8 Comments
User's avatar
Paul Walters's avatar

A manuscript without and editor is like a dance without music

Zayaan's avatar

Um... I might be messaging you in the near to distant future.

Tanya Meeson's avatar

:D you know where to find me

Paul Walters's avatar

Should read an editor. See editing works !!

Tanya Meeson's avatar

:D – that's okay i don't have an editor on my substacks and they're always littered with mistakes

Julie's avatar

Thanks for posting. I've been chewing around capturing my process for novel revision after the first draft. Spoiler alert: It involves 3 editors and additional sensitivity readers if needed - all paid. Below are my first few steps.

1. Take my novel manuscript as fas as I can, at least 3 drafts, including an intense revision process, usually arriving at step 2 somewhere in year 2.

2. Hire a developmental editor

3. Incorporate DE's wisdom to the online doc

4. Print, read and mark corrections, deletions, etc.....

5-11...

12. Complete, after about another year and ready for agent submission or self publishing.

Tanya Meeson's avatar

This is a really great process Julie. Should be printed out and taught frankly. And great note about sensitivity readers. I love the 5 to 11 :) My process as a writer is way more impatient and haphazard: write, first draft, second draft, give it to my husband to read, third draft, get two beta readers, fourth draft, line editor, fifth draft where I rewrite so much I really need another line editor pass, submit to agents, get impatient, decide to self-publish, do the typesetting, make more changes, get it proofed, make more changes, it goes to print, get the proof copy make more changes (!!!!!), then sign off. IT'S CRAZY WHAT AM I DOING?! hahaha

Julie's avatar

Not crazy and you've inspired to write out my process and publish right here on Substack. It will be in 2 parts, on Sep 24 and Oct 8. Thanks for the inspiration.