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Write A Novel And Get It Published: Editing

by Nigel Watts

The first stage of writing a novel is inspirational, when the ideas flow and you try to get them down without allowing your inner critic too much say. This is where the art of writing comes in, but the second stage is the craft of editing, where you shape and order your vision. It’s important to keep these two stages separate as the confusion of these two domains is the single biggest obstacle to most beginners. Allow time to pass between finishing one draft and starting the next so that you come to it fresh.

When you are ready to start editing, remember that it is of secondary importance to inspiration. Only rewrite where it’s absolutely necessary – leave some rough edges in your writing to give it charm and humanity. You should, however, be sure to check the basics, such as tense and characters’ speech patterns, for consistency. Also check that you do have an eight-point plot arc and check the pacing of the story. If your story is short, don’t pad it out with waffle, either develop it or leave it as a novella. And finally, learn when to stop writing and let go of the novel. Accept that it will never be perfect.


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