Writing makes me happy. Editing and proof reading not so much. I’m now around 30K into draft two of the novel. There have been a few cringe worthy moments (did I really write that?), more than one double take (that makes zero sense, Stephen. Zero sense) and the occasional stunned pause (er….actually that’s not bad). Slow progress continues to be made, despite the constant distraction life throws in the way.
At this rate I should be finished by around 2045. Well, maybe not but it feels like that sometimes. I’ve had to de-Belfast some of the dialogue because, otherwise, 99.99999% you wouldn’t have a clue what the characters were talking about. I’ve also started some historical research which will form the back story of several of the main characters. Battle of Waterloo anybody? I’m a mine of useless information on it now. Ask me anything.
I’ve no idea at what stage an author stops tapping their keyboard, leans back and goes ‘That’s it. I’m done.’ I imagine they will have to pry my cold, dead fingers from the manuscript as I’m hauled kicking and screaming off to the nearest padded cell. As ever the support I’ve received from you guys has been amazing. If it wasn’t for your feedback I doubt if I would have ever started this project, let alone persisted to this point.
I’m going to make these updates a weekly feature. I’m sorry I can’t tell you more but I’ve been advised to keep the plot a closely guarded secret for now. All will be revealed in due course. In the meantime you will just have to be patient. I hope it will be worth the wait for those of you who have expressed an interest in reading the finished product. Now I had better get back to editing this chapter *sighs*
Black Thoughts 
Exciting!! 🙂
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Thank you. I hope you will read it when it comes out 😊
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I would like to! 🙂
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I really hope you will 🙂
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Sounds like things are going well for your writing adventure. Keep it up and you’ll be there before you know it!
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Thank you 😊
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It’s possible to make the proofreading and editing process less of a chore. I list a few tips in my blog post, “The Joys of Editing” (https://wp.me/p30cCH-L1).
Keeping track of the chapter length helped me know when I was done with editing, because there came a time when revising things didn’t significantly affect word count: There is usually more than one good way to express something, and those ways don’t often vary much in the number of words they use.
I knew I was done proofreading the manuscript when a full reading could find an average of 1 error (preferably less) per chapter. That would add up to 34 mistakes (preferably fewer), which constituted what I felt was the irreducible minimum for a book that was close to 200,000 words long. That doesn’t mean they were the last 34 existing mistakes, because I knew I’d still miss finding errors. It just meant that despite my being a perfectionist, I wasn’t going to let the job of proofreading drive me nuts. (I’ve found as many errors – and even more – in “professionally edited” books put out by traditional publishers.)
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Thanks for all the solid advice Christine. I’ll be sure to read your post.
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You can do it! Don’t give up.
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I won’t. Thank you 😊
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I’m so excited! Can’t wait to be your test reader!
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It’s quite a big undertaking. And I’ll want honest feedback. Are you sure you want to?
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Yes 👍
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I rather enjoy editing my work, myself. I feel like I’m getting something done as it’s not as painful as coming up with the original material.
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That’s true. But it’s a slow process. I’m getting there though. Thank you 😊
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I am so glad to hear it. Wish you all the best for your book 😃
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Thank you very much Nancy 🙂
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Your most welcome.😃
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Editing, a necessary evil. Good luck and enjoy the process, the end result will surely be worth it.
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Thank you Deborah. I hope so 🙂
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A perspective from an editor is always great. For my novelette, I edited it myself. It was challenging writing in a perspective of a person with stage 2 Alzheimer’s.
In film school, there is a saying: “Once you’ve sold your script, it is unrecognizable by the time Hollywood gets their hands on it.” This simply implies that it gets rewritten so much that it is quite ridiculous.
In a novel, it is bit different. A person is more free to express themselves in their on terms; however, editing is a task on their own. The novel I am editing went from 180 pages to 101 pages. So, I find myself having to rewrite it to make it a full length novel form once again.
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Yeah it’s a painstaking process. I’m self editing but I would like a professional to look at it as well.
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This is the most exciting part !
… well, ok, the selling-earning-a-lot-of-money part is also not too bad… 😉😄
Lots of success! 🤗🤗🤗
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If I sold 5 copies I’d be happy 😆
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That’s where large families do the trick 😉😄😄
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Unfortunately mine is small 😐
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Hey! You forgot the WP family! 😉😄🤗
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😊😊😊
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After 17 months of writing (with a 6 month hiatus in the middle there), I edited for 3.5 months. It was just like you described above! I finally took a break and let two people read my manuscript, (one friend, one family member). Apparently, there are still “so many type-o’s.” Really?? The thought of starting another round of systematic editing makes me cringe. I think I’ll just starting writing a whole new book! 🙂
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No definitely don’t lol! What type of genre is it? I’d happily beta read it for you 🙂
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Thank you very much for the offer to read it, but it’s most probably going to be thoroughly worked through as my graduate thesis in creative writing, where I will get feedback from my fellow students. I just need to take a break from it for a while. It’s 100,000 words of speculative fiction, a character driven story with a science fiction element placing it in an alternate present. Not dystopian, or at least it doesn’t appear to be, unless we want to explore the possibility that our here and now itself is fairly dystopian. 🙂
After writing daily for so long, I am enjoying reading blogs, and getting back into the community of writers. But it feels strange to not be actively writing, so I think I may be starting a new project, just to keep the creativity flowing. 🙂
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The two things that have become your passion – novel writing and marathon running – seem to be Everest-like endeavors. Kudos that you are still putting one foot in front of the other and continuing.
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Here’s hoping Russ. Thanks as ever 👍🏻
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Well done Stephen. I hope it is all going well still……..
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Muddling along yes. Just passed 50K words on second draft 👍🏻
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Way to go!!! I do snippet editing like I shared, and even today as I was going through Ch. 2 (I was prepping it to send to some test readers, and I always like rereading before I send it out). It’s nice to be able to step back from what you just wrote, and really look over what to add or take away. I know I will be needing to add some more detail pieces, just small ones. Keep at it. Some writers struggle so much with editing, like you said, they never feel ready. Don’t feel like that, but know your limits, and be willing to push yourself. Although, I have to admit, your visual of editing your manuscript to death did get me laugh. I relate. I think it is wise to guard the plot.
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I’m a bit confused as I’ve read others online saying you should share. How many test readers are you using?
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I have 7 test readers, four are bloggers I reached out, 2 are test readers I know personally, and 1 I know personally, but she will be my editor once the book is written so she won’t see anything till it is all done. I think if you are going the self publish route you should be able to share more, and once the book is closer to getting published (should you work with an agent) that will be I think when you’re told to start talking about the book more.
I could be wrong though. But I have seen multiple people who have published books, say they have a “project” and they can’t say anything, but then when it gets closer to a book release date they reveal what the project was.
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That’s sound advice. I was thinking of putting a post out on WP soon for test readers.
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I think as long as you do not go through Amazon or any other place that matches websites for content and prices the lowest, you should be okay. Or be very vague. When I have talked about the book, I’ve been exceedingly vague.
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I may reach out to a few more people. It wasn’t till I wrote this book I had this many. I usually only had one to two through novels 1-3.
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This was fun to read. Thanks.
I drafted a novel once, it looked beautiful during the writing process then I finished, I needed to edit (slamming palm on forehead) i got worn out and stopped and I honestly haven’t been able to read through the story again.
Every time, I see my pile of pages sitting on my screen and I skip it to write my new story I’m working on now. I’m hopeful to publish this one.
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Thank you. Let’s hope both stories see the light of day 😊
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I’m like you on a time delay!!!! Love it!
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And I actually I LOVE editing my own work (except AFTER I’ve posted it, and then I wonder if maybe I was having a stroke when I wrote it), but I’m kind of a grammar geek!!!
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I’ve written a few blogs about my faltering faith. I think you might relate to them. Your blog reminds me of Jamie Wright whose book ‘The Very Worst Missionary’ I’d recommend 🙂
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I’m familiar with that book. Mine would definitely be titled “world’s worst pastor’s wife”!!!
Thanks for reading! And for the support. I’m new st this, and I’m enjoying reading your posts!!
Much ❤️
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Yeah…. there’s those typos!
I’m just hungry. You get the gist! LOL
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Hangry 😂😂
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I’m enjoying yours too. I’m sure you’re not THAT bad 😂
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