The Only Editing Method You’ll Actually Use

Inspiration struck, words flowed, ink filled up the pages and then… and then what? Does your writing journey end there? Is your work now ready to be shown to the world?

Short answer: Nope, not yet.

When you're writing, more often than not, you're more focused on pouring your thoughts out. So things like grammar, structure, and flow take a back seat. And that’s okay— creativity comes first! 

At the same time, it's really important to give your drafts a really thorough read before sharing them with the world. It really helps avoid some really embarrassing mistakes. Like when someone points out that you used the word really 4 times in a single sentence. (It was a genuine mistake. Really!)

Now, if you're wondering how you can get started on editing your drafts, I've got you boo!

As an expert in editing (self-proclaimed), here is the method I have perfected, to make my drafts go from really good to really really good. 

The Tri-cycle: Your Training Wheels to Editing Glory

The Tri-cycle, as the name suggests, is a 3-step iterative process. It is a super simple and very effective way to ensure your work is polished (or, at the very least, error free.)

It is tried and tested by 2AM scribblers like myself, who were able to edit their work half asleep, and still produce decent results. The best part? You can do this over the course of a couple of days, because this method works in phases. No need to sit with your drafts until the words start floating off the page.

1. Phase one: Start with Syntax

Say you're reading something really cool. The content is great, you're in your comfy pjs and all is right in the world. Then, the dreaded happens—you come acros a typo, or god forbid a misplaced double quote”

This instantly plummets the credibility of the writer. While we understand that writers are human and mistakes are natural, a writer who fails to double check their work comes off as irresponsible and lazy. (Not the best impression to leave on your readers.)

It's easier to overlook things like long sentences, low readability, incoherence, and bad flow because these are subjective. What reads well to one person, may not necessarily read well to another. It's a matter of taste, preference and exposure. But spelling and punctuation are set in stone. These are non-negotiables. If you want your work to be taken seriously, if you want to be taken seriously, don't overlook this part.

These are simple and easy to fix, and have a huge impact on how your work is perceived.

So this phase should be the first area of focus in your drafts. Even if you decide to ignore everything else, don't ignore this.

Tips: 

• I'm all for spell-check tools, but one thing to be mindful of is the consistency in English language region/variety and dialect. 

• If you're spelling words the American way, follow through with it till the end. Randomly shifting to a British spelling, or using British dialect and British words without any context will take away from your work.

• And beware of homophones! Their very easy to mess up and are the most common mistakes we see in drafts.

2. Phase two: Content, Coherence and Continuity

Where to Start

This is the meatiest and most hands-on part of the editing process. This phase is where you'd make most of your modifications, and sometimes, it can be brutal.

• That gorgeous but unnecessary paragraph that’s killing your pacing?

• The sentence that’s somehow four lines long and still going?

• That sudden shift from first person to third person… and back again? (Who’s even talking right now?)

Yup, time to tackle those. 

But… where do you start? 

Do you start with refining sentence structure? Removing unnecessary details? Or double checking content?

It’s none of those. 

You start by identifying areas you want to improve. And to do that, highlighters are your best friends. 

• Found a word you want to replace? Highlight it. 

• A sentence that is difficult to read? Highlight it! 

• Paragraphs you want to rewrite? You know the drill.

Note: It helps to colour code your edits.

• Sentences you want to refine in yellow.

• Paragraphs you want to rewrite in blue.

• Deletions in cold blood with red.

How to Recognise

Now you may ask, "I know that I have to start by identifying areas of improvement, but how do I identify what needs to be improved?"

A lot of the time, anything that feels off at first glance is worth revisiting. 

But if you want to be really thorough, here is a list of questions I ask myself when I am editing my work:

1. Is this line/paragraph necessary? What does it add to the story? What would change if I deleted it?

2. Is this line/paragraph easy to read? What could make it better? 

3. Does this line/paragraph convey what I want it to convey? How could it be misinterpreted?

Note: If you want to replace a word, don't google a fancy synonym and slap it onto the page. Do some research before using a synonym to ensure it fits in the sentence.

3. Phase three: Feedback and Repeat

Now, there isn’t much for you to do in this phase. After making all the changes to your draft, ask a friend, a peer, or even a mentor to read your draft. They may spot things you’ve gotten too familiar with to notice. They could also give your new perspectives.

Try to keep an open mind. It’s difficult to take criticism, but it comes with practice. If it helps, you don’t have to follow through with the feedback you receive. At the end of the day, it is your work, and you have control over it. 

Nonetheless, I would strongly encourage you to always seek feedback, even if you don’t intend on implementing it. Feedback is very insightful and gives you a look into how the average reader perceives your work.

When to Stop

Now remember I said this was an iterative process? Yes, so after getting feedback, you go back to phase one and you continue from there with the feedback in mind. This feedback is mostly intended for phase 2, but you can never check the syntax too many times.

Now comes the question: When do I stop? When do I put an end to the cycle?

That's simple. You run through this cycle 3 times, that is, 3 iterations. And then, you stop. 

• The first iteration is for high priority, blatant, obvious edits like spellings, hard-to-read sentences, and plot holes.

• The second iteration is for medium priority, more subtle edits like restructuring a paragraph, improving transitions, and removing fillers.

• The third iteration is for low priority (but a priority, nonetheless) edits like improving word choice, adjusting tone, and smoothing rhythm.

After that? Step away. You’ve done your part. Don’t over-edit your work into oblivion. 

Even if you are tempted to edit more, it is good practice to stop at this point. You can always make everything better, but you have to draw the line somewhere.

Additional Tips:

1. Crying is Normal

   
   

Once, I fell asleep mid-work and dreamt of being chased by a mob of commas. After that, I couldn’t look at my drafts without imagining all the commas to be grumpy.

It is normal to feel confused and overwhelmed when editing. When you don’t know how to refine a sentence, or shorten a paragraph—take a break. It is not productive to pour over the same lines with no significant results. You can get back to your draft later with a cooler mind and fresher perspective. 

2. AI is Great, But You're Better

   
   

I get it, AI is very useful. It can correct your mistakes, give you new and fun ideas, and it can refine your work. But AI can never be you. Don’t deprive the world of your voice. Let your literary idiosyncrasies shine in your writing. 

Use AI, but ensure it doesn't over power your voice.  I promise, the world wants to hear you. At the very least, we do.

3. Plagiarism Checks

   
   

It's always a good practice to perform Plagiarism checks on your drafts. It keeps you accountable. 

Two main checks to perform would be an AI generated content detection test and a copied content detection test. 

A good rule of thumb is to ensure that no more than 20% of your content is AI generated or copied. You can use tools like Duplichecker, Grammarly, and Quillbot to check for plagiarism and AI generated content. 

Note: 

• 20% is a soft threshold (set by yours truly). However, try not to veer too far from it. 

• If you are submitting your works to journals or contests, it's good to follow their rules regarding plagiarism.

4. Rushed Editing is Bad Editing

Don’t work right before deadlines (Note to my current 2AM self.) 

You could miss critical errors in your work if you edit in a hurry. A calm mind helps catch errors and areas of improvement.

Having abundant time before deadlines also allows you to get more people to read your work and give feedback. Multiple proofreads by multiple people reduces the chances of any inconsistencies.

Wildcard Entry: Wingless Dreamer Editorial Services

Now if this all seems like a lot of work, well… I’d agree.

Editing takes time and effort, and it's not for everyone. 

That's why we're here, The Wingless Dreamer Editorial Services! You can trust your drafts to us and focus on the creative part of the writing journey.

We assign professional editors who accompany you on your editing journey till you're satisfied with what you are reading. They get to know you and your work personally through video calls to ensure they can help you deliver your best work.

And with that, I’ve spilt all the editing secrets I had to share. Now whether you want to dig out your training wheels to start riding the tri-cycle, or entrust your drafts with experienced try-cycle riders, the choice is in your capable hands.

But let’s keep the conversation going and ideas coming!

What are some bizarre things you’ve done in the name of editing that have actually worked? What are some unanswered questions you still have about editing? Share in the comments. You could really save a poor soul (aka me).