The Literary Lynnch Pen
Ah, editing. The word alone can send shivers down the spines of writers everywhere. It’s like the dental cleaning of the literary world: we know it’s necessary, but we’d much rather just eat cookies and pretend our manuscripts are perfect.
But here’s the truth: no masterpiece has ever gone to print without a healthy dose of editing. Every book has survived the editing gauntlet, from classics like Pride and Prejudice to your favorite beach read. So, let’s dive into why this process is so tough and why it’s absolutely, unequivocally worth it.
You know that beautiful metaphor you spent two hours crafting? The one about sunsets and heartbreak and existential dread? Yeah, it’s probably going to get cut. Editing forces you to look at your writing with a cold, ruthless eye. It’s less “Kill your darlings” and more “Game of Thrones massacre.”
Editing is like that brutally honest friend who points out your fly is down or there’s spinach in your teeth. Necessary? Yes. Fun? Not. Your manuscript is your baby. It will be poked, prodded, and occasionally mocked. (Did you really use the word “just” 37 times in one chapter?)
Editing isn’t a quick spritz of Febreze; it’s a full-on Marie Kondo session. Every sentence needs to be examined: Does it spark joy? Does it make sense? Will it make readers laugh, cry, or throw the book across the room in a good way?
Think of your first draft as a diamond in the rough. Editing chips away the excess until you’re left with something that sparkles. Sure, the process is messy and leaves a lot of metaphorical dust, but the result is a thing of beauty.
Let’s face it, readers are smart. They’ll spot plot holes, clichés, and typos faster than you can say “grammatical error.” Editing ensures your story is seamless, engaging, and typo-free. Because nothing pulls a reader out of a heartfelt scene like "their" instead of "they’re."
Editing teaches you so much about your writing. Maybe you’ll discover you’re overly fond of adverbs (guilty), or that your characters tend to shrug and sigh more than necessary (also guilty). The lessons you learn through editing will make your future writing stronger.
After you’ve re-read Chapter 5 for the tenth time, your brain will revolt. Step away. Breathe. Eat a cookie. Then return with fresh eyes. A second pair of eyes can catch things you’ve overlooked like the fact that your protagonist’s hair color inexplicably changes mid-book.
Editing is humbling, but it’s also hilarious. Embrace the absurdity of finding a sentence that literally makes no sense. (What did I even mean by “the moon wept in pastel agony”?)
Every time you tighten a paragraph, clarify a plot point, or delete an unnecessary scene, you’re making your story better. That’s worth celebrating. Preferably with more cookies.
Yes, editing is tough. It’s an emotional rollercoaster, a battle of wills, and occasionally a reason to scream into the void. But it’s also the secret ingredient that transforms a good story into a great one.
So, embrace the process. Sharpen your red pen (or fire up Track Changes), grab some snacks, and dive in. Your story—and your readers—will thank you for it.
Lynn Tincher
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