{"id":5290,"date":"2016-07-26T11:40:33","date_gmt":"2016-07-26T01:40:33","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/allisontait.com\/?p=5290"},"modified":"2023-09-04T11:30:38","modified_gmt":"2023-09-04T01:30:38","slug":"3-tips-for-surviving-a-structural-edit","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/allisontait.com\/2016\/07\/3-tips-for-surviving-a-structural-edit\/","title":{"rendered":"3 tips for surviving a structural edit"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"3I remember the first time I received the structural edit notes on a novel from an editor:\u00a0I cried<\/a>.<\/p>\n

I had edited the manuscript myself. Of course I had. Two or three times. But nothing prepares you for that feedback from a professional, who might say one or more of the following:<\/p>\n

\u2022 You’ve started in the wrong place (This could just be me…)<\/p>\n

\u2022 This character is not working, do you really need him\/her? (Chances are you do not, which requires a substantial rethink of every scene)<\/p>\n

\u2022 I’m not really sure where this sub-plot is going.<\/p>\n

\u2022 Would your hero really do this?<\/p>\n

\u2022\u00a0Do you really need this pivotal scene? Or could you delete and insert the information elsewhere?<\/p>\n

\u2022 [Insert crushing comment or question of choice]<\/p>\n

Given that I am currently knee-deep in the structural edit of The Mapmaker Chronicles #4<\/em> <\/a>(which, as an aside, requires a new title as part of the structural edit], I thought now was as good a time as any to bring out my top three tips for surviving a structural edit.<\/p>\n

Particularly if it’s your first, when it feels as though you’re attacking an insurmountable pile of words, shifting handfuls here and spadefuls there.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

My top 3 tips for surviving a structural edit<\/strong><\/h2>\n
Think before you write<\/strong>.<\/h5>\n

While your instincts might be screaming at you to dive in and fix the manuscript, the absolute best thing you can do after you read your editor’s notes is to put them aside and go for a long walk (Procrastipup optional).<\/p>\n

I spent four weeks thinking about the edit I am currently doing, and\u00a0will spend about two weeks with fingers on keyboard. All the heavy lifting has been\u00a0done in my head, the connections made, the new scenes envisioned.<\/p>\n

The best way to see the whole picture is to think it through first \u2013 otherwise you’re just working in pieces and, like any puzzle, some bits might be hard to find.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Write fast, edit slow<\/strong>.<\/h5>\n

I’ve written before about my first draft process<\/a> \u2013 which can be pretty much summed up as ‘get the story down at great speed in whatever time you can make to write’.<\/p>\n

Editing is a whole different kettle of fish. Every layer of editing \u2013 structural, copy, proofreading \u2013 requires a different approach, but one thing they all need is time.<\/p>\n

With a structural edit, you’re concentrating on the story, and that takes care and consideration. Give yourself room to move.I can write an novel<\/a> in 10- and 15-minute fragments, but I cannot edit that way, particularly at the structural level.<\/p>\n

Put aside a chunk of time. You’re going to need it.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Use an outline<\/strong>.<\/h5>\n

Writing a novel is a huge challenge. Learning to edit one is a whole different ball game.<\/p>\n

If I’ve learnt nothing else from going through the process six or seven times now, it’s this: use an outline.<\/p>\n

If you’re moving your story around in any way, shape or form, write an outline of the new plot to help keep you on track. That way, you’ll won’t get sidetracked as you wade through the words.<\/p>\n

It doesn’t need to be a work of art. Just a brief sketch of the new plot, with the new scenes scoped out and the ‘as per current book’ sections marked as such.<\/p>\n

I don’t write with a plan, but I sure as heck edit with one.<\/p>\n

And now, back to the edit.<\/p>\n

\n

 <\/p>\n

\"A.<\/a>Are you new here? Welcome to my blog! I\u2019m Allison Tait and you can find out\u00a0<\/strong>more about me here<\/strong><\/a>\u00a0and more about my\u00a0<\/strong>online writing courses here<\/strong><\/a>.<\/strong><\/p>\n

For full details about\u00a0<\/strong>Write With Allison Tait<\/strong><\/a>, my new online writing community offering Inspiration, Motivation, Information and Connection,\u00a0<\/strong>go here<\/strong><\/a>.\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

I remember the first time I received the structural edit notes on a novel from an editor:\u00a0I cried. I had edited the manuscript myself. Of course I had. Two or three times. But nothing prepares you for that feedback from a professional, who might say one or more of the following: \u2022 You’ve started in […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":5291,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_et_pb_use_builder":"","_et_pb_old_content":"","_et_gb_content_width":"","om_disable_all_campaigns":false,"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[24,691,5],"tags":[725,721,714,722,723,716,713],"class_list":["post-5290","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-advice-for-writers","category-my-books","category-writing","tag-a-l-tait-series","tag-australian-author","tag-author-life","tag-editing-your-novel","tag-how-to-write-a-book","tag-tips-for-writers","tag-writing-tips"],"yoast_head":"\n3 tips for surviving a structural edit<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"A structural edit of your novel can be confronting and confusing. 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