Over the years, I’ve been in a number of different critique groups, most of which were populated by writers more talented than me.

For the first few groups, the critiques I received followed a pattern: the first pages would come back riddled with edits, and the ending pages would have mostly positive comments. Initially, I thought my fellow writers were just being kind. After beating me down, it’s only natural for them to want to pick me up.

I asked each group about the pattern, and the answer was always essentially the same. “It just takes a while for you to find your voice,” they’d say. “Maybe try throwing out the first few pages of whatever you write.”

That last part was not exactly helpful, but it drove home the point.

It took me years to find a solution to my problem. Now, whenever I sit down to write, I start by editing the last few pages of whatever I’d written the previous day. Sometimes, it’s a whole chapter. Other times, just a few pages.

Since I write chronologically, editing my previous pages gets me into the current voice of the book. It also refreshes me on the voices of the characters. By the time I start writing, I know exactly where everyone is, what they’re thinking, and how they’re talking.

This sounds like a simple solution, and I highly recommend it, but it comes with a warning: you have to be comfortable with editing. 

When I started this approach, I wasn’t.

Editing hits all my insecurities. There’s so much to consider and so much that can go wrong. Are the sentences varied enough? Have I used a word too much? Is the reader’s momentum appropriate for the moment? Is the information too dense? Is that sentence as syncopated as it sounds? Is that word too complex for my target age group? Wait a minute. Didn’t that guy already die?

Worst of all is the horrible feeling that I’m actually making the writing worse. Over-editing is a real thing. When I perfect all my words, sentences, and paragraphs I end up with a sanitized robot voice that is completely revolting.

In case you have similar problems, here are a few strategies that might be helpful.

Tip #1: Save before you edit

Editing is not the time to be brave. Save what you’re doing so if it goes badly you can recover. Just as importantly, saving gives you freedom. You know you can always go back to the other copy, so you have the ability to experiment.

Tip #2: Read nothing in isolation

Each piece has its own voice and rhythm. The beautiful scene you created for project A might sound purple and overwrought in project B. Context is king. Have you ever seen those images where it looks like the lines bend, but they’re not actually bending? Writing’s the same way. Put a Hemingway paragraph in a Twain chapter and your readers will hate you.

To account for this problem, don’t start editing in the middle of a chapter, or, if you must, start after a logical break. 

Tip #3: Read out loud

Read what you’re about to edit, then do your editing, then go back and read it again. On the second read, start a few paragraphs before where you started editing. How does it sound? Are you still happy? Less happy? If you need to read the original copy, do that. 

Tip #4: It’s not your work. It’s just the work.

When you’re editing, try to pretend that you know nothing about why you wrote what you wrote. Shut down your ego and immerse yourself in the words. Acknowledge and celebrate what works, but don’t be shy about carving away what doesn’t. 

Tip #5: Don’t try for perfection.

The goal isn’t perfect writing. The goal is the story. Edit until it sounds right to you, then move on. There will be future editing moments. There’s always time to search for problems.

Tip #6: Put in the work.

Editing can be tedious and difficult. It can make you question everything you know about your craft. That is precisely why you need to do it. Don’t pawn off editing on an AI or someone else. The most important thing you can do as a writer is to develop your voice, and nobody else can do that for you. Sweat the blood you need to sweat. Develop the voice that is deep within you. Become the writer you know you can be. 

To be clear, there is nothing wrong with working with editors. You should do that. Every one of my books goes through both Beta readers and a professional editor before it gets published. But before I send it to them, each one is edited to the point of me being happy with it.

I hope these are helpful!

Those are my top six strategies, but there are dozens more. Please let me know if you’d like me to revisit this topic!

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I’ve received some feedback that I’m not talking enough about my projects – what I’m doing, how I’m doing it, and why I’m doing it.

I’m currently editing the last book in the Nash Dragons trilogy. It’s coming along well, though it’s currently too long. I’m also incorporating Beta reader feedback on a new project that I’m hoping to publish in June. I want to say more about it, but I also don’t want to jinx it. It heads to a professional editor in April.

Finally, I’m struggling through the process of marketing Emil. If you have any suggestions, tips, or strategies, I’d love to hear them!

In case it’s not obvious, I’m not super comfortable posting about myself, but if you’d like to hear more, ping me.

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