Countdown to The Wayward Spy is now at THREE (!) weeks (March 2nd). To mark this occasion, I thought I’d post about THREE ways I edit my own writing. If you have other editing tips, feel free to share in the comments.
- Timeline – The Wayward Spy is a fast-paced thriller that takes place over a period of two weeks in November 2003. As you’ll soon find out, a LOT happens in that short amount of time. In order to make sure the plot is realistic, I printed out a 2003 calendar so I could map out every major event in the story. This timeline helped me avoid pitfalls like having Maggie (the main character) travel overseas and back in a ridiculously short amount of time. Using a calendar also helped me catch errors involving a character reacting to something another character hadn’t yet said or done. The Wayward Spy’s characters are neither psychic nor time travelers, so it was critical that I fix these errors!
- Read Aloud – The single most effective way to edit my characters’ dialog is to read their own words aloud. If the dialog sounds at all stilted or awkward, I take out my red pen and start fixing it. The last thing an author wants is for readers to stumble over a conversation between characters. I read The Wayward Spy aloud several times to address dialog flow and to find clunky wording elsewhere in the story. Try this the next time you post on social media or write an e-mail. You might just find a better way to say what you mean.
- Chapter Summaries – After finishing a round of revisions on the sequel to The Wayward Spy, I realized I was confused about which characters knew what and when they knew it. And if I was confused, readers certainly would be confused and maybe give up on the story. The solution was to summarize each chapter so I could find problems in the plot, timeline, and character actions. It took longer than I expected, but it was worth the effort to make sure the story flows in a logical and captivating way.
Most authors use beta readers and a professional editor at some point in the publishing process, but you can and should edit your own work as you go. I don’t always find editing fun (to say the least)…until, suddenly, the changes I’ve made result in the perfect phrase, sparkling dialog, or a shocking plot twist.
Pre-order The Wayward Spy at The Wayward Spy | CamCat Books or on Amazon.
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