Editing anything can be a chore, but proofreading a full length novel can be time consuming and demanding. Any author can tell you, "you've written a book once, you've read it fifty times!" You story line, write, rewrite, revise, edit, proofread and maybe even rewrite again. All to craft the perfect book, or the perfect story. I recently finished proofreading my novel <em>Within, </em>and thought I would share what I learned along the way. Please understand, I am not an editor, just a guy who loves to write.
1: Turn off the computer. It may sound odd, but tis truth that you cannot adequately edit anything on a computer. Save your file to a thumb drive and mobilize to the print shop, or do what I did and invest in a good auto-duplexing laser printer. Buy the economy pack of red pens and dig in for the long haul. The fact is, proofreading and editing on paper presents you with a better opportunity to judge and reflect on the work.
2: With your paper and trusty red pen in hand, get to reading. I have found that reading out loud helps. Awkward wording, or punctuation placement becomes apparent immediately. Plus, it helps you gauge pacing and story progression better as well. I also found that it is not a bad thing to read tricky spots out loud to someone else. Sometimes it just takes including another set of ears to the equation to spark the inspiration you were looking for.
3: Get comfortable. The fact is, the more comfortable you can get, the more engrossed in your project you will become. A comfy chair, a hot cup of tea or coffee and your favorite slippers should do the trick. Try and remove any unnecessary distractions from the area. I realize we can't always remove, without force, our kids, but we can take care of the rest. Soft, relaxing music can serve as beneficial white noise. I've found that classical or movie scores work well.
4: Get a thesaurus, and a dictionary. Authors ten years ago didn't have the flexibility we have today. Now, we have a paper back or reference thesaurus, online thesaurus and not to mention mobile applications for phones and tablets. I always keep a paperback thesaurus at my desk, just in case I run into a stretch of unimaginative adjectives or verbs. I also have found Thesaurus.com and its corresponding android app to be most helpful.
5: Take advantage of writer support websites. Writer's digest is a pantheon of support and advice for new and established authors. It just happens to be my favorite. They have articles to aid you with plot or character development. Not to mention information to help guide you through the paces after the writing is completed. I have to this day not found a better resource for submissions or query.
6: Get your work into other people's hands. Its true that you should proofread your work before handing it off to your beta readers, but don't be surprised when they identify the stray mistake or two. Pick people you know will be honest, and make sure they know how much you appreciate their input. Each batch of beta copies should be separate, and only after tweaks and corrections are made should you reprint and continue to the next wave. This can be a time consuming process, but one well worth the effort.
7: Last but not lease, time. Its amazing how space can free up inspiration and imagination. After completing an edit, rewrite or proofread take some time away. Pick up a new novel, take a trip or binge on a season of your favorite show. Whatever it is, it is important to step away. When you pony back up to the project you will approach it with renewed vigor and fresh perspective.
Now go forth and draw first blood with thine mighty red pen!
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