Tips in keeping consistency in editing.

[Hans.Trondheim]

While you will find obvious things that way (it's better to check for those before you post), it's not going to catch nearly as much as needed.
You always need distance. You need to feel a bit like reading a story you haven't read in a long time.
Don't know if it's my scatter brain, but there's always scenes I completely forgot exist and they catch me off guard. Like, I know I wrote them and why, but I didn't remember until I read them. Once that happens, you have the clearest look at your story, as you also take steps in "understanding" what you wrote. There were parts I read and realized even I had to read them twice to remember what I was trying to say - needless to say, it had to be edited. Sometimes, you yourself als your best retarded reader.

No, no. It's not you being scatterbrained; I suffer from the same problem with scenes too. And even the existence of certain characters.

Anyhow, thank you for answers everyone! Now I'm enlightened. I should prolly approach this as leisurely as possible so I can have a clear head in correcting.

Thanks a lot, @TheKillingAlice @JordanIda @Representing_Tromba @TinaMigarlo @FlutterOfCrows @Ellie_in_Pink @Conqueror_Quack for your input.

 

[TinaMigarlo]

The reason why you draw a tomato is for long-term gratification

does it have to be a tomato?
I mean, just for the sake of argument...
he might like, say, a boob or a butt-cheek, who knows what boats his float.

I just can't see being like...
"oh, I can't wait to get the next 45 minute session in the bag.
I get to draw another vegetable."

 

[FlutterOfCrows]

does it have to be a tomato?
I mean, just for the sake of argument...
he might like, say, a boob or a butt-cheek, who knows what boats his float.

I just can't see being like...
"oh, I can't wait to get the next 45 minute session in the bag.
I get to draw another vegetable."

This is the first time I have had someone state this Thanks for the chuckle.

 

[TinaMigarlo]

but there's always scenes I completely forgot exist and they catch me off guard. Like, I know I wrote them and why, but I didn't remember until I read them

I know this feeling. And yes, waiting until its "enjoyable" to read your work again? You definitely see more errors, see the punctuation and phrasing different.

the one I like, is when the "kicked in the guts" emotional part comes up. I'm still prone to feel that lurch in my guts reading it, I'm still in danger of getting a wet eye or a sniffle. And I sit there, wondering. I wrote this. I know this is in here, and I must have read it lord only knows how many times already, all told.

but, with everything else that may or may not be done right in that book... I wonder how strong the gut-kick or sniffles are for first time readers when they hit the same scene.

but ANYTIME you take a break from writing? You should be at least reading if not editing, something older

 

[TheKillingAlice]

I know this feeling. And yes, waiting until its "enjoyable" to read your work again? You definitely see more errors, see the punctuation and phrasing different.

the one I like, is when the "kicked in the guts" emotional part comes up. I'm still prone to feel that lurch in my guts reading it, I'm still in danger of getting a wet eye or a sniffle. And I sit there, wondering. I wrote this. I know this is in here, and I must have read it lord only knows how many times already, all told.

but, with everything else that may or may not be done right in that book... I wonder how strong the gut-kick or sniffles are for first time readers when they hit the same scene.

but ANYTIME you take a break from writing? You should be at least reading if not editing, something older

Well, especially with emotional scenes, I often wonder if they hit at all. Like, is something I intended as an emotional scene, actually an emotional scene? The translation of what you have in mind to what you can portray is always tricky and you, as the author, have the scene in mind, so it's never truly something you read completely like someone new to the story. It's among the hardest things in writig, in my opinion.

 

[JordanIda]

Ah, so you're saying that it is normal to take years in editing a work? I mean this as a serious question, not sarcasm or whatever.

In the Web Novel world? Maybe. In this alter-reality, books never seem to end, and people try to pump out a chapter every fiew days, to keep the Patreon dripfeed running.

I'm talking about stories that begin, develop, and end.

Let's say you've spent a month outlining a novel. Then you spend four months developing the outline to a draft of 350,000 to 400,000 words. (A big novel, but one that ends.) I'm saying, a good rule of thumb is to plan on another four months for editing and producing a final draft.

In my travels over most of the Web Novel scene (FF, AO3, RR, W@ttp@d, InK@tt, Webn@vel, SH, and others of more dubious repute than all of the above), I've met few authors who finish books before posting them. Especially in the fan fiction domain, which is dubious and scurrilous categorically and the only reason I've made this benighted journey. So I freely admit that I might be alone in this position.

Just forget everything I've said and hit the easy button. Grammarly's your friend.

 

[TinaMigarlo]

Well, especially with emotional scenes... It's among the hardest things in writig, in my opinion.

yeah, definitely. that lurch in the guts, that sniffle. That came for the first time late in the writing game, believe me. When i felt that, and kept feeling it even knowing it was coming, I was like... this has to be doing the right thing. But, I'm getting close to finding out. I have a beta reader chewing through something big, and when they run into *that*, as a virgin reader with no spoiler? I'm waiting on what report i get. After all this time, if i can get that as a payoff, I'll feel like I accomplished something.

like I always say. I know I'm a failed writer. But its a matter of being a complete failure, or just a partial failure.
you gotta have reasonable dreams, lol

 

[FleecedSheep]

Oh wow, a million words? I usually edit in ~80,000-120,000 word chunks and that's already hell as it is. Between correcting mistakes, clarifying sentences, and realigning characters or scenes, I can't imagine doing that much in one go. You'd almost be better off just not bothering to edit it, not unless you're planning to make it more official by either getting it published or something. On the other hand, if you focus instead on making it a learning experience, it might be worth it. Focus less on just fixing mistakes and instead seeing how the story feels or works out and making corrections as you go.

Either way, I wish you luck.

 

[EdwinLovato]

Wow you're a Flip?
I'm not a writer, but I want to suggest you editing with Red Horse as your editing buddy. It works for me when drawing, a pack of Sampoerna Splash and Bintang always work like a charm.