structural edit | Indie Scriptorium — Self Publishing Collective

Getting the Most Out of Editing

Over Christmas break, I was asked to read through and critique a friend’s murder/mystery novel. It was a historical novel set in a South Australian location. I had previously got the gist of the storyline from the author’s presentation to the critique group we both attend.

LE the author provided me with a proof copy of her novel. This is a brilliant idea and has inspired me to produce a proof version of my next novel for my beta readers and reviewers. The beauty of a proof copy is that you read the novel as if it is a completed novel but you can scribble comments and use a red pen on the proof. Getting a proof copy through a self-publishing platform or a local printer is usually low cost so you can get several copies for your critique readers. The author can then amend the downloaded novel on whatever platform is used and release the edited final version.

I got a proof copy of my first novel from Draft2Digital and believe the cost was $40+ dollars. Proofs through Amazon are cheaper. It would be a good idea to do some research prior to getting a proof copy printed.

LE also provided a questionnaire for her critique readers. Another really sensible option that gets you the feedback you want. The questionnaire covered:

Title feedback
Plot clarity.
Setting place and time
Interest engagement
Character engagement
Dialogue suiting each character
Character arcs for the main protagonists
Pacing
Word usage and wordiness/repetition
Consistent POV
Show and tell
Tone/style of writing suit the period
Amount of description vs action
Satisfying ending
Overall readability and clarity
Additional feedback

In addition, I would have asked if the cover and blurb accurately reflect the content and engage the readers’ interest.

LE’s questionnaire mostly covers the type of feedback one would get from a structural edit. This may also be called a manuscript appraisal. It is the bones of the novel and generally doesn’t include items such as spelling, grammar and punctuation but that depends on the person doing the critique what, and how much they choose to focus on. The structural edit focuses on the plot, pacing and if the characters engage with the reader. It is about ensuring the book is interesting enough for the reader to get to the end with a satisfied smile.

A line or copy edit usually covers correct word usage, research accuracy, time lines, un-necessary repetition, consistency with names, places and descriptions. It also covers overuse of words or phrases, dialogue tags, too many adverbs, head hopping with POVs and grammar, punctuation and spelling. The copy edit makes your work more readable and easier to understand so you can get to the end with a satisfied smile.

The proof edit may pick up some of the above if they’ve slipped through the eagle eyes of the copy editor but usually focus on formatting, typos and glitches rather than major problems with the writing style. Some readers find glitches and typos really annoying but unfortunately they do sneak in even with novels that are traditionally published. Annoying but it shouldn’t be so pervasive that they stop your reader getting to the end with a satisfied smile.

I have read LE’s novel once through and made some initial comments but will read it again to focus on the structural elements requested in the feedback.

Being in a critique group provides me with a wonderful opportunity to really study my fellow writers’ work and makes me think through what a good novel is all about. I have found I’m getting better at picking up my own mistakes and my own work improves in this process.

Cheers

©Elsie King 2024

Photo from Apple Stock Images – unknown attribution

As with Stonehenge, the elements of a novel need to be placed in just the right place and with the links to make the story work.

Editing—The Structural Edit

It’s suggested that after you complete your first draft that you put the manuscript in a drawer and take a break for weeks or even months and then edit with fresh eyes. Re-read your work and ask yourself the following questions.

Is the manuscript easy to read?
Does it make sense and have a consistent style?
Does the novel start at the right time and place? Avoid starting a novel with a backstory. It’s better to get straight into the narrative.
Are the chapters in the right order?
Eliminate unnecessary repetitions?
Search for contrivances, conveniences and plot holes in your story?
Add tension from the beginning. Ending chapters and scenes with a cliff-hanger, or an intriguing question which will keep the reader engaged.
Make sure the pacing is consistent throughout the book. Start strong, avoid meandering middles and finish strongly.
Look at your setting? Are there enough description of places and people? Have you captured the mood, beliefs, language, and customs of your setting? World building involves research and imagination.
Does each scene or chapter have a designated character’s point of view? Avoid head hopping from one person’s POV to another. It can get confusing. It’s easy to slip into another character’s POV without realising so check this carefully.
Keep characters to a minimum only include those essential to the story. Ask if your characters are well-defined? Do their names suit them? Let the personality and description of the character emerge gradually. Do your character’s change and grow as the story progresses? Does each character have a unique voice so that when they speak, they are easily identified? Are their motivations sensible? Avoid stereotypes such as grumpy old men, silly secretaries etc. Give your characters challenges, quirks and personality.
Research, make sure it is correct and have your sources written down for further reference. Assume all your readers are experts and will get upset with inaccurate information.
Avoid rushing your ending. It can be tempting to summarise at the end of a novel so avoid clarifications and show rather than tell.

Structural editing is the big picture. When you do this edit, don’t worry about correcting spelling, grammar and punctuation. If you need to delete chunks of your work or add more narrative, you will need to do another line edit, anyway. I do the line edit after I make structural changes.

Having readers and critique partners is essential for structural editing. It may be helpful to have a list of questions or even formulate a questionnaire so you get consistent feedback from several readers.

Each element of the structural edit is important and needs to be addressed. Use Google and search for topics such as “Pacing your novel”, “Points of View” or “Character development”. You will uncover an abundance of good advice. Your local library will have books covering writing style and plotting a novel. I wish I had taken more time to learn and develop my writing skills before I wrote my first novel. I’m still learning and growing as a writer and I’m no expert, but that’s what we do at Indie scriptorium: we learn, share and grow.

Photo from Creative Commons

Getting the Most Out of Editing

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Editing—The Structural Edit

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