There’s even a name for it. Graphophobia, the fear of editing. Some writers genuinely loathe the idea of editing their own work. Why? It’s probably different for everyone, but I suspect the most common reasons are:

Unfamiliarity with the editing process.Unleashing bad memories of school days.Fear of ruining their first draft.Unease with facing that rough first draft.Being overwhelmed by the size of the task.

You may suffer from any of these issues or a combination of them. If the issue is fear, you can learn to cope with it. Of course, some people don’t like editing because it’s too much like hard work, and they are, frankly, too lazy to be bothered. Others prefer to believe their first draft is perfect and they refuse to consider it might be improved.

What is your issue with editing? Does it really make you break out in a cold sweat? Why is it, do you think?

Editing is an essential part of the writing process. It may seem dull and mechanical, but actually it’s where the magic comes from. I don’t know any writer, be he ever so talented, who can produce a perfect first draft. So, uneasy as it may make you, you need to saddle up and accept it.

You may be tempted to hire someone else to do the editing for you, but there are good reasons why you shouldn’t. For instance,

It’s expensive.You are surrendering your vision to someone else’s, and their interpretation may not match yours.Not all editors-for-hire are equally talented — or reliable (no offense to the many who are excellent).

Let’s look at those reasons why you might be reluctant to face editing and see how you may be able to overcome them.

Unfamiliarity with the editing process

A lot of things relating to writing have developed a certain mystique over the years. Merely the process of writing can seem magical to the uninitiated. Of course, some successful writers are happy to reinforce that notion. Most, though, know that writing can be learned, and, like any art, must be practiced. Nowhere is this truer than in editing.

Take it slowly, one paragraph at a time, or even one sentence at a time if you need. Read it and decide if it gets your meaning across. If you are puzzled by it, you can be sure your readers will too. Decide what the meaning should be and write that, as simply and as concisely as you can. And here’s a tip: it doesn’t have to be perfect. As long as we can understand it, it’s fine.

Fear of the unknown

This is another common cause of fear of editing. The answer to this is obvious: learn as much as you can about editing. Listen to podcasts, read books (I like Self-Editing for Fiction Writers by Renni Browne and Dave King.) You can also get books on grammar and spelling, there are dozens of them around. I should add, however, that if these are your weak spots, such books may seem intimidating. Alternatively, you can also use the spell- and grammar-checks that are in MS Word, but be careful. They have some quirks built in that really get my nanny goat! They’ll tell you ‘some day’ should be all one word, when ‘someday’ and ‘some day’ have different meanings.

These quirks make it essential that you find a good Beta reader or writing group. Not to do your editing for you, but to check that those computer-suggested changes make sense.

Fear of ruining the first draft

This was always my bugbear. When I started writing, I used an Underwood typewriter (or, sometimes, a Remington) to produce my ‘masterpieces’. This process usually took me a long time; I wasn’t much of a typist. Then, having to use editing marks on the manuscript would make me want to cry. It took so long to produce it in the first place.

These days, I’m a touch-typist (thanks, Mum!) and use a computer. The best thing about working electronically is that I’m able to save various drafts of my work. That means, no matter how many changes I make, the first draft is still there.

Even if you write with pen and ink, I’d suggest you photocopy your manuscript, and make your changes on the copy.

Unease with facing that rough first draft

I always think of this in terms of housework. You face a total mess in the kitchen and you don’t know where to begin cleaning it. We all have our own approach. Some of us with put away all the items that belong in cupboards, some will wash the dishes, or wipe down counters. It’s the same with editing. There is no one right place to start. You may decide to review the manuscript for clarity first, or fix the grammar, or something else. Do what feels right to you. I would, though, caution you to work from the big picture to the small. Make sure all the scenes are in place and are clear. Fix holes in the plot or in the characters. Only when that is done should you worry about things like spelling. After all, why take the time to fix the syntax in a scene that you are going to completely rewrite?

Being overwhelmed by the size of the task

I truly relate to this. Looking at a novel of about 300 pages or more can be daunting. But it’s like the old joke about eating an elephant (How do you eat an elephant? One bite at a time.)

I make a chart of how much work I plan to do in, say, a week. Perhaps I’ll work on so many pages or words a day. Or perhaps I’ll tackle one chapter at a time. If you keep a log and update it each time you edit, you’ll see your progress right in front of you. It’s great motivation.

Remind yourself that today you are just going to read the first three pages (you can make it paragraphs if you prefer) of your story. You can make notes for changes as you go. I often find that I am so caught up in the story that I’ll read many more pages than I had planned. Not always, of course. If the writing is a mess it may take longer than I anticipate.

But as long as you keep your editing to fairly small amounts, it should help you cope with those feelings of being overwhelmed. Better yet, the more you do, the easier it will get. Firstly, you have fewer pages to get through, and secondly, you overcome your resistance by simply doing.

Finally,

Fear is not rational, so I’m not going to insult you by saying you have nothing to be afraid of. Only that your fears can be overcome with some determination, and, I hope, by the support of your friends.

In the end, for all the headaches and anxiety, the end result is worth it.

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