Once my manuscript is done, I go through a series of ten editing stages before anyone sees it.
The First Stage — Time. You've finished your first draft, congrats! I know you are eager to get it out in the world and into the hands of readers.
**THIS IS A BIG MISTAKE, YOU MUST RESIST DOING THIS!**
People are not forgiving when it comes to reading a story with errors in it. Of course there will be a few, nobody can catch everything, and even professionally published books will have a few errors, but try to get it as polished as possible and have as many different eyes view it as possible before it goes live to the rest of the world.
The First Edit — Word. In this stage, I'm looking for spelling and grammar, awkward sentences, format of paragraphs and chapters, and fix any glaring errors in the story.
The Second Edit — PDF. I do is using PDF format. The reason I do this is because it changes the look of the document and tricks your eyes into thinking you're viewing it for the first time. Try it, you'll be amazed at how many errors or plot holes you have missed previously. Changing the font, the page size, or the background colour also works—basically you want the document to look new and different.
The Third Edit — Paper. is on print. With pen in hand, I go through each line slowly and make sure it sounds right. If it doesn't, I write in the margins letting myself know what needs to be changed. At this stage, I add a lot more details, fix major plot holes, and of course, correct any spelling and grammar errors I find. Often when I write, I am rushing to get the ideas out, but I will have skipped something, not explain things well enough, or maybe place emphasis on the wrong spot. This only becomes obvious when you evaluate the story as a whole. Once I go through the entire story, I go back to my computer and input the changes.
The Fourth Edit — Mobile. **To be filled out later**
The Fifth Edit — Word Read Aloud. **To be filled out later**
The Sixth Edit — Read Aloud. **To be filled out later**
The Seventh Edit — Editor #1. , I take it to several professional editors and begin to polish it. This process can take several months and sometimes years. Don't be discouraged by this and do not overlook this step. I know when you just finish a manuscript, you want it to feel 'done' and release it to the world.
The Eighth Edit — Editor #2. **To be filled out later**
The Ninth Edit — Wattpad. **To be filled out later**
The Tenth Edit — Fan Feedback. **To be filled out later**