The rules of editing

Editing is crucial to a successful story. Here are some thoughts:

* When editing your own work, it is often easy to miss or overlook minor problems. This is usually because you are so familiar with your own work that your mind automatically replaces the tiny typo with the correct word.

* There are also times where your mind will completely overlook glaring holes in your plot line, because you know what your story is supposed to look like.
* To edit your own work properly, you will need to go back through your story remembering to read it as a reader would.

*This means stopping to analyse your choice of words, or phrases, or dialogue and taking particular notice of all the loose-ends being drawn neatly together before the resolution.

* Don't be afraid to cut whole sections out of your work. If there are any redundant scenes or descriptions, take them out, or perhaps rephrase them with stronger writing.

* Once you have ruthlessly skimmed all the fat out of your story, re-read it again. You will usually find that your tale is much easier to read than it was before you edited

Here are some things you should look for:

Plot
1. - Is there a believable main plot?
2. - Is your plot clearly explained, so that the reader understood the sequencing of events?

3 - Keep in mind that writing a short story is far different than a full novel. Squeezing six subplots into a short story will not only be difficult to resolve, but will also feel rushed.

Pacing
1. - Does the plot move fast enough to grab the reader's attention?
2. - Did the plot move so fast you're still trying to catch your breath?
3. - Have you glossed over important details in your hurry to get to a more interesting scene?
4. - Does the pacing match the style and genre of the story? i.e.: A melodrama should not be moving at the same pace an action/adventure story.
5. - Are action scenes written in a direct fashion, propelling the reader along? Are subtle scenes drawn out far enough for the reader to catch the nuances?

Setting
1. - Does the description of the setting transport you into the fictional world created by the author?
2. - Do the descriptions amble on for pages or are they interspersed throughout the story, via character's observations or through the effect each scene has on characters?
3. - Does the order of events remain consistent throughout the story?


Characterisation
1. - Are the characters 'real'? Are they well drawn enough to hold your interest?
2. - Does the protagonist undergo some sort of change in the story? If not, what is the purpose of the story? I do think that a story needs to see a major character develop in some way, although I do accept that there may be some stories when the fact that the character does not change is the key.

4. - Is the character's background given in one large lump or small manageable pieces? Was there too much information? Too little? Background needs to be unfolded, almost like showing the reader different layers of your character with each event, deepening the understanding and empathy.

John Dean