Embrace the Editing Journey: Step One- Take a Break

The First Draft is finished; what an accomplishment. Pat yourself on the back ladies and gents as you’ve completed the hardest part by far. You’re amazing ideas are on paper. It’s a momentus accomplishment, one that marks the beginning of an equally important phase: the editing process. Editing is where the true magic of storytelling takes place, where characters come alive, plots tighten, and the narrative finds its authentic voice. As you embark on this transformative journey, where I am write now, let’s explore the first essential step in my editing process: taking a break.

Now, some of you have the wherewithal to move on and hire a wonderful team of editors to navigate this process with you and for you, congrats. I might be a little jealous.

But here lies a single mother, entrepreneur and freelance writer who can’t really fit a professional editor into the tiny, tiny wallet I carry. But for me that’s not a huge issue. It most definitely means more work on my part, but I’m perfectly capable. I didn’t have a professional editor for my dissertation either. It helps to have some guidance and that’s available out there through books and blogs like this one. I decided to work through my editing process here on the blog and maybe release a guidebook when I’m finished so you can find it all in one place in the future?

The Importance of Taking a Break

After immersing yourself in the world of my novel during the writing process, it’s only natural to feel deeply connected to my work. Like life altering, absorbed, connected. Because of this, immediately plunging into the world of editing isn’t the most effective approach. I know many indie authors are out to get published as fast as possible to maintain their audience and appeal, but that doesn’t always put out the best work. I don’t go for mediocre or fast; I go for good and my best. Jumping right into the editing phase doesn’t work for me. Taking a break is essential to gain a fresh perspective and gives you the ability to approach your manuscript with a clear and objective mindset.

When you take a step back from your novel, you create valuable space for reflection and rejuvenation. Whether it‘s a few days, a week, or even longer is up to you. This break allows you to disengage from the narrative, giving your mind a chance to rest and reset. During this hiatus, your subconscious mind continues to churn, untangling plot knots and generating new insights that you might not have seen while in the thick of writing.

Moreover, distancing yourself from your manuscript brings a crucial element into play: objectivity. By allowing time to pass between the completion off your first draft and the beginning of the editing process, you can approach your work with a more critical eye. You’ll be better equipped to identify areas that require improvement, spot inconsistencies, and envision ways to elevate your storytelling.

Involving Your Family and Friends in the Editing Process

I know the guilt and the negative feelings that can come from setting the work aside. It naws at your soul; taunting you as your monitor sneers at you, telling you that you should be working. “You can’t make and money sitting around doing nothing,” it says.

Taking a break doesn’t have to mean that nothing is happening with your novel. It just means you aren’t doing anything. I have an incredible support system, which is what makes my lifestyle possible. When I have completed my first draft to the best of my abilities (this doesn’t include grammatical or error proofreading only a read through to fix missing or inconsistent information) I print 2 copies of the manuscript. These two copies get passed around between my closest friends and family.

As you take a break from you novel, consider involving close friends and family. This will be a different pool from your future beta and ARC readers. This can be a heartwarming and collaborative experience that not only strengthens family bonds but also enriches your work with a more diverse perspective.

Those two copies of my novel get passes around, even to my precocious pre-teen, and everyone is encouraged not to simply read it but to take notes in different colored pens. I like the color coding because if I have a question later or need them to elaborate, I know who to go talk to. This process creates a mosaic of feedback, where4 each family member or friend adds their unique insights,, reactions, and suggestions.

My instructions are to read, don’t focus on grammar and spelling (they can circle it but thats not the point at this stage) but instead note where they might get confused, inconsistencies in descriptions, story points, where do they get bored, where would more action be better, what should I expand or shrink. I want to know more about the story and how it makes them feel.

I love to include my daughter. My books are relatively safe for a pre-teen and she, as stated, is pretty precocious and reads more adult themed books than her peers. If you have a child who can read your books go for it! Involving your children, who have dealt with the stresses of your author life, is incredibly meaningful. Not only does she get excited to read my work, but children often have a fresh and honest perspective, offering observations that adults might overlook.

As you collect these manuscripts back from your family, ideally youll have a treasure trove of valuable feedback that will guide your editing process. This is the best place to include your family, in my opinion. Our family is often our loudest cheerleaders and can overlook certain down points because they don’t want to hurt your feelings. They don’t always make the best beta readers…

Benefits of Family Collaboration

Collaborating with your family during this process has it benefits beyond editing. It fosters a sense of shared creativity and enthusiasm for your work. Your family becomes more of your cheerleaders, rooting for your success and celebrating each step of your editing journey with you.

The process of exchanging ideas and sharing thoughts with your loved ones fosters a nurturing environment for your creativity to flourish. The collaborative spirit can ignite inspiration, sparking fresh ideas and approaches to enhance your storytelling. Maybe they can think of a twist that never dawned on you?

Involving your family and close friends also reinforces the sense of purpose behind your writing. They become a part of your creative journey, connecting emotionally with your work and sharing in the excitement of bringing your novel to its full potential.

Conclusion

As you embrace the editing journey, remember that taking a break is a vital first step in nurturing the growth of you novel. Allow yourself the gift of time and distance, relishing the opportunity to return to your work with fresh eyes and a renewed sense of purpose. And as you involve you family in this creative endeavor, cherish the collaborative spirit that binds you together, creating a beautiful testament to the power of love and support in the world of storytelling.

By enlisting the input of your close friends and family, you expand the creative horizons of your work, drawing inspiration from diverse perspectives. The journey of editing becomes not only a solitary endeavor, but a shared adventure, filled with warmth, encouragement, and the joy of creativity. Happy Editing!