Writing the first draft is messy by design. It’s raw, unfiltered, and full of ideas that may or may not work. That’s not a flaw—it’s the point. But once the words are on the page, it’s time to shape them into something tighter, cleaner, and more intentional. Editing isn’t about fixing what’s broken—it’s about revealing what’s already there, just buried beneath the noise.
Step Away First
Before you touch your draft, walk away from it. Give yourself a few days (or longer) to detach emotionally. This space helps you return to the story with fresh eyes, so you can read what’s actually there—not just what you remember writing.
When you come back, read it start to finish without making any changes. Take notes, but don’t edit yet. You’re looking for how the story flows, where you got bored, what confused you, and what hit harder than expected.
Start Big: Structure Before Sentences
Don’t get stuck tweaking sentences if you’re still unsure about the story’s bones. Look at the big picture first:
- Does the plot make sense?
- Are the stakes clear and rising?
- Do characters change or grow?
- Is the pacing consistent—or does it sag in places?
If you need to cut or move entire scenes, now’s the time. It’s easier to trim or rewrite paragraphs after you know they belong where they are.
Kill the Darlings (But Know Why)
Yes, that line sounds beautiful. Yes, that scene was fun to write. But does it serve the story? If not, let it go. A strong scene or sentence that doesn’t contribute to character, plot, or theme becomes dead weight.
But cutting doesn’t mean deleting without thinking. Save everything in a “cut scenes” doc—you might reuse it later. Editing is about tightening the focus, not draining the life out of your writing.
Strengthen Character Arcs
Flat characters are often a sign that their arc isn’t clear. Ask yourself:
- What does this character want?
- What’s stopping them?
- How do they change?
Make sure their choices, mistakes, and growth are visible. If a character feels passive or inconsistent, they might need sharper motivations—or more pressure to force change.
Pay attention to secondary characters too. They shouldn’t just serve the main character’s journey. Give them their own goals, tension, and presence on the page.
Tighten Dialogue
Good dialogue sounds real, but tighter. Every line should reveal character, move the story forward, or create tension. If it doesn’t, cut it or rework it.
Trim filler like:
- “Hi, how are you?”
- “I’m fine, how about you?”
Readers don’t need small talk unless it’s hiding something. Focus on subtext, rhythm, and conflict. People rarely say exactly what they mean—especially in emotionally charged moments.
Show More, Tell Less
If your draft leans heavily on “telling,” find places to dramatize key moments. Don’t just say “She was nervous.” Show her tapping her fingers, avoiding eye contact, fidgeting with her sleeve.
That said, not every sentence needs to be “shown.” Telling is efficient and necessary in spots—just make sure you’re not overusing it where emotion or tension should shine through action and detail.
Trim Wordy Sentences
Wordiness creeps in when you’re trying too hard to sound “writerly.” Look for clutter like:
- “In order to” → “To”
- “Due to the fact that” → “Because”
- “She began to walk” → “She walked”
Cut redundancies and weak qualifiers like really, very, somewhat, quite, perhaps. They usually dilute your point. Make every word earn its place.
Read It Aloud
Reading your story aloud helps you hear awkward phrasing, repetitive sentence structure, or clunky dialogue. If you trip over a sentence, chances are your readers will too.
This trick also helps you catch pacing issues. Do scenes feel too fast, too slow, or just right? Does each paragraph pull you to the next? The ear often picks up on problems the eye skips.
Line Edit Last
Once structure, character arcs, and scene order are solid, you can zoom in. This is where you fine-tune word choice, fix grammar, and polish voice. It’s satisfying work, but don’t do it too early—there’s no point making a sentence perfect if the whole scene might get cut.
One Pass at a Time
Trying to fix everything at once is overwhelming. Break editing into layers:
- Big picture: Plot, pacing, and character arcs
- Scene level: Conflict, flow, setting, purpose
- Paragraphs and sentences: Clarity, rhythm, word choice
- Proofreading: Grammar, typos, formatting
Each pass brings your story closer to what it wants to be. Don’t rush it.
No Comments