So you finished, you did something that to few who begin to write somethingare able to accomplish, so you're done, correct? Time to move onto the new work? No, not at all, it's time to edit your work, and sharpen it into what you truly want it to be. This week we are talking about editing. 

 

So lets talk about the first step you have to take in the editing process...

 

 

You need time away from your work so you can effectively edit it, it might take a few days, but for me a solid 2 weeks of not thinking or looking at the work at all is what I need to come back to it with fresh eyes. This doesn't mean you don't do ANYTHING for those 2 weeks, work on other projects, flesh out other things, but I think you HAVE to empty your mind of the story to come back to it with new eyes. 

 

Being to close to the work will hurt you because it gives you a distorted views both of the merits and flaws of the work, after having a chance to step away and come back to the work, you'll have a much more honest eye, and be able to approach it freshly and hopefully with a renewed interest. This will allow you to appreciate it less like it's your own work, and more like it's a newer work, and it'll help you see the flaws and know what needs to change more easily. 

 

 

After you've properly cleared your mind, sit down and take your time reading it completely. I say you have to fight the urge to read it broken up, especially when you get to parts that you think are written badly, because you need to experience the entire story as singularly as possible. This is a step you can't avoid, because you have to take the time to really be able to focus on your story and see the problems. 

 

So get your script, sit down, and read the whole thing, but don't get passive about it because you also have to...

 

 

When you read your story you CAN'T do it passively, while you're reading you're going to be thinking about every mistake you make, about everything you'd like to move around, about all the other changes you'd like to make, and if you don't take notes it's not going to be impossible, but it is sure going to be more difficult, and why do you want to make things harder on yourself?

 

So while you're writing take precise notes, write everything you are thinking about the story down, and mark down what pages you find mistakes on, even mark up your script. So when you start working on your second draft you know exactly what pages things you want to fix are on, and exactly how you should procede.

 

Having your notes and a plan all written down is a much better idea than trying to keep it all organized in your head, so go the easier route.

 

 

Something that has personally helped me is after I get it worked out a little, I like showing things to a friend or family member whose taste I trust (And remember, in context a friend who likes horror is probably going to be able to judge your script a bit better than your Grandmother). 

 

Your friends will be even further removed from your story than you are, and can be your first "test-audience", they might notice plotholes (or things that appear to be plotholes if they haven't been explained properly in the story), and inconsistencies that you might not have noticed even with your forced distance from the story, so don't underestimate the value of letting someone else read your work before you think you're absolutely done with it. 

 

Good luck and keep writing!