Editing
2 articles
A finished draft may need its scenes reordered, a character’s motivation rethought, or a pass over individual sentences. This section covers editing fiction, from revisiting structure and finding plot inconsistencies to refining dialogue, rhythm, and prose.
You’ll also find articles on self-editing, proofreading, beta reading, and working with an editor: preparing a draft for review, discussing feedback, and deciding which changes to make. For starting a book and organizing the drafting process, visit Working on the Manuscript.
How to Revise a Novel: 5-Pass Checklist
How to revise a novel in five passes, from story structure down to typos, with a checklist for each pass and the point where beta readers come in.
How to Prepare a Manuscript for Publishing
How to prepare a novel manuscript for publishing: the editing order, standard submission format for agents, and the files self-publishing needs.