Editing

Also known as that thing that makes me look like this =  X_X


Now, in the past I'd heard people talk (okay seen since it was online) about editing. Some super love it while many others find it tedious and soon discover themselves missing the magical feeling of first draft writing. I haven't figured out quite yet where I stand on that spectrum. It is definitely not a simple, quick process (not in the beginning at least).

While many people focus on the big changes, character, plot, etc. I am doing a big focus on the technical issues of the novel because there are no major plot or character issues that I would change at this point. A friend of mine on Writing.Com showed me a web site that has started this attempt at editing.

The Web site is editminion.com

It points out some of the technical issues like passive voice, adverbs and such. While it doesn't catch them all and sometimes it highlights something that isn't actually a saidism, but it's a program and so understandable. But what it provides is a starting point, at least for me. I take their highlights, then add more of what I notice in the chapter. The end result is colorful but very time consuming. I also leave notes on other things that need fixing, like character names and such that a program wouldn't know.

This process is taking much longer than I first expected. To highlight one chapter takes me from 1 to 2.5 hours, depending on the chapter. I've made it up to chapter 10 and the novel has 35 chapters. X.X

Once I get done with the coloring, then the real work will start, changing it all. Okay, not it all because some of it is just notes and will be able to stay. But definitely the writing will get better as I work through making most of the changes needed. Then I might have a draft reader for a beta reader.



Anyone else editing?
What is your editing process?