4 editing & proofreading techniques for your novel

Joseph Bates, author of The Nighttime Novelist, shares tips for editing and proofreading a novel or book. Reposted from Writers Digest.

Creating A System For Editing & Proofreading

Revision is really about seeing your book as a whole–recognizing patterns you didn’t notice before, and reconciling any disparate parts into a unified whole. The best way to accomplish this is to be systematic in your approach to editing by clarifying what works, what doesn’t, and what you need to keep an eye out for so that your goals in rewriting will be clear.



Whatever system makes sense to you is, of course, the best. Nevertheless, here are some tips that should make the process easier:

1. Print a copy of the novel and mark it up

2. Be consistent in your marks

3. Make a style guide

4. Keep track of problems as they occur to you

Read the complete article at 4 Editing & Proofreading Techniques For Your Novel

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This excerpt is from The Nighttime Novelist. Read an exclusive interview with the author. For more editing and proofreading resources, Writer's Digest suggests:

• 2nd Draft Critique Services
• How Do I Revise?
• Writer’s Digest Grammar Desk Reference