I’m spending the next few months editing a novel I wrote during NaNoWriMo 2021. My goal is to edit 10,000 words per week. Some chapters will need slight tweaks, others will need total rewrites. For each day I work I will record what I accomplished and share tips.
WEEK 1 – WEEK 2 – Week 3 – Week 4 – Week 5 – Week 6
Monday
I’ve started editing the second half of the novel in earnest. It’s going really well so far. The characters are starting to feel more developed and I’ve been jotting down lots of notes for how to make them feel more 3D when I go back to work on the first few chapters. I’ve found that if you have characters that feel flat just keep working with them putting them in different situations (falling in love, playing a tabletop game, being attacked by a monster etc.) and you will figure them out.
Tuesday
I made an extra enthusiastic effort to get a lot of novel editing done today because I know I won’t be able to get much done on Wednesday or Thursday. I purposefully left off at a chapter where I know exactly what’s coming next. That way I can pick up relatively easy when I come back on Friday.
Wednesday
As predicted, I barely edited anything today. Much of the time I would’ve normally spent editing was spent leading a virtual creative writing workshop that was on (of all things) editing. It was a lot of fun and I got some fantastic questions. As a whole the participants really seemed to enjoy it.
Thursday
Unfortunately, today was the second day in a row I didn’t get much editing done (although I got a little completed today). By some cosmic coincidence I was involved in virtual programs two days in a row. This evening I introduced David R. Slayton, the author of White Trash Warlock and Trailer Park Trickster in a virtual presentation for the Maryland Writers Association.
Also, spent some time working on my query letters and will be sending them off to agents soon.
Friday
I had a surprisingly easy time slipping straight back into editing today after having two days off. I also set some time aside to send out three of those query letters I’ve been working on. On top of everything else I’ve picked up a fantastic book by Donald Maass entitles The Emotional Craft of Fiction. Literally everyone writing short stories or novels should read this book. It is a fantastic work, filled with some stunning advice.
Takeaways
- Time spent writing and editing is important but you also need to set time aside to research and query agents and small publishers. I highly recommend using Duotrope or just going to your local library and checking out the publishers/agents behind books similar to yours.
- If you take a couple days off, make sure you have an idea of what’s going to happen next. Try to end in a section where you know exactly what’s going to happen in the next chapter and it’s a section you’re excited to write. This makes things super easy when you return.
- Look into virtual creative writing workshops. You can probably find them through your library (you can find A LOT through local libraries). Also check out The Writer’s Center in Bethesda, MD. They have TONS of virtual programs.
- Check out The Emotional Craft of Fiction. I can’t recommend this book enough.
