Part iv. Top 10 Ways to Edit like an Editor

                                    

                                          
Here are my personal tips you can apply to your writing and editing process:
                          
1. First of all--type slower. Some Wattpad writers type too fast that their fingers trail behind their brain. Slow down and really focus on your text.
                          
2. Re-read what you wrote. Once in your head and once out loud. Do it every time you think you've finished a chapter.
                          
3. Then get someone you trust to read it. Tell them to also read it once in their head and once out loud.
                          
4. Give yourself a break. Go outside. Read a book. Ride a bike. Eat something delicious. Give your brain a break. Taking a step back from your writing can really open your eyes to mistakes you missed last time once you return.
                          
5. Re-read it again right before you hit that orange publish button.
                          
6. Be open-minded to constructive criticism. True editors LOVE constructive criticism. You should always be in a state of mind to learn. You can always learn more. I can always learn more. No matter how confident you feel about your writing, there is always someone who will catch a slip-up, whether that be in your writing or in your plot. Even professionally published authors can still slip-up. There are many novels I've read where I've found a typo before. It happens. It's okay. Don't take it personally. Other Wattpaders are just here to help.
                          
7. There is no such thing as a perfect draft or a final draft your first time around. I'm currently writing a story and I know it's not perfect. This is my first draft. Your first draft won't be perfect, but as long as you finish it, you're one step closer to perfecting it.
                          
8. Once you complete your story, go back and edit, revise, delete, add. Let your readers know you're in the revising stage.
                          
9. You will need to be your worst critic. Find out what scenes are unnecessary to the plot. Find out what small characters are unnecessary to the plot. Look for spots that need more detail. Look for spots that have too much detail. Grab a fresh pair of eyes, as if you've never read your story before, and put yourself in the reader's mind. Is there a scene that doesn't fully make sense now? Is there a room that you can't fully picture in your mind from only relying on your writing?
                          
10. Repeat the process until you are one hundred percent confident that you can't add anything else to your story. Your story and characters say it all for you. Your readers fully understand your story and can picture each scene perfectly in their minds. They can relate to the characters and really put themselves into your story. Most creative writing courses say you need a minimum of three drafts.
                          
A/N: I may be adding more to this list. I may be editing this list. I may be revising this list. It doesn't matter if you're writing fiction, non-fiction, poetry, or random nonsense for your own entertainment; you will always need to write, edit, revise, repeat.
                          
Need more writing advice? Check out QiMiaoLe's "Coffee & Tea with Wattpad writers." There are some awesome interviews in there of pretty interesting authors, as well as one I did that offers more writing (and life) advice. Check it out!