided fantastic material with actionable paths to improving my work. 

I highly recommend taking a series of courses like this. Some classes are more expensive than others, but even a $10 Udemy course (or a popular blog like Jane Friedman’s) will provide some new information that can help tighten or improve one’s work, and there are countless courses from Master Class and Writer’s Digest as well as free videos on YouTube.  

5. Scheduled sessions with other writers

Other writers are an incalculable resource, not just for improving my writing, but for helping me understand I’m not alone. Writing is a lonely endeavor, particular when the only voices I have for company (besides my characters, of course) are my inner editor and my inner critic. Sprints (timed writing sessions with other authors) or write-ins (dedicated sessions with other folks to focus on particular projects, both online or in person) create mild competition and camaraderie to help get those words cranked out.


6. Used AI to review my work

This was a game-changer: whether you can afford an editor or not, tools like AutoCrit (my preferred tool), ProWritingAid and Writer’s Diet provide feedback that helps knock out the low-hanging fruit.

Too many adverbs? Keep forgetting to remove passive voice? Too many clichés? These tools help trim all that fat, and though they don’t affect the story itself, they help tighten my writing quickly.

7. Written and posted fan fiction

I read almost as much fan fiction as I do anything else because I’m a nerd who loves a good story about characters I already know and love. As a writer, though, fan fiction is an incomparable sandbox. I can publish whatever I want, whenever I want, and get immediate feedback from readers.

Admittedly, the lack of gatekeepers means it’s a low bar to clear in terms of quality, but that means it’s also a forgiving medium. I can break all the “rules”: prologues, uneven chapter lengths, flashbacks, sexual content – whatever I imagine and want to execute, fan fiction gives me the latitude to do it.

I have experimented with narrative (What I Have To Do), point of view (Of Oaths and Stone), scene development (Second Impression), timeline manipulation (When She Watches), and pacing (To Crave Your Blade At My Throat). I’ve even attempted to emulate more experienced writers to learn what I can from their voices and techniques.

Why is this so helpful? Because I can experiment in real time (readers will respond almost immediately to newly posted content) and know if it’s working or not, which makes it an extraordinary tool. Plot holes and inconsistencies are quickly revealed and can be fixed in a later update. Murky details can be clarified. The feedback loop between me and an engaged audience is powerful.

My next story, BROKEN, will be an experiment in exposition through dialogue,  and I’m looking forward to the challenge.

8. Submitted work for publication consideration

Sooner or later, if you want to be published, you have to press submit.

Before my novel was drafted and sent to a publisher, I submitted short stories for anthologies and flash fiction for contests. Sometimes, the stories weren’t ready and were rejected. A few times, they were accepted, but either way, I made progress. 

The practice gave me confidence, and helped tremendously when I submitted my novel CONSECRATED GROUND to Bywater Books. (Coming to you in Fall of 2022!)

9. Slept with a notepad

Seriously.

I started doing this a few years ago and now I do it wherever I am. I keep a notepad next to the bed open to a blank page with an already engaged pen resting on it. Now when weird ideas come to me at 3am (and it’s ALWAYS 3am), I roll over, scribble blindly and then flip up the page so the next idea has somewhere to go.

I can’t tell you how many times this has saved my sanity. Ever solved your story problem in the middle of the night and then forgotten it the next morning? That doesn’t happen to me anymore. Got a new idea that you don’t want to lose? Here’s my solution.

For you, maybe it’s not a notepad by the bed. Maybe it’s a handheld recorder or a tiny whiteboard or your phone already open to a text app. The point is to find what works for you, and make it a habit so those middle-of-the-night ideas don’t get lost.

10. Participated in NaNoWriMo

Every November, a couple hundred thousand crazy people around the world commit to National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo). The goal is to write 50,000 words (longer than George Orwell’s ANIMAL FARM but shorter than Aldous Huxley’s BRAVE NEW WORLD)  in thirty days. That’s 1667 words a day.

I’ve completed NaNo five times and I’m hooked. NaNo has taught me patience, discipline, fortitude and resiliency when drafting a story.

NaNo taught me that DONE is better than PERFECT. I don’t expect to write a complete story in thirty days. I do expect to take an idea that lives in my head and get it channeled through the keyboard. I learned that I can get my ass in a chair day after day and crank out words. Not necessarily good ones, but perfection isn’t the point. 

NaNo also helped console me after my first novel rejection. In November 2019, I raised the bar and knocked out over 80,000 words in thirty days, proving to myself that I could generate a full-length story from start to finish. It gave me the will to keep trying. 

It’s a fantastic tool for those who are interested, but if it sounds like an anxiety-inducing terror-fest, skip it. There are all kinds of ways to learn these same lessons.


11. Studied the craft 

Character traits and development. World-building. Narrative. Plot structure.  Conflict and suspense. Point of view. Dialogue. Description. Setting. Story design. Syntax. Editing. Publication. 

One of five shelves of craft books…contents of other shelves is classified.
(Too many D&D minis for plausible deniability on peak nerd status.)

I’ve read books and blog posts about all of these things and tried to apply what I’ve learned to my work. It’s a constant effort – there’s always some aspect of my stories that isn’t working well so I study what I can in an attempt to improve it. Then I practice in my short stories and fan fiction until I think I understand how to apply it to my longer original work.

Countless authors (including VanderMeer, as mentioned above, as well as Stephen King, Ursula Le Guin, Kristen Lamb, and James Scott Bell) have published books on the business of being a writer, and these are also helpful.

12. Beta read other people’s work

Sometimes, helping friends or colleagues as they navigate their work can be helpful for me. It took me awhile to learn to ask what kind of feedback people wanted about their work, but that too was a valuable lesson.

13. Written outside my preferred genre and classification

I write long form lesbian fiction and would happily write only science fiction for the rest of my life, but trying to write other lengths and genres has helped me see my preferred genre more clearly. 

14. Paid an editor to read my work and offer feedback

The first time I heard an editor talk about how much she charged for the review of a full-length novel (somewhere in the neighborhood of $5000 US), I decided that was next to impossible and would probably never happen.

I’m glad I was wrong, and it wasn’t until I took a class on editing at LCLC that I learned how many different kinds of editors exist. I didn’t need someone to go through my word by word, checking syntax and punctuation. Instead, I needed someone to tell me if the overall story arc made sense, or if the characters were relatable.

It took awhile, but I found an editor who sometimes charges by the hour at a reasonable rate and sometimes by the project. This has made a huge difference, and my acceptance rate has increased as a result. Yes, this can be cost-prohibitive for some – but even when I’m broke, I figure out a way to make it work.

Your mileage may vary, but these are some of the things that have worked for me. More again soon. I’ve got a lot of writing to do – and A LOT more to learn.


Next week, I’ll send one of my short stories to the folks on my newsletter list as a thanks for supporting my work. It’s not too late to add your name! Join by Aug 30th to receive this month’s story.