Editing My Novel In One Week: What I Learned As A Debut Author.

Editing is one of the hardest parts of the writing process for many authors. In this post, I share how I dedicated an entire week to editing my debut novel, and how it completely changed my relationship with revisions.

You might just be as surprised as I was.

A Love/Hate Relationship with Editing

If you’ve been following along, then you know I am in the midst of editing my debut book.

You’ll also know that I’ve previously said I have a love/hate relationship with editing.

That has now changed, and for the better.

The Editing Experiment

I recently decided I was going to try an experiment with my revision process.

I’d been dedicating three to four hours each day to it, and I wasn’t yet half way through my book. The progress felt slow. So, I thought: what if I just went all in until it’s finished?

My motivation? Honestly, I wanted to print out a physical copy of my book to hold in my hands, and for my husband to read through the entire book in paper format instead of the computer.

So, I cleared my schedule for an entire week.

I did NOTHING but edit my book for five days straight.

I wasn’t sure if I’d come out of the week with my sanity intact, but I’m here to say that I did.

The Ups and Downs

The first day went great.

Day two, steady.

Day three, meltdown.

I questioned my sanity. My mind was spinning. I was overloaded on coffee.

But I was still making huge strides in the editing process.

Why It Worked

Here’s why this actually worked for me.

By doing this all day, every day, I stayed VERY close to my story.

I didn’t have to go back and look at what I wrote nine chapters ago to remember where I’d left off.

Because I had just read it.

This kept me in tune with the story I was trying to tell, and the words flowed so much easier.

The point of this was not a race. (Well maybe at first it was, a little.)

The point was to complete this step so I could move on to the next. And I knew it still needed to be done right. I had to be thorough.

The Results

Spoiler alert: I didn’t get the entire book edited in one week.

But by midway through the following week?

I finished.

And I didn’t hate it.

Editing this way actually allowed me to love the process, to fine-tune the details of the story I’ve been working so hard to bring to life.

And now? I have a printed physical copy of my book that I can hold in my hands.

Let me tell you, that feeling is incredible.

It made those seven days of chaos absolutely worth it.

Would I Do It Again?

Yes.

Those seven or so days I worked like a madwoman on my book were the closest I’ve ever felt to my characters and their story.

That inspired me to keep pressing on.

Sure, I still have grammar edits and sticky sentences to smooth out.

But I now have momentum, and a new appreciation for the editing process.

Sometimes the only way to push through is to go all in. And you might just surprise yourself with what you can accomplish.

Let’s Talk

What about you?

Have you ever gone all in on a project (writing, work, or personal) that took everything you had?

What was it, and how did it change you?

I’d love to hear about it and celebrate your wins, too!

Use the form on the “contact me” page and let me know.

Happy Writing!