The Editing Process (And Recording) After the Editor
Allow me to share how I go about this.
One of the dangers I warn writers and would-be writers about is editing.
Yes, editing is SUPER important. Not editing means your work is unpolished, and all kinds of crazy things go out to the world: typos, misspellings, half-written thoughts, improper names, and more.
As a writer, it’s important to edit your own work. However, there is something that’s often more important than editing:
Writing.
Too many writers and would-be writers start editing too soon. For the most part, in my experience, it’s best to finish your writing before you begin editing. Get it done. Done is better than perfect, and if you begin editing before you even finish, you create a feedback loop that can derail the work and keep you from ever reaching the end.
Of course, there are exceptions to this. If you’re a pantser (discovery writer), and you come across something that utterly changes what you have written, and that will impact what you’ve yet to write, by all means, go back and edit it. A character name changes? Edit that. Just make sure you keep it specific and focused, lest you wind up self-sabotaging your writing process.
I finish the writing. Yay, complete book (or blog)! Then, I go back and edit. For blogs, this happens once. For books, this might happen more than once (depending on beta readers or the like). Just like with writing, this edit is best done in 1 complete pass. Again, going back and back can and will kill all forward momentum.
After that, it’s time to send your work to the editor. This process, for me, is deeply specific.
My editing process after the editor
This is on my mind because I just got back the edit of the first book from my new sci-fi novel, Rise of The Captain. This is the first book in my new sci-fi series, The Gentleman Space Pirate.
Since I would prefer to do this uninterrupted, and I’m about to take a vacation, I’m waiting to begin my editing process. In the meantime, I’m in the middle of editing Mixing Business With Pirates, the third Gentleman Space Pirate novel.
When I do begin my editing process, however, it will look like this:
- Step 1: Read what the editor has sent.
- Step 2: Edit 2 chapters, reading them aloud, back-to-back.
- Step 3: Record those 2 chapters for the audiobook.
There’s a reason I do this 2 chapters at a time. First, so that I am fully focused. If I try to edit too many chapters in a sitting, the potential for errors rises. My editor is good, but not perfect. I don’t want to miss anything. And I might also miss what was recommended for editing if I do too many chapters at once.
Remember, you don’t necessarily accept every edit your editor gives you. Dialogue and poetry, for example, are often edited for technicalities but ignore intentional patterns set by you, the author.
The recording of the audiobook immediately after editing a couple of chapters serves 2 purposes. First, I’ve given it a pre-read. I always read aloud when I edit (you’d be amazed what you hear that you might miss with just your eyes). Second, I have a stronger understanding of what goes into the chapter overall before I take the time to record it.
Recording, for me, is a part of the editing process.
A different approach for the voiceover
In past books, I’ve done different voices for different characters. For this book, I think I’m going to mostly read it in my own voice.
Why? First, this book is different in that it’s all told from a single character’s perspective. To some degree, that lends a certain logic to reading it in only 1 voice. I might want to differentiate a few of the characters tonally, maybe make male vs female vs enby voices unique, but I’m undecided at present. That is something I’m giving thought to before I tackle this one.
This process also has a specific order to it. Read when editing, then record the chapters. Only record 2 chapters at a time. This preserves my voice and maintains a level of vocal consistency. I don’t edit my recordings until I’m done with all the chapters. Like editing the words themselves, editing as I go might interfere with the rest of the recording.
I loved doing radio in college. There was more than one attempt on my part, over the years, to try and get into voice acting. Recording my own books as audiobooks feels like a natural extension of my overall storytelling. Hence, why I do it.
Formatting after the editing process
As part of editing my editor’s edits, I begin formatting the final work. This is important as an authorpreneur, as I’m also the publisher of my books. Again, consistency matters. Lack of consistency looks a lot like lack of professionalism. And, frankly, I personally feel that neglecting consistent formatting is unprofessional.
When I chose to be an indie-author, I chose to go all-in. That said, I recognize that if the product I put out in the world isn’t good because of things I can control (sentence structure, chapter breakdowns, and the like), it disrespects both the work itself and the reader.
Finally, remember that there is no One True Way. The important thing I hope you might take away from this essay is that the editing – in all forms – is nearly as important as writing, but not to sacrifice the writing itself. Be the storyteller you desire to be, share it with the world, but make sure what you’re sharing is worthy of both you and your potential readers/fans.
Thanks for reading. As I share my creative journey with you every week, please consider this: How are you inspired and empowered to be your own authentic creator, whatever form that takes?
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