How to Start Editing Your Novel: A Technique for Gaining Perspective

[@EllenBrock]

I hope you all like this video! My brain is still a little mushy from being sick, so hopefully it isn't too rambling. I added show notes with timestamps to the description if you need to reference sections again or if you want to skip around. Several of you mentioned that the volume was too quiet in my last video. I tried to increase it. Please let me know if it's still too quiet. Lastly, stay tuned until the end for a rare sighting of Toby (my dog). Thanks so much for watching and for your likes, comments, and support!

[@cm24624]

The sound is good. You look well. I hope you feel better soon. Thanks for the vid! 👍🤗

[@OlettaLiano]

Good video. I already do many of the things you spoke of, but it's always nice to have someone like you to validate my methods. Thanks.

[@EllenBrock]

The audio distorted a little when I turned it up in my editing software. Maybe I need to adjust the microphone settings. I'm not sure what to do.

[@macronencer]

@@EllenBrock Have you tried using a compression plugin? I think that might help to maximise the volume without hitting the peak level, so it could work. I loved this video, by the way. Thank you, very useful indeed! Oh, and my MC happens to be called Toby :)

[@jetfirexx]

@@macronencer Yes compression is what you want but if you can get the recording louder, that'll be easier

[@ssghosh7728]

This is the coolest video I've ever watched about Editing.

[@vestycakes]

This method seems so intuitive to me. I've been reading a book on self-editing a first draft and it's been slow going because I'm not connecting well with the ideas she proposed. This seems way more in line with how I tend to work. Thanks for another great video!

[@EllenBrock]

Awesome! I'm really glad!

[@MadailinBurnhope]

I love your focus on "rediscovering the original vision", that's so refreshing to me; so many writing videos seem to encourage getting as far as possible from what you originally wanted

[@reteraya]

I would give this video multiple likes if I could! It is so refreshing to come across editing advice that, in addition to presenting clear, practical steps, is so attuned to the heart of why writers write. I appreciate how you privilege the writer‘s vision and the parts of the story they love. Also, I hope you are feeling better. And Toby is adorable!

[@QueenCloveroftheice]

I'm not sure why I'm watching this since I haven't even finished my first draft yet lol

[@sonyabechtel543]

Sameeee

[@sonyabechtel543]

Same lol

[@darrenfreyauthor]

It's never too early or too late to get advice. I just finished my rough draft last night but I'm taking in as much schooling as I can. Her, along with a few others here on KZbin know their shit and I have learned a lot from them.

[@not_sat_10]

Same

[@cadencev5572]

HHAHAHAHA WE'RE ALL SO SAD

[@Ruylopez778]

*Puts Ellen's advice at the top of the LOVE column* *Adds Toby to LOVE column* *Puts entire 2nd draft in INDIFFERENT*

[@MoonMaidMokona]

I'm an author and literary editor, and this video came to me at the perfect time (proctastinating editing my current manuscript...)! This is such a good "deepening" of my current wishlist style of editing, which is basically what it says on the tin: make a list of all the things you wish were different about the book and tackle them one by one. We need more writing advice focused on the mental/mindset side of things tbh. (English is not my first language, hope this makes sense still!)

[@boredgrass]

Video subject suggestion: Landscape description, especially those of invented landscapes, like those in science fiction. I see in it's artificiallity a temptation for infodumps.

[@maggiepfob]

I just started putting this method into practice the other day, editing my WIP, and it's blowing my mind! Closing up plot holes, strengthening (or eliminating) the weak spots, almost effortlessly. Much easier than all the mental anguish I was putting myself through just thinking about it and trying and discarding solutions and pounding my head against the keyboard, anyway. Thanks!

[@johngrahamwilson1649]

Great to know that other writers have these problems. (I thought I was uniquely stupid in that regard!)

[@TheStoryCan]

I've found that so many writers think this way, but the truth is one of our main skills as writers must be to problem solve, but we must also know when to problem solve (usually after the first draft I think) Great to connect with other writers :)

[@Lillyspurs]

And your dog!! ❤️So sweet!

[@west2ndproductions]

Perfect timing for this for me! Welcome back!

[@Poisonedblade]

This advice also works when planning a party.

[@ChristinaFonthes]

loooooool

[@niapri]

I'm embarking on my first ever revision for my first ever rough draft, and I was looking for some way to organize the process. Of course I own multiple books on editing, revision, characterization and structure....but none of them really tell you how to approach actually starting to revise a single piece of work. So, thank you for making this!

[@bradley4250]

The first video I've watched, for which the speaker conducts herself with professionalism. Thank you for this.

[@shoalsofficial9334]

Love it when you put new ones up mrs. Brock!

[@ThatsJustMyBabyDaddy]

Thanks for reminding me that editing is supposed to be hard!!! ❤️

[@Eleni_Datsika]

3 awesome videos in just few days! The perfect Christmas present for us! :D Thank you so much for taking the time to help us, although you have been busy and then sick. I hope you feel better soon!

[@EllenBrock]

Merry Christmas to you as well! Thanks for your support!

[@1monki]

I wrapped up my first editorial development edit using this video as a guide. I tweaked the structure slightly. My initial draft was lean by design, focusing on crucial scenes. This meant there were no unnecessary scenes, but it had its fair share of other issues. Anyway, I'm really excited about the results from this review pass. The high-level overview provided solutions that weren't feasible at a scene level. By making significant changes before diving into line editing, I was able to address problems in the rough draft that I wasn't particularly attached to. Now, I'm preparing for review two and can't wait for it. Thanks, Ellen!

[@sherriandara2699]

Not only HIGHLY motivational, but everything about Ellen is wise. Every time I get to the point that writing stresses me beyond belief, I get energy just finding nuggets of gold Ellen shares. Thank you Ellen. I feel like you are by my side through my journey in writing and in the times I am almost too stressed to carry on and drop it all to go into becoming a full time artist, you are right there with words of encouragement. You give me belief in myself.

[@devcybiko]

I'm also a writing coach. I love your videos - you give great advice. I wonder about the advice regarding not thinking about readers. I ask my writers to start thinking about the audience before putting pen to paper. If the writer really wants to make a commercially viable novel, she needs to know what genre, age, gender, and educational level of the reader will be. If you're writing a vampire story, you need to make sure you are writing within the tropes and paradigms of that genre. Otherwise, the audience won't get what they're expecting. But if you're just writing for pleasure, it doesn't matter.

[@EllenBrock]

I don't recommend that you never think about the reader at any point in the process, but rather to put aside thinking about the reader as you clarify your personal vision. Guessing at what readers want is difficult (even for industry professionals) and can be more a source of distraction and stress at the point that you're starting to developmentally edit a first draft. Once you know your vision, you can start to think about how to best convey that vision to readers, but starting with what the reader wants (in my experience) makes it harder to figure out that vision. I've also seen this cause writers to abandon projects out of boredom because when their vision is stripped away (or never discovered), they lose their passion for the project. It also makes it more likely you will end up with something so standard/expected/conformist that it won't be commercially viable due to being overly bland. If you write a vampire story that sticks strictly to the tropes and paradigms, there's little chance it will be published because the market is over saturated. Novels that don't stick to expectations but the writer stuck to their vision tend to do well even when using "tired" ideas like vampires: Twilight, Let the Right One In, etc. Once you know your vision and start to execute it, you can figure out how to make it as appealing as possible to readers while staying within your vision. Lastly, like I mentioned in the video, every process doesn't work for every writer. If I had a writer/client who ended up with totally wild and completely unmarketable concepts based on this exercise, I wouldn't have them do it next time, but I've never actually seen that happen. I hope that clarifies!

[@devcybiko]

@@EllenBrock I get what you're saying. I had a friend who would pick his projects based on his "market analysis" of current popular sales. That's a real... gamble. Thanks again for your videos. I recommend you to my writers. Glad to see you're back!

[@Grifiki]

"When those Irish Eyes are Smiling, you know it's Spring."

[@tamaraalonso1338]

thank you so much for your advice! Editing is a nightmare for me (i'm terrible trying to organize myself) and I think this could be an easy way to find what I need to change in my novel :)

[@patmcroin]

The thing about Ellen is that she thinks about storytelling the same way I do. So it's very easy for me to walk away from any video having learned something valuable. Thank you for keeping up all the great info, Ellen!

[@slicerneons3300]

I want to comment on your good advice, BUT THAT DOG HAS AN AFRO!!

[@WilliamAlanWebb]

For what it's worth, I use a developmental editor even on novelettes and novellas that are not sourced through a publisher, where they do that work. (My regular publisher is my developmental editor). It's a must for professional story telling.

[@kc2823]

Just discovered your channel. (I'm a project editor and have been part of the corporate London publishing scene for years.) You are a gem! I am now going to binge-watch every video. Bless you for your generosity and sharp mind.

[@The.Ghost.of.Tom.Joad.]

Thanks. Great advice. A take on, "finish it first." I often get bogged down in wording and sentence flow when editing... only to find that I need to cut details I've fussed over when editing scenes. Same happens with entire scenes or chapters when I look at the bigger picture. All that fussing for nothing. Your advice will help me here: finish the novel first, and then go back with a structured checklist. And polish afterward. I have a completed novel on my hard-drive. The middle section drags, disrupting the narrative flow. I'm going to go through that novel using your advice to (hopefully) salvage it.

[@jkadmin9460]

So helpful, as always!

[@mischarowe]

Wonderful. Thank you so much for this strategy.

[@DK-ox7xi]

Thank you Ellen for another insightful video. Much appreciated!

[@End_Zionism]

I missed your videos and was starting to get a little worried! Thank you for this, the video is extremely helpful!!

[@jimfogarty6385]

w00t! Ellen's back

[@a.beckles6656]

I have watched this video a few times but thanks for the show notes. Much appreciated!!!

[@ig7002]

Your channel is the absolute BEST.

[@arsenicbug1537]

! I'm happy to see another video is up! Your videos are always a great resource for me to think about how I should be editing my works so I'd like to say thank you for making these videos available to all of us writers

[@BonnieNicoleWrites]

This is SO helpful! Thank you! I have definitely been overwhelmed with all the many pieces and things that I know need to be changed. I appreciate your video.

[@mohanpandey7038]

Hi Ellen, Just a line to record my appreciation for the way you explain everything in your videos. Yours is a simple direct method that gets registered with the viewers effortlessly. Thanks again.

[@morphing_erebus]

Hope you'll get better soon! Also as someone who willnever write anything good enough to get published, I love your advice XD (not sarcastic, I'm just not that good but I like reading and thinking about possible stories in my head)

[@biglogan6142]

Hey! Welcome back!!! Your videos have been a huge help to me as a very new and unpublished "writer" :P ... and I'm really glad to see you back posting your predictably helpful and insightful videos! On behalf of myself, and all the people who don't say but think it: Thanks a lot for your help and keep up the awesome work!!!

[@heikek2134]

Wow, that was immensely helpful - thanks for sharing your experience with us

[@wtk6069]

One thing that helped me a lot on my latest project was a new text-to-voice app. Some of them are natural-sounding enough nowadays that it's almost like an audiobook, and I found it really helpful to hear my prose read back to me. I eliminated a bunch of words used too frequently, for example. Audibly, things like that stand out a lot more.

[@cjpreach]

I just listened to this presentation for the fifth time, and realized I had missed a really great point about "what would the novel be if it were perfect? Don't think about the work . . ." I missed this point FOUR times! That's some good teaching, folks.

[@theowlman7091]

Thank you for putting an educational channel like this one. I've binged watched almost all your videos and learned alot from them in putting my novel together. I appreciate it and please make more content on your channel, please.

[@waltermanson999]

Great pep talk ! I needed this ! Thanks !

[@bodine219]

I'm about to start editing for the first time. I'm really glad I found this video because I have no idea what I'm doing. It's a bit ovetwhelming.

[@WriterBrandonMcNulty]

Great advice! Reminds me of something I learned from a writing guide called Blueprint Your Bestseller. They suggested that after finishing a draft you should get a piece of poster board and mark your story's main theme in the middle. From there, you'd write out the names of characters, settings, plot events, etc. on strips of paper. Then you would pin the strips onto the poster board, and where you pinned them would depend on how well they fit the theme. So if you had a character who fit the theme well, they'd go close to the middle while a character who didn't jive with the theme would end up at the far corners of the poster board. I've been using this technique for about 6 years now. Your advice is a great way to broaden it. Can't wait to try it out once I finish my next draft!

[@EllenBrock]

That's a really cool idea! I could see that exercise working really well.

[@JohannesSiemers]

Your videos are one of the best for craft. Thank you and keep up the good work.

[@Jamesington]

Great video that's relevant to my process right now as I'm collecting beta reader feedback. Also love the notes and time stamps in the description.

[@monicadenise6274]

That dog is beautiful!! Thanks for sharing !!

[@synegg9414]

Best editing video and channel ever!!

[@tandy139]

Thanks Ellen, nice video. You've given me an interesting project to get to work on this Saturday morning. It may help me to make a breakthrough.

[@Thesilverninja]

Great video, Ellen! I lucked out in that for my current project I have a lot of items in the love category. The stuff that I hated got chucked IMMEDIATELY. Still, I like the types about using parenthesis to signify cut, change, replace. I'm definitely leaning towards using visual tools for outlining the novel and this video will be a great step in that direction. Also, the new graphics look great! :)

[@johnperivolaris6447]

Excellent advice. Thanks Ellen.

[@johnavery5384]

Excellent video. Thank you. Clear delivery and on point. You have given me some things to try to develop a method that works for me.

[@MichaelJMetz]

This video was probably one of your best; full of useful techniques. I'm in the process of writing a series of seven short stories (completing first draft first, then going back). I've already set up an outline the way you described and expect to make significant progress. Thanks.

[@JRTProds28]

Great! Thanks. I guess I was on the right track with a "reverse outline" and scene layout. I also love the categorization suggestion, love, hate, indifferent. I was thinking of something similar, "need to have", "nice to have", "remove". I love your standard poodle! Looks a lot like my Labradoodle's father!

[@jpolgar1]

Simple and brilliant. Thank you!

[@michaelalbrecht6156]

Your advice and videos are very helpful Ellen well done !

[@Lillyspurs]

Thank you for this! I always learn so much from you! You’re a gem!!!

[@luisaah5707]

I love this method! I used it for my "1st" draft. You have amazing tips. I currently rewatch all you writer types and all editing tips videos. Amazing!

[@eveemcghee4454]

Thank you for everything you do Ellen

[@DjKunra]

Sometimes I get so caught up in videos on worldbuilding, character development and examples of motifs ... but your videos remind me that there is a mechanical inner-working to writing I sometimes forget. And you're very good at conveying information. Thank you. Subbed :)

[@bustersbrain]

Very different from the types advice I usually hear. Thought provoking. Thank you.

[@ledge-magee]

I'm on my first draft and I know this isn't the most helpful video to watch during that time, but I'm close to the word count I was aiming for but don't feel like I'm getting anywhere. I just feel like it's garbage and want to start editing right away XD

[@thetulianrenegade1827]

My favorite editor👌

[@sleepyoctopus8]

This is such a helpful video. I didn't even know where to start editing my novel; I knew there were things that could have been done a lot better, but this technique has helped me get to the root of all of my novel's problems and start thinking about how to fix them. Thanks for making this!

[@zeroisland7]

I have found a program called Doc to MP3 converter to be an excellent editing device. I get to listen to how it sounds when read and I have been able to make a lot of changes. While listening to it, I sometimes come up with ideas to improve a scene in the book. Granted some ideas have not decided on yet but it been great. In one novel, I deleted 15 percent of the novel because some stuff did not work. This along with what Ms brock suggestion will help even more! Thank you!

[@decombobulatedhuman]

This is so incredibly helpful ❤ I wish I could 'like' it a million times! You explain everything in a workable, empathetic, clear and simple way. Thank you for sharing these valuable insights, Ellen!

[@elizabethprcha5565]

This is really, really helpful. Thank you!

[@MinurielLai]

I'm just starting to work in developmental editing and this was SUPER helpful! It really helped me to get into the mindset of the writer as well. Thanks!

[@raemannticvs]

I really love the things you reveal. I thought editing was something very different from what you present. It is like I am having an "out-of-body-experience". I am getting there now and don't feel so restricted within fear and doubt. Thanks again!

[@WesleySmit]

Amazing video. Has helped me so much. Definitely going to try this with my first draft!

[@WesleySmit]

An editing question I have is I have a 1st person present tense POV for one of the main characters and I'm running into the difficulty of portraying emotional changes in a subtle way without 'telling' too much. The challenge is that the character is exploring a visualization of his subconscious which manifests as a fantastical world where his emotions are creatures, so he doesn't run into many people. As the story progresses, there are a handful of characters where I can show more through interaction and dialogue, but for the 'alone' parts, I'm having real difficulty diversifying the way he develops. Now he often interacts with physical manifestations of his pain or of memories but perhaps you have some tips about this challenge of 1st person POV.

[@BettyAndersson]

I'm about to start editing a novel for the first time, after writing a very messy draft during NaNoWriMo. Since I've never done it before, it seems very overwhelming and I didn't quite know how to go about it. But this was just the concrete advice I needed and now I feel like I know where to start. Thank you!

[@pRahvi0]

This was a really helpful video - it made me realize some major flaws I had not noticed but just stuck with. Also, the summary in the description is great (with timestamps and all ^^), just extraordinarily thoughtful.

Good sharing

[@andreamack102]

This is a really helpful way to get started on a revision! Thank you so much for helping me develop confidence in my own abilities to tackle my revision.

[@alyssacasto7957]

Thanks so much for posting this! I can zip through a first draft of a manuscript but the editing process has always been brutal. All of your advice on how to approach editing is easy to understand and gives steps to move forward and not be so overwhelming.

[@madeleinespeagle2692]

Would you ever make a video on tips for becoming an editor? I’ve always wanted to do it but they say the industry is really hard to get into these days. Thank you so much, these videos are so helpful!

[@lifejourneyadventures247]

What a wonderful idea! I am so happy to see you back on You Tube. I started this process while you were speaking and found insight in a few areas. I've watch your fast plotting video, also, and if I overlap the two processes, I can see threads and concepts which are not developed nor attached to a specific character! Well done!

[@EllenBrock]

That's awesome! Thank you.

[@milestrombley1466]

Outlining and beta reading does help with story development.

[@timwhite794]

Great stuff Ellen. I’m stuck with my first ever novel draft and not knowing how to get it into some sort of shape. This is addresses lots of things I just didn’t have a system for addressing. thanks.

[@XVisionary978]

Woohoo I'm 5th person to comment! Also I love watching your vids ms. Brock, it has helped me a lot with working on my novel. I also wanted to ask what to do when other people come with a location or character or book name that I had in mind?

[@karenelsworth489]

Thank you so much for your incredibly informative channel! Ive been struggling for ages to make sense of the giant mess of story I ended up with! I made some lists and tried the magic button - The magic button rocks! - I visualised the perfect version of my book and immediately saw a whole chunk of first chapters gone and a different way it is written, I can't thank you enough, this is amazing & now Im excited to finish editing my book. I hope your better now and do please keep rambling because your awesome :-D

[@owenspears3114]

Definitely a helpful way to do it!

[@billthornhill8408]

Another excellent video Ellen. Thank you for posting.

[@justbhavana]

This is Pure Gold

[@winterkind1772]

Turns out I don't like the wip i'm doing right now. I really want to go back to my older wip, that noone but me liked ^_^° welp. I love it anyway so back I go! Thank you for making me see that clearer!

[@kaiaanderson6014]

Hi Ellen! Could you make a video on tips for how to cure Too Many Ideas Syndrome?

[@LisaParkesWildheart]

This was so helpful. Thank you 🙏🏻

[@billwehrmacher3842]

Once again, great video. I'm learning a lot about writing, but I wonder sometimes should I be writing at all. I run a writing club that initially wrote to prompts. Some of my efforts moved to short story or novella length. I didn't have a message, no big picture, etc. Should someone like me stick to reading? 🙄 Thanks again for sharing your knowledge.

[@Danielex-en9ku]

You don't need a message, you just have to tell a story. It is just like playing an instrument, you do it because you like it

[@nuriablanco.bookreviews]

Thank you for this content! I never thought about using a technique like that one, it's really useful. And plus, you are so kind :D

[@IsaiahHarbison]

Thank you

[@guywittamic]

Another great video. Thanks so much! I'm sure others must have mentioned this, but would it be possible to turn any of your 15 minute + videos into podcasts? I'd love to listen to them while I'm driving, or whatever. Your audio is pretty great already, so you'd literally just have to split the audio, load it into Anchor (or whatever you'd use for podcasts), and upload it! You might also put ads on it over time, giving you another stream of income! :) My luck, you already have one I just don't know about lol PS THANKS for the time you take to do the timestamps in your description... how thoughtful!

[@nadeezn]

i know it’s been a year and i’m not sure if you’re still interested but i suggest using an app called musi. it has every video on youtube available and lets you listen to them like a music app, plus it’s ad free (aside from the ones that pop up on screen, but those aren’t too bothersome) :]

[@guywittamic]

@@nadeezn thanks! 🙏

[@AnitaSleap1080z]

I needed needed needed this!!

[@dcruz55]

Love this video! However, I'm going to have to break it down and take in your suggestions in small doses. Not because I don't want to change my book but because it is so much! In addition it triggers so many ideas for change. Thank you!

[@rowan404]

Maybe it’s because this novel came of age alongside me (started writing it when I was 15 and finished the rough draft just over 4 years later), but I love almost everything about my book and don’t hate anything. The only developmental problem I have is a sagging middle for act 2A, but I can’t decide what to cut until I get feedback from beta readers because I love every chapter in it. Additionally, I can’t go off of my “original vision” because instead of losing my vision, I _gained_ it along the way. My original vision was a shitposty story about the Area 51 Raid to entertain readers on Wattpad, but over the years, it turned into a societal critique with the purpose of 13:27. In fact, not only did I find my vision along the way, but I found _myself._ Since I accidentally gave the protagonist the same misbelief that was responsible for most of my mental illness, her character arc allowed me to grow alongside her, alleviating years of self-loathing and suicidal thoughts and even plans. Is there a way to rank this character arc above “love”? It deserves much more. After all, it may have saved my life. I think the reason I love almost everything and don’t hate anything is because this book has been my lifeline for more than 1/5 of my life. At first, it provided me with temporary but much needed escapism, and later on, it gave me an actual escape.

[@rivkabegun9411]

So helpful! Thank you

[@rebeccavaughn8897]

I’m an underwriter. So, yes, realizing that something is unnecessary clutter and deciding to cut it is both shocking and painful. Yet still needed.