Editing Technique: Lists

Photo credit: john.schultz on Flickr
So, I have a confession. You may or may not have noticed due to the abundance of organizational/ list- type things floating around this blog, but I am, indeed, a list person.

I write lists for everything— I have an ongoing To-Do list with sub-lists prioritized by date on my iPod (the 2Do app is fantastic, for those of you who are interested), I have a list of every blog post ever written on this blog ever (also known as the mysterious Blog Directory), I make shopping lists, blog post idea lists and when I'm editing, I have a list for that, too.

The editing list is, in my opinion, one of the best lists for writers of all. I know that's a lofty claim, but hear me out.

You see, while writing is a very right-brain creative process, editing is very much the opposite. As Ernest Hemingway said, "Write drunk; edit sober," or, as I've also heard it said: write hot; edit cool.

The creation process of putting words to the page for the first time, of creating that first draft and fleshing out new characters and plots is entirely different from the analytical, detached process of editing— or at least, it should be. Writing is a passionate process— writers need to be excited while fleshing that scene out for the first time. We need to love our words and dive head-first into the story. We need to be, as Hemingway might have put it, drunk with our words.

The editing process, not so much. Editing requires distance and analytical measurements of what works and what doesn't. While editing, writers need to be able to take a look at their work as objectively as possible and try to separate themselves from the work so that the weaknesses and ugly bits are more apparent. Editing is the territory of the left brain.

Thus, editing is the perfect time for lists.

When looking at a mountain of rewrites and problems in your WIP that needs fixing, the editing process can quickly become disheartening and overwhelming. Progress can be difficult to measure— what's one edit when you have two hundred pages dripping with red ink? Writers often feel as though they're fighting a losing battle, and many of them simply give up.

It's no wonder so many writers hate editing.

But it doesn't have to be overwhelming— in fact, with the right tools, it can be downright exciting. The elusive list is an example of such a tool, and if you haven't before, I challenge you to give it a chance.

Next time you're editing your WIP, make a note of all the things that need fixing. Maybe there's an opportunity for an extra scene after chapter 5 that could better explain the antagonist’s motivation— add it to the list. Maybe you messed up and forgot that your secondary's father's name is Jim, not Josh halfway through the novel and you need to fix it— add it to the list. Maybe you're way too dependent on certain words, or your character voice needs some tweaking, or you accidentally made your antagonist bald with a moustache (it happens)— add it to the list.

If you're feeling super ambitious, or you just like organization like yours truly, you can divide your list into sub-categories like "Character Development," "Minor Fixes," "Tying Things Together," etc. It doesn't matter how you organize it really, do whatever feels most natural for you.

Once you've completed your list, you may be tempted to be terrified by the sheer size of it. Don't give in to it. Take each list item one at a time— maybe your goal is to finish two or three list items a day— once you've completed an item, check it off or cross it out. I think you might find there's something strangely satisfying about checking off list items you've completed.

If you take each item one at a time, you'll soon find that you've accomplished much more than you might have thought possible. Keep working and it won't be long before you have a long list of ways you improved your manuscript— which, if you ask me, isn't such a bad thing to have.

Have you ever employed the list method in your editing? What other editing techniques have you tried?

26 comments:

Steph Sessa said...

I love lists!!  Totes understand the gratifying feeling of crossing something off of it.

As for editing, I also sometimes re-outline, if I have major revisions to do.  (It's kind of like a list).  Then I just go down the outline chapter by chapter and make sure I have everything I wanted to say in both the outline and actual chapters.

Daphne Gray-Grant said...

I love lists, too, and had never thought of using them for editing. Great idea! Here's another one for those who dislike editing: Be sure to do it at your "best" time of day. I know writers are constantly told they should be writing first thing in the morning. BUT, if you are most attentive first thing in the morning, save that time for editing and use the afternoon for writing. 

Ava Jae said...

It's funny, because I love lists but every time I come to a point where it may be time to re-outline...I cringe. I'm not sure what it is about re-outlining that makes me hesitate, especially since I do like making lists and as you said, outlines are similar...

Regardless that sounds like a very good technique for making sure you've covered everything you want to cover in your WIP. 

Vicki Orians said...

I'm the same way as you! I love lists and often create more than I need. :) And when it comes to revising, I do the same thing - make a list of the problems I see along with the page number and paragraph so I know where the problem was! It's an efficient method for me. :)

Tina Moss said...

We could be twins! I love lists. I have lists for pretty much everything. I find it so satisfying to cross something off the list. It gives me a sense of accomplishment.

Ava Jae said...

That's an interesting thought--I've both edited and written in the morning, it just depends on what I'm working on. Either way when it comes to being productive, there are few things more satisfying to me than having made progress on your WIP before the day's even started. :) 

Ava Jae said...

Yes! I'm currently working off two lists: one kept separately and other integrated into the "Comments" in my WIP that points to the specific spots that need fixing. Checking off items and deleting editing comments is a great feeling. 

Ava Jae said...

I feel exactly the same way. I can't help but smile when I check something off a list. ^_^

Elaine said...

I love lists, myself, but have never tried an editing list. I like the idea. But I wonder, does creating an editing list get in the way of fresh and new ideas that come in the revision or editing process? Do they work together? Or against one another? Thoughts?

Elaine Sangiolo, Writer, Book Marketing Manager, Booktrope Publishing: Cathedral of Dreams by Terry Persun and A Kingdom's Possession by Nicole Persun.

Ava Jae said...

I'd say it definitely works together--I add to my editing list constantly as I think up of new things to add or fix along the way. And if needed, you can always amend the list items. :)

Tasha Seegmiller said...

I edit by going through, chapter by chapter, trying to figure out what is working for my WIP and what is inconsistent.  I also pull up my CP's notes with the applicable chapters to make sure I'm considering all the things they pointed out.  I don't write lists all the time, but I am quite methodical.

Elaine said...

Awesome, I really like this idea. I'm going to try it!

Ava Jae said...

Great! Let me know how it goes! 

Ava Jae said...

Notes from beta readers and CP are so useful when it comes to editing. You can really learn a lot from outside insight. 

John Chapman said...

I find MS OneNote invaluable for keeping track of characters and places.  Give each character a mini-biography including birth, family, career, a picture so that you have an idea of what he/she looks like. As you add facts in the story add them to that person's profile. If you are dealing with a family then create a family tree using genealogy software.

You may not use all the information, but it's there to refer to if needed. 

Ava Jae said...

I have, indeed, used both of those--MS OneNote and a family tree. I recently switched from OneNote to Evernote because it allows me to add things on the go through an app or the internet, but are extremely useful for keeping track of extra notes. 

Mari Stroud said...

I dedicate at least four or five pages to editing notes in the time between writing the first draft and coming back to edit.  I haven't achieved the necessary distance between myself and the work by then to really dig in, but I want to write down issues while I'm thinking of them.  It also helps as a psychological balm to stop me from getting overwhelmed and chucking the whole thing. :)

Ava Jae said...

Four or five pages to editing notes--that's impressive! Do you go straight from writing the edit notes to editing or do you take a break in between?

Mari Stroud said...

Usually a break of six weeks to two months.  Writing notes as I think of them keeps me from forgetting things, but it also stops me from fubaring up my first draft if I make a wrong choice. :)

Ava Jae said...

So you make those editing notes during that six week- 2 month period?

Adam Collings said...

To me, editing is this big mysterious thing that I know all writers need to do, but....what does it actually entail?  Your list method could be useful to me. The difficulty of course is identifying the issues in the first place.

Ava Jae said...

I recommend checking out some writing books like Revision & Self-Editing by James Scott Bell for some really great tips on where to start with editing, because it entails quite a bit. Beta readers and critique partners are really helpful if you're not sure where to begin. 

Melodie said...

Yes! I totally do this - go thru the MS a month or so after completing the rough draft w/ pen and paper. I note everything, even the small stuff so I don't forget. It helps with technical issues. I make a chart for the more intuitive elements (emotional development, thematic issues). Great post!

Ava Jae said...

Looks like we have very similar editing techniques, as I too wait about a month before editing. What kind of charts do you use? 

Robin Red said...

Wow. My "editing" comes in the form of finishing a chapter, letting it cool off, then rereading it to see what flows and what is misspelled. I'm probably a horrible editor. I'll employ a list next time.

Ava Jae said...

Everyone works differently, but most times our WIPs need more than just copyediting. It's usually helpful to look at big elements first (plot & character development problems, etc.) then move on to the smaller details.

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