30 Days and 30 Ways to Edit a Novel
Editing a novel can feel overwhelming. I know. I stood before the abyss after writing my first novel during National Novel Writing Month in 2015. In January of 2016, I researched methods for editing, applied everything I learned, and finally had a polished novel ready for my first readers just as NaNoWriMo was kicking up again. In the next few years, I wrote more novels and began editing manuscripts by others, each time honing my method of editing. For 2019 Camp NaNo, I decided to write 30 blog posts, one a day, and share them here for my fellow writers.
Are you ready to edit? Start by reviewing the list below. You may know where your book needs the most work and can skip to the sections that suit you. Or maybe you want to start at the top and work your way through the list, one step at a time. Do what works best for you. ALSO, don't worry if it takes you longer than a month. Some sections will take longer than a day, while others may only take a few minutes. It's not a race. Take your time. Make your work shine!
And don't forget: BACK UP YOUR MANUSCRIPT OFTEN!
Day 1
Day 2
Day 3
Day 4
Day 5
Day 6
Day 7
Day 8
Day 9
Day 10
Day 11
Day 12
Day 13
Day 14
Day 15
Day 16
Day 17
Day 18
Day 19
Day 20
Day 21
Day 22
Day 23
Day 24
Day 25
Day 26
Day 27
Day 28
Day 29
Day 30
Are you ready to edit? Start by reviewing the list below. You may know where your book needs the most work and can skip to the sections that suit you. Or maybe you want to start at the top and work your way through the list, one step at a time. Do what works best for you. ALSO, don't worry if it takes you longer than a month. Some sections will take longer than a day, while others may only take a few minutes. It's not a race. Take your time. Make your work shine!
And don't forget: BACK UP YOUR MANUSCRIPT OFTEN!
Day 1
Day 2
Day 3
Day 4
Day 5
Day 6
Day 7
Day 8
Day 9
Day 10
Day 11
Day 12
Day 13
Day 14
Day 15
Day 16
Day 17
Day 18
Day 19
Day 20
Day 21
Day 22
Day 23
Day 24
Day 25
Day 26
Day 27
Day 28
Day 29
Day 30