Since I’m deep in the editing process, I thought I would share the process I have developed to structure my editing. Please note, this is my process. It may not, in fact probably will not work for you. It only took me ten years to develop this but I am still refining. I don’t claim this is the best way or even close. I know this isn’t just editing but bear with me.

I start with a very bare bones outline of the story I imagined. I usually see one particular scene first so I try to build around. It is definitely less than 1,000 words at this point and there are big gaps in the story. Sentence fragments dominate.

As I start to “tune in” to the story more scenes come into my head. I add to the skinny outline and have produced an enhanced outline. Word count is somewhere between 2,000 and 5,000. The writing is still crap at this point.

Once I have the enhanced outline fleshed out with enough scenes I begin writing everyday from each scene. I target around 500 words a day. I create chapters though they are not really in any order. I target 60% of what I think the total word count will be for v1 of the rough draft.

What I call Pre editing is going chapter by chapter and fixing obvious mistakes and adding details. Obvious mistakes include spelling errors, poor grammar, etc. I try to add 100 words of details per chapter. That adds about 10,000 to 20,000 to the book.

First editing is checking for appropriateness of language used by characters and adding more details. I also check to make sure there is depth to all significant characters. Since many of my locations or times are exotic, details really add to the flavor.

Second editing is running it through an online checker as well as reading it aloud. The online checker highlights things I have missed and wouldn’t otherwise be familiar with. Reading it aloud really adds a finality to my editing.

Third editing is getting feedback from beta readers. This is tough because now you have to hear from others. Additionally, getting useful feedback is difficult. Still, it’s a necessary evil.

Fourth editing is line editor which you can hire on Fiverr.com. Another pair of eyes is always helpful.

Fifth editing is final check by me. Read aloud. After all that, I curl up and read it aloud to really send my story out to the universe. The universe whispered it to me as a tiny idea and now I’ve finished it and am whispering it back as a finished story.

Finally, I format the book and upload it.

That’s it. It’s actually a lot but it separate last people who talk about writing a book from the people who see it through.

Anyway, I hope this view of my process helps in your own efforts.

On a side note, I am consolidating my blogs onto my personal website: http://hareeshjayanthi.com/

It’s a work in progress but bookmark and check it. There’s more than just books there.