Things You'll Need:
- Your Novel
- Word Processor
- Printer
- Printer Paper
- Pen (Red or Blue)
- Highlighter
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Step 1
Print It-You don't want to edit your novel on the computer. It's amazing the mistakes you could miss. Get it out on paper so you can write notes and do your editing directly on the pages.
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Step 2
Begin-When editing use a different color pen, so that all your notes, small or large, can easily be picked off the page just by glancing at it. This is extremely helpful when you are recording the changes into your computer document after editing it on paper and reduces the risk of missing something.
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Step 3
Paragraph by Paragraph-Editing is a slow process and takes a lot of concentration. Work each paragraph. Instead of looking at the whole chapter at once, single out each paragraph, and only when you are satisfied with that, then move on to the next, so on and so forth.
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Step 4
What Your Looking For-Check for misspelled words. Sometimes your computer spell-check won't catch it because it is a real ward (Oops! I meant "word"), just not the one you meant. Check grammar and punctuation and capitalization. Check for sentences that run together, aren't complete, or run for too long. You want each sentence to be short and to the point. If you can make it two sentences, go for it. This keeps things clean and easy to read.
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Step 5
Questionable Words-If you wonder whether a word is appropriate for you novel, highlight it so you can remember to research it. For example: When was cotton discovered? When did doctors start sterilizing their equipment before an operation? If you mention a product or store brand name, you'll want to check with the trademark holder's trademark usage guidelines.
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Step 6
Replacement Words-You want to use the best words. Find out which word sounds best in a sentence. Readers like the unique. Use a thesaurus if you aren't happy with a word, or if the word is too flat for your sentence. Your words need life and expression.
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Step 7
A Fresh Set of Eyes-Once you've done all you can editing your own work, find a friend whose opinion you trust and have them read through it, looking for anything you missed and tell them to write in anything they question or any mistakes they see. Sometimes a fresh pair of eyes works wonders and you'll wonder how you could have possibly missed the things they find.
