Anonymous asked fuckyourwritinghabits: How to I start to edit? Clearly my first draft is a disaster, but do I print out the whole thing and write in notes? Start in a new document? Edit the same document? Please help, I don’t know where to start; thank you

The real truth about writing is that no one can tell you how truly hard editing can be. We get so wrapped up in the writing process that we have no energy left for what’s left on the page.  Here’s the thing - your first draft is going to be more like a rewrite, because changes are once you get in elbows deep, you’re going to realize the patient is deadly sick and needs fixing stat. People don’t tell you that because they don’t want you to get discouraged, because it can be discouraging, realizing you have to completely rework what you already worked so hard on. But with each draft, you get closer to what you truly want, you get to reach your perfect story. It’s worth it. It just takes time. Here are some ways to approach editing:

• Outline it. If you don’t have an outline of your finished story, do one now. Also make use of flashcards, to label scenes, plot points, subplots, etc. This will help you lay it all out if you’re a visible person, and help you tweak things from a bird’s eye view. Even if you’re not visual, it really helps. 
• Chunk it. Create small goals to accomplish daily or weekly. Rewriting can be intimidating, and putting your goals in small chunks will help you deal.
• Checklist. You want to ask yourself a series of questions with each scene, chapter, etc. What needs to be accomplished here? Did I accomplish it? How can I make that more effective? Am I happy with this scene? Can I pinpoint why not? You won’t need to checklist the further you go because you’ll know what to look for, but it’s really helpful from the start.
• Don’t fret the small stuff. You’re focusing on the story and how well it works. Fix grammar errors where you need, but you’re just as likely to completely rewrite many parts, so don’t make that your main goal the first time around.
• KEEP EVERYTHING. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve changed things, only to find the first thing I wrote was more effective. Sentences, phrases, description - toss it in a folder or an extra document. You might want it in the future.

I hope that helps you get started!