When you're crafting a story, stress about "editing" creeps in early. And even when you're an experienced writer, sometimes walking the line between editing and writing your manuscript can feel like a struggle.
Who am I editing for?
When do I need to think about editing my manuscript?
Can I do it myself, or do I have to hire someone?
I've worked one on one with dozens of published writers as a fiction developmental editor and story coach, and there are a few questions and mindset blocks I often see authors struggle with.
Most people might think the difference between writing and editing has to do when when you do it. (You need to write the words before you can edit them, right?) But the real distinction is deeper than the when.
What matters most is the who.
The clip above is a preview from my How to Pre-Edit Your Manuscript webinar.
What's the difference between writing and editing? When you write the first draft of your story, you're developing the idea. Whether you pants or plot or something in between, there is some level of story discovery that you do as you write the story. And creation is inherently messy. I have never worked with an author who wrote a clean publishable first draft, ever.
That first draft is also mostly for you. You write it because you are compelled to pen those scenes at this point in your life. Writing is personal, even when it's intended for publication. And since we write for ourselves, we sometimes forget that no one can read our minds. We don't need to write as completely for ourselves as we would for end reader consumption.
The purpose of a first draft is to get words on the page. You've probably heard the saying, "You can't edit a blank page." Drafting the story is how you get the words from your brain into a text format that other people can enjoy. The editor's job, even when that editor is you, the writer, is to refine the chaos of your first draft into a message with structure and meaning and purpose.
Every step of writing that comes after the first draft is for the readers. We stop making decisions only about what we, the author want, and start thinking about what our readers want. Because if your ultimate goal is to sell this book, the story itself has to connect with readers in a moving, unforgettable way.
That's why editing is about developing the story.
In my training webinar, How to Pre-Edit Your Manuscript, I break down the purpose of writing vs the purpose of editing. Then I walk you through how to edit your own stories with the same framework *I* use as a developmental editor and plot doctor.
You don't need a complicated beat sheet or heavy plotting outline to craft a memorable story that readers rave over.
You just need to be sure your story has the three fundamental storytelling pillars I teach in the webinar.
And you can watch the training for free for 10 days.
Watch the webinar for free
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