First Steps in Revision
70You've just written a story. It doesn't matter if it's a short story or an epic novel the initial steps in revision are the same.
If you can, it's always better to set your story aside for a few days (or weeks). This will give you the necessary separation to look at it objectively when it comes time to revise.
I normally start another piece. I do this for two reasons. 1) so that I can better lose my attachment to the first story. If I'm too involved in my story, I'll lack the objectivity to be able to properly revise it. 2) if I have several pieces completed, I feel less like a one trick pony and not as desperate to have my one piece of work acknowledged as perfect.
During my own editing process, my first step is always to go through my story and write what has happened in point form. Who was introduced, what is going on, revelations, clues/foreshadowing etc.If it's a novel I'm revising I do this for every chapter to make sure I haven't missed writing any key points and that each scene flows smoothly from one to the next.
Then I identify and problem areas, inexplicable changes in character behaviour, sub-plots that don't forward the main plot, useless characters, skewed timelines, passive/awkward wording and places that need more emotion, description, backstory etc.
With these things in mind I start doing the first revision to my story.
You'll notice I didn't mention punctuation or grammar. To me this isn't a primary concern at this stage of the editing process. That's not to say, you ignore mistakes if you see them, but it's much more important to have a solid story than to have a beautifully punctuated piece, that makes no sense and thus will have to be re-written anyway.
For every story I write, I do at least three revisions.
The first I do on my own to smooth and fill out my first draft. I either read it aloud to myself or have my computer read it back to me. (you would be amazed at how many awkward phrases you can catch this way).Then, I run it through spell, grammar and style check before sending it out to my proofreaders.
Proofreaders = Friends and fellow writers, who I can trust to tell me where I still need to revise and what is working well. The best proofreaders will also tell you why they feel this way. Was I not clear, am I making logic jumps that aren't logical, have I forgotten a key part of my backstory that the reader needs to know, does my story to make sense.
My second revison is to incorporate the changes suggested. I don't necessarily make all the changes, but I do consider each one carefully. Sometimes the problem isn't in the scene indicated, but in my set-up leading to that part of the story. I read my piece aloud or have my computer read it to me again and then run my story through the spell, grammar and style check... again.
I send my story back out to my proofreaders. I try to mix them so that I have some new readers who are seeing the story for the first time, and others who have already read it once and can tell me if my changes did what needed to be done.
My third revision is polishing. Really checking punctuation and grammar and correcting any final changes suggested my my proofreaders. Then I read it aloud (or have my computer read it to me)...again and then I run it through spell, grammar and style check... again.
FInally, it's ready to submit.
If you don't have people you can ask to proofread, there are several online communities where you can upload a portion of your story for others to review. You need to have thick skin and leave your ego out of your editing.
Friends and fellow writers who know you, tend to be more supportive and polite than strangers in a text box. But, sometimes the text box folks can say what needs to be said. Just keep in mind, there are those who have their own agendas and their comments need to be filtered. I usually tend to follow the advice from the folks who make a suggestion and back it up with the reason and ignore the "this sucks" or "this is great" stand-alone feedback.
