Editing someone else’s work is always easier than editing your own. When I review someone’s manuscript, I can always see the flaws, the errors in grammar, the leaps in story logic, the stalled through line. It jumps out at me demanding attention and comment.
The same thing does not always happen in my own writing.
There is always a point in editing my own work that I lose perspective and objectivity. It is when I begin to swing wildly from feelings of elation to despair. Is this good or crap? Will people want to read it or throw it against the wall? It is the age-old struggle of writing. Am I good enough? Can I write?
It doesn’t matter how long you toil at the keyboard, there will always be doubt. It is the same for all creatives. My best friend is a masterful artist who struggles with each painting no matter how amazing.
It is times like these when a good Beta reader is required. You need to get some distance. You need someone who can read your work and let you know what surprises and what disappoints. What confuses and what sings. Trust me, you will know when this time comes because it will be inevitably accompanied by a feeling of madness and depression. At least, it does for me.
This happens every time I write a long format piece, whether it is a documentary film script, a nonfiction book or a novel. It is impossible to see my work clearly on that scale. At least, in the end.
The first rounds of edits are exhilarating. I love the feeling of tearing things apart and putting them back together in a more logical way. I love swapping weak verbs and phrases for strong ones. I also love cutting the chafe. Looking for the extraneous and things that do nothing to further the story.
I have a horrible habit of writing long in nearly everything I write because I let the words flow onto the page in a flood of syllables in the first draft and then go back in edits and ruthlessly push back the tide. By writing long, I have the freedom to tighten and cut without worrying I will run short. I never do, but I like it that way. I love knowing that I am keeping the best bits and tossing the rest, even when I love something, but know it doesn’t fit. Writing long allows me to edit with impunity. It allows me to strip my work down to the essential bits.
Still, editing is a rollercoaster. It is fun and difficult. The trick is to keep doing it until you can no longer judge the work any more, taking great care to not edit out the heart of the voice. This is the hard part. If you edit for grammar and writing only, you can kill what makes your book work. There is a fine line between retaining your voice and trying to be what you think editors and agents want. There is a kind of magic in the raw form that editing can render moot. Don’t do that. If you aren’t sure whether to make a cut, don’t. Wait until you are or until someone else points out the same issue.
When you start feeling too close to the work, hand it off. Ask someone else to take a look and give an unvarnished opinion. Don’t give it to your mom or best friend if they will only tell you how wonderful you are. Give it to that person you know who reads a lot and has opinions—strong opinions. You want feedback, not kudos.
Then take the comments to heart. Read them. Consider them and decide whether they are valid points and whether you need to change something or not. The idea behind Beta readers is to get a feeling for how your work will be received, not to be finished with editing. You won’t be.
Editing is a lengthy and emotional process. Be sure to find a buddy to keep it productive. Keep at it. Don’t give up. And good luck.