Anyone editing?

[LuciferRising]

I'm currently editing my first ever first draft. I'm on a structural edit and then will move onto a micro edit. It's hard not to slip into rewriting passages while I'm just looking at structure and loose ends. Some of the passages are dire.

Anyone else editing? Would love to hear how it is progressing. I've read a fair few book on writing and editing, and there are many 'rules' I see that are in my manuscript and also books that I read. Are there any pieces of advice that you ignore? One of the main ones I see a lot is exposition in the first chapter. I dont have an issue with this in the books I read. Is it really that bad?

Broken rules.

I'm editing.

I've got a great group on Scribophile who are really helping. We're doing 2 chapters a week and for the first time I do feel like the editing is making it better!

I don't think I can offer too much advice except one from me which is I have certain words I tend to over used (was "slightly" in a previous book, seems to be "looked" in this one!) so I search the document for that word and erase/change as much as possible.

I'd agree that you should avoid lots of exposition in the first chapter. Info-dumping like this suggests to the reader that the book won't be well-written or enjoyable, as you're more concerned with making it convenient for you, than making the story engaging for them.

DO make sure, ideally by the end of the second paragraph, that we know the main character's name and who they are e.g (even if it's 'a person who can't remember their name/who they are'), and by the end of the first chapter, we should have a good idea of what that person wants, and care whether they do/don't get it. If that's not the case, think about why you are keeping the reader waiting and why they will be prepared to wait.

DON'T start with an obscure quote to show how erudite you are.

DON'T have a Prologue unless the story would make no sense without it. If you do, it should not feature your main character - if it does, it should be Chapter 1.

and, definitely, definitely...

DO read "How NOT to Write a Novel" by Sandra Newman & Howard Mittelmark.

Imagine you're submitting the novel to agents, and they only allow you to send the first 3 pages. Would you be thinking that those pages are your best chance of catching their interest, or would you be wishing you could send them 6 pages because that's where the really good stuff is?

If it's the second one, start the story on page 6!

Seconding looking out for things like 'slightly.' Slightly, just etc are sometimes known as weasel words, and can make you sound uncertain.

How Not To Write A Novel is brilliant. So is Save The Cat Writes A Novel.

No spoon feeding so the reader feel they have earned an understanding of the story. Agree with PPs but also are you clear when and how will you introduce what is stopping the protagonist getting what they want or need? Agree with PP about starting at an interesting place.

Good luck.

I will be in the new year. I finished the first draft last week but I've given myself a couple of weeks off. I like line edits but I'm not keen on structural ones. And I've already decided to move substantial chunks around!

I'm slogging my way through a structural edit. Hate it! I had a 2 month break half way through and now wonder whether I need to reread and restart.