Resources for Editing Works of Fiction

I Smile When Sharing What I Read, Write & Edit. :), Megan Wyatt

Posted by
Megan B. Wyatt
Oct 4, 2009

I am a writer, but I am more importantly an editor.

When it comes to writing, I overwrite to the max. Cutting paragraphs and pages from my fiction benefits me more than any other type of editing or writing I can do.

Those pages still exist in the piece, however, but they are invisible. The work would not have reached its potential had I not filtered through those pages of thoughts and ideas that are no longer necessary to the piece as a whole.

Whether you are a writer who overwrites and must cut, a writer who underwrites and must add, or a combination of the two like most of us, understanding how the writing and editing process works is important to maximize your abilities.

If you are editing another writer's work it can be difficult to remain objective and not make changes based on personal preference, but remember to preserve the other writer's voice and style and make only necessary changes.

That being said, don't be afraid to make radical suggestions, like restructuring the entire piece or cutting large chunks from the piece, just be sure to do so only if it will help the piece as a whole.

Feeling a bit uninspired while editing your own work or stuck in the middle of an editing project with no motivation to finish? These great writers and editors might have a saying to snap you out of it! Check out: Great Quotes for Editors and Great Quotes for Writers Editing Their Own Work.

Whether you are editing a novel, editing a short story, or editing a poem, it is important to edit to help the work to be its best and not make changes just based on personal taste or writing style.

Use the above resources or the following articles to edit to your fullest potential.