How I Edit My Fantasy Books (2023)

Write, finish, and publish an incredible novel that readers will love with my advanced Story Coaching program. Find out more & apply here: jedherne.com/coaching
In this video, I share my exact step-by-step system for editing fantasy novels. If you've wondered how to turn your fantasy book from a messy first draft into a polished story, this video is for you.
Read the opening pages of Kingdom of Dragons: jedherne.com/kingdom
Free access to ProWritingAid: prowritingaid.com/?afid=4301
⏲️ TIMESTAMPS:
00:00 - Introduction
1:09 - Let it sit
2:02 - Read the entire thing
4:24 - Figure out what its about
6:06 - Big removals and rewrites
12:16 - Big picture edits
13:44 - Fix placeholders
14:35 - Get feedback
21:19 - Specific passes
25:56 - Get an editor
26:37 - Proof reading
✏️ MY FREE WRITING ADVICE BOOK:
Get my free book: '5 Lessons That Transformed My Writing': jedherne.com/lessons
💌 MY NEWSLETTER:
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📙 MY BOOKS:
Check out my fantasy books here: jedherne.com/stories
🔨 MY FAVOURITE WRITING TOOLS:
Freewrite Traveller (distraction-free writing laptop): getfreewrite.com/?rstr=6485 - use this affiliate link for a 5% discount.
MailerLite (best email newsletter software for authors): www.mailerlite.com/a/awmq7yim...
ProWritingAid (editing software that helps refine my prose): prowritingaid.com/?afid=4301
🧑 ABOUT ME:
Hi! My name's Jed. I'm a fantasy author with three published novels and a bestselling video game. On this channel, I draw from my 10+ years of writing experience to help you become a better writer.
💬 CONNECT WITH ME:
Follow me on Instagram: / jedherne
Send me an email: jed(at)jedherne.com
(Note: I don't always get a chance to reply to every email. However, I do my best to read as many of them as possible, and it's my preferred method of communication.)

[@Jed_Herne]

Write, finish, and publish an incredible novel that readers will love with my advanced Story Coaching program. Inside the program, I’ll personally help you master the craft of storytelling and finish your first novel. Apply here: jedherne.com/coaching/

[@sarahwild5088]

If you use a lot of placeholders, you should familiarize yourself with "find and replace". It's a process that can automate updating the placeholders as long as each one is unique and most word style software has it already built in.

[@wrestlingwithwords]

Couldn't agree more with the opening. I tell my own clients that writing is all about re-writing and that the real writing comes during the revisions! Great video. I found myself nodding along with many of the points you made.

[@deckardcanine]

I do more drawing than creative writing. This has helped me accept the need for self-editing, because I never like my first drawing best.

[@deedaceopondo3520]

I do not own a kindle but what I have done is taken the whole manuscript, changed the font and sizing then put it in e-pub or PDF format and read it on my phone. It is revolutionary. Reading it like it is someone else's story really helps. Thanks Jed for these amazing videos

[@KimberleyWenya101]

I love that I’m not the only one who feels like you’re reading someone else’s book when reading in the kindle! It’s such a great mindset shift to take advantage of. I’ve always felt like rewriting looks so differently for everyone and really enjoyed hearing your take on it!

[@Jed_Herne]

Thanks Kimberly!

[@mattiOTX]

I operate a little different, I'm a gardener. So I'll write and use drafts as the outline. Adding scenes once I get my primary scenes down. Work on dialogue in a later drafts. Once I have the story flowing the way I want I start editing. Removing excess so that the flowers can bloom and fruit wonderfully. I write about conceptual themes, so much of my stories are very character driven. Plots are the causes of the characters wants or needs and the actions taken to fulfill those. I've never had issues with being objective of my own work but I came from a philosophy, sociology, and debate background so being objective about your own beliefs and thoughts is a needed skill for understanding your intellectual opponents and adjusting the ideas you have. I like to remember that I'm not reading my story, I'm reading the character's story. I'm writing down their lives but I'm not creating them. It's a bit like children, you imprint what you believe onto them but ultimately it's their lives. I can be critical of decisions I don't agree with they take, it does not mean their story ends just because of that.

[@als3022]

Why you have to look at the advice that others use for writing but remember that everyone's way of writing is completely different. I do like that this channel shares how he does it but isn't on the "This is the way you have to do it. Cause everyone has a style that works for them. You have an interesting way of looking at it. I wish you the best in your writing from a philosophy, sociology, and debate background. From a writer from a historical research and archeology background.

[@mattiOTX]

@@als3022 that's cool, I can't remember the series but there is an author that writes in that same space and its fantastic. I wish I could recall the name, I think I have a book in the room.

[@psyekl]

You have no idea how much I needed this.

[@jowrites]

The amulet scenes sound really cool!

[@Jed_Herne]

Cheers Jo!

[@valkyienstudio]

The reading and editing along with text to speech tip is one I use often, it really does help quite a lot =D

[@casualdragonslayer9655]

Wonderful guide and insight into your process. Every writer is a little bit different, but you do a great job of giving a comprehensive look at the editing process. Thank you, Jed!

[@Jed_Herne]

Glad it was helpful!

[@luisdall5575]

Great insight as always Jed. I love the idea of putting your draft on your kindle. It really made me think I was reading someone else's book and made it easier to find issues.

[@luked88]

Super Pumped!! Another 20+ minute video. Really enjoying the longer ones. Thanks!!

[@Jed_Herne]

Glad you like them!

[@D.Fay_Coe]

this is phenomenal

[@mageprometheus]

Thank you Jed. Another step forward on my learning journey.

[@Jed_Herne]

Cheers!

[@manmadeofstardust]

Great tips!

[@nickprocter1560]

This is such a great video thanks Jed. Very useful and interesting. I can't wait to get to the editing stages of my work in progress 😊.

[@Jed_Herne]

Best of luck, Nick!

[@valentinaegorova-vg7tb]

Great! Many thanks!

[@NaDa-kw2fu]

There is a precedent of order in editing tasks. As in all things writing, there is nothing set in concrete and will depend on the author, story and genera. I've tried to compile (several times) exactly this order should include. It would be interesting to compare notes with other who struggle with this.

[@ryanhollist3950]

An issue I currently have with finding people to review my work is I am including content that I know many people are not comfortable engaging with. I'm not ashamed to ask people to read it. I have offered to share it with my friends, but they turn it down when I give them the content warning. I'm now turning to online groups that are more comfortable with my content.

[@Solarstormflare]

thanks for this!!

[@Jed_Herne]

You're welcome!

[@Plague_Archangel]

Hello Jed, great video! Thank you for your efforts and putting it out. I am binging your videos, as I am an aspiring author, and I have to say that the format of your videos and the way you present the topics are fantastic. I do struggle a bit with my writing mainly as I am trying to write in English--which is not my mother language--but, little-by-little, step-by-step I might get there.

[@Jed_Herne]

Best of luck with the writing, Douglas

[@victor_bueno_br]

from what i got, Patrick Rothfuss's theme is just "foreshadowing is awesome"

[@paulcain548]

Super informative video Jed. I was recently made redundant from my job and as I’ve been an avid reader for many years I’m considering writing my first novel. This insight really brought home what is involved. Subscribed 👍🏻🇬🇧. As someone attempting to write a novel for the first time do you have any advice on composing the first draft?

[@eugenemurphy6037]

Glad to see another vertical mouse king. Thank you for the guide, Jed!

[@Jed_Herne]

Once you go vertical, there's no going back

[@annametsapelto3870]

Good ideas about editing. I suppose I have never ran into such a systematic take on the passes of the later editing but on the other hand editing is not as much talked about as writing the first draft. I suppose I will use those when I'm finishing my manuscript. I recently got a feedback from a professional author and make a few tweaks on the strucktural level.

[@goldenorbstudios]

Can you do a video on how to add small romance to fantasy novels? If not that's cool I'm sure you get 100s of requests!

[@m.j.johnsonbooks7856]

Probably the best editing guide I’ve ever seen. I wish I’d had something like this when I’d started writing. I really appreciate you providing concrete strategies to follow for each step in your process.

[@Jed_Herne]

Thanks for the kind words, Michael! I hope it's useful for your current book :)

[@BruceWayne15325]

I think it's smart that you don't let yourself edit prose during the 2nd draft. I view my role in the 2nd draft as a monster from a Stephen King novel let loose on the pages of my book to hack and slash anything that fails to move the story forward, or contribute in a meaningful way. My current book was over 450 pages in the 1st draft. By the time I finished the 2nd draft it was under 400, but it flowed so much more nicely, even if the prose still looked like a child's bedroom after a sleepover.

[@bondbert]

Hey there thanks for posting this! I always really like author workflow videos. Interested to see how authors are working and those specifics. I had a question about your process for editing notes. You said you upload your manuscript to your paperwhite and read there. Then you mention later that you had 60k words of notes for the next stage. How are you taking those notes? You're not doing that on paperwhite, right? That seems like it would be very cumbersome. Thanks! Enjoying your content a lot.

[@Jed_Herne]

I write the notes in a word doc

[@SCARRIOR]

I revise as I write, so the majority of this stuff was done already.

[@focusrelax8838]

So You got turned of by the prologue from the wa of kings that are 4000 years 12:18 before the story actually starts?

[@elviejodelmar2795]

Here's a tool that might help unpublished and newbie writers, like me. The free version gives technical feedback in minutes on things like the use of adverbs and adjectives, percent of conversation vs. description, reading level, etc. The paid version goes into more depth on character development and plot arcs. authors.ai/marlowe.

[@noctoi]

OOoh nothing annoys me more as a reader than getting a few chapters in (usually just AFTER the sample chapters of an ebook end and I've committed financially) the plot suddenly takes an abrupt left turn and becomes a totally different story to what's in the blurb and content warnings. I rarely give negative feedback, but this will prompt it every time. It's INCREDIBLY frustrating and makes me want to avoid anything else by that author. Re the prologue, I tend to use the prologue as the barometer for "should I even bother". If the prologue grabs me, I'll usually like the book too. If the prologue is overly wordy and gives seemingly pointless detail in copious quantities, I just won't bother. It's why I never finished the Lord Of The Rings books. I made it through The Hobbit, but the main trilogy prologue just lost me. I zone out every time, including the audiobooks lol. I literally fell asleep.

[@JonnieR]

oh "a hundred and sixty three thousand - word manuscript' haha I thought you said, 863,000 words manuscript XD I was like 0_0 hahaha!!

[@Jed_Herne]

Eek, that would be quite the feat to edit

[@gregorwalton]

You're thinking of Brandon Sanderson

[@JohnSmith-pv2qc]

@@gregorwaltonthat would put even Sanderson to shame

[@MagpieR6]

notice you have the first 4 books of republic commando, why not the 5th? imperial commando

[@jayslungsbloodclot2733]

How old you is, my boy

[@PePethePedalPusher]

I've really got to ask; Why does it take you 1 hour to read 4500 words when even the average adult would read 2-3000 in ten minutes? Is it because you are reading to edit? I'm confused

[@Gnostic_Plague]

Omg Jed if you edited “Fires of the Dead” then you are a bad editor. All of your characters “frown” like 4x per chapter. Get someone else to read your work, and spare us (the public) from the torture.