Writing Log | Week 1
As the summer approaches, I’m starting a new round of edits. After getting fantastically helpful feedback from my critique partner during my maternity leave, I’m ready to dive into what I believe will be THE EDIT – the one that makes this book into its truest form (if that makes any sense at all).
I shared my line-editing journey on TikTok last summer, and this summer I’d like to do something similar.
Without further ado: my first weekly editing log!
Day 1 has looked like this:
Tackling Chapter 1 first. I don’t always edit in a linear fashion — often I’ll go to a particular scene that’s been nagging at me, or revisit one of my favorite chapters initially to motivate me to tackle the rest. But this is a big, and hopefully near-final edit, so I need to tackle it somewhat chronologically.
Day 2:
Continued reviewing Chapter 1.
Decided to cut the chapter after just about 1,000 words — there’s a natural break that is cliffy and I want to resist offering too much info in the first chapter. Now this one ends with movement and propels the charater and reader forward. Keeping chapters snappy early on is essential and I’ve already introduced the theme.
I cut and pasted the remaining portion into my Chapter 3 folder in Scrivener. (Chapter 2 introduces my other POV character and I’m sticking to an every-other chapter cadence).
TBD on how I’ll merge the cut portion of Chapter 1 into Chapter 3. I’ve got to keep my pacing and narrative in line with the other POV chapters so it will be tight, but I think that’s what’s beneficial about this type of editing: distilling the story to its most essential parts. I know there’s still fluff for me to cut.
That’s it for tonight. On my hierarchy of needs, sleep is still above writing…. and they say it’s good to stop writing when your mind is still engaged. I love having the story in the back of my mind, even as I’m falling asleep.
Day 3:
Began reviewing Chapter 2, our introduction to the second POV character. There’s some helpful exposition, and my beta reader advised me to tighten up the politics of the world — a tall but crucial task for the early pages, which will lay the foundation for the conflict to come.
Making several small text tweaks to tighten up the prose. Word count is precious.
Decided to pass on the political changes for now in favor of adding an emotional beat at the end that directly ties back to the other POV character. These two get intertwined in myriad ways. Their connection is the heartbeat of the story, and weaving it into the close of this chapter — along with one of the story’s big hooks — feels right.
Day 4:
Long day at work and had dinner plans, so keeping my writing time to just a few minutes tonight. It’s already after 11pm as I write this and I need to be up early tomorrow to get a head start on work.
I cut a bit of worldbuilding that’s not essential to this POV’s first chapter. The audience can find out some historical details about the world later. Instead, I swapped in some more emotional details to help draw out the narrator’s character and underlying motivations, setting up conflict that’s going to happen shortly with a side character and propel them forward.
Ended this quick sprint of writing with word count lower than when I started, which always feels like a win.
Days 5 & 6 — skipped. Traveling to see family!
Day 7:
One-handed editing while holding my snoozing 6 month old. Nap times have been tougher away from home. Glad I put my laptop within arm’s reach