Encouragement · Guest Posts · Writing Tips

Encouragement for the Editing Writer (ft. Allyson Jamison!)

Saraina Whitney

I am so excited to share with you an amazing guest post by Allyson Jamison, a brilliant blogger and writer I’ve gotten to know over the past year! If you’re editing a writing project (or are planning to do so this year) and are feeling daunted or discouraged, this was written just for you. Without further ado, I present to you “Encouragement for the Editing Writer”!

Regrettably, part of a writer’s job is to edit.

*emits groans and grumbles*

Personally, this is my least favorite part of the process. I see the benefits from it and I know it’s important, but I also know that I am a terrible editor and that I struggle tearing my precious baby to pieces. It can even put me through depression.

If you love editing and relish in the satisfaction of wielding your red pen… good for you. Truly, I’m glad that you enjoy it and wish that I did more. But for those of you who are like me and struggle through this step of the process, this post is for you.

Stage 1: Believing Your Book is Awful

From what I’ve noticed for myself, the dreadful editing process comes in three stages. Stage one, is believing that your book you’ve spent months upon months brainstorming, outlining, and writing is, well, trash. You’ve poured your heart into this creation to where it might as well be an extension of you–in fact, it is an extension of you. And now you’ve taken time away from it so that you can view it with a clear head and you see what you always feared.

It’s awful.

It feels hopeless. It’s ugly and irreparably messy. It’s so bad that you cringe just thinking about it. Some nights it’s all I can do to make myself think of something else during this stage.

This might sound dramatic, but it’s really how I feel. Maybe you do as well.

But what I’ve had to come to realize and what you will too is that it’s not as awful as you believe it is. Many writers will give up right here. They’ll trash it and never look back. All those beautiful words… gone. Don’t do that! No matter what you feel during this stage, do NOT allow yourself to throw away your project. It will get better, believe me.

Stage 2: Seeing a Glimmer of Hope

For me, it usually takes a lot of encouragement and love from friends to get me into this stage. I go kicking and screaming, holding onto the belief that my book is awful and should simply be trashed. But then, when I allow myself to take another peek, I see what my friends were trying to tell me all along.

There is hope.

There is always hope, my friend. There is rarely anything that can’t be fixed–and that includes your book. But you have to see the glimmer of hope if there’s any chance of you going forward. You have to believe in your story on a whole new level to not give up on your book. You have to believe in yourself!

With my current book that I’m editing, I was recently at this stage. Something that helped me push forward was taking a piece of paper, a pen, and a highlighter and creating an aesthetically pleasing page that fit the feel of my book. I wrote out what I love about my main character, the title of the book in pretty hand lettering, and inspiring quotes I pulled from Pinterest. This helped me more than anything else and I still look back on it to remind myself that I do love this story no matter what I can trick myself into believing.

Past that, I came up with a step by step plan for what I was going to do moving forward. By having this plan, I could see clearly in my mind what needed to be done so I could spend more time making progress and less time feeling stuck. When you’re already struggling to find the joy you once had in your book, you do not need the added complication of not knowing where you’re going.

Stage 3: Taking the Bad with the Good

Once you know where you’re going with your editing goals and you feel inspired to do it, you have to do it. Don’t overthink it, don’t overcomplicate it. Just do it.

This book is not going to edit itself so that means you have to (as awful as that is). You have to take the bad with the good and dive right in. Get messy. Because it’s through the messiness that you can create a masterpiece.

I find that even as I’m editing some pretty bad writing, every now and then I’ll still find a sentence or paragraph or even a scene that I can sit back and go “Wow, that was really good”. Don’t feel prideful for thinking this–you’re not. Take a moment to recognize that you are a good writer and capable of writing amazing stuff. Because through the tough editing woes, you need to be able to see the good and see the beauty in your own writing.

But you also have to take the bad writing in stride. Because there will be bad writing. Your red pen might run out of ink, but that’s okay. Remember: you’re making your story better. I know you feel it in your heart whenever you cut something as small as a single word out of your story, I feel it too. But if you’re truly committed to creating the best story you possibly can, then you have to do it.

You have to edit your story to create a masterpiece. Because it’s through the brokenness that beauty appears.

You can do it. I believe in you.

Conclusion

If you’ve made it through all three of these stages with a project, congratulations! It’s no easy feat so don’t undervalue what you’ve accomplished. Take a moment to pat yourself on the back. Throw confetti. Eat cake!

However, if you’re still in the middle of one of these stages or just now entering the first one, keep heart. Stay strong. Don’t give up. I can’t preach these words to you enough.

I know, it’s easier said than done–much easier. With my recent book that I was editing, I went through a small form of depression because of it. I almost gave up on the story that I once felt so strongly about.

But I had to go through that to get to the other side of it and realize how much I do love it and how much potential the story holds. Yes, it’s still awful. Yes, I still believe that with a passion. But I’ve learned to embrace the bad with the good and know that I can make something beautiful out of it. Who knows, maybe one day you’ll see it on the shelf at your local bookstore. (One can hope, right?)

The point of the matter is this: don’t give up. No matter how you feel, don’t give in to those emotions coursing through you that want to throw in the towel and believe the lie that anything you ever write is trash.

Don’t. Just, don’t.

Tell yourself this: my words matter.

Repeat that in your head until you believe it. Because your words do matter, and, if you keep going, one day, you’ll see them in print.

Are you currently editing or will you be editing a project soon? Do you feel this pain whenever you edit? What are some words of encouragement you’d like to add?

About the Author

Hi! I’m Allyson.

I’m a quirky, tea-addicted writer with a passion to show other writers that there is a different method for each individual and that there is hope in the process. Never give up. You’re just beginning.

Was that fabulous or what? Allyson’s posts always rock, so I was delighted to be able to have her guest post on my blog! Thank you so much, Allyson! If you loved this post and got value out of it, check out her amazing blog here for more quality content!

30 thoughts on “Encouragement for the Editing Writer (ft. Allyson Jamison!)”

    2. Yes, editing can be very difficult. It’s hard to change a story even if we know it’ll make it better, just as it’s hard for us to change even if it would make us stronger. But the Lord can help us through it all. You’re welcome! I’m so glad you enjoyed them!!

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  4. THIS WAS SUCH AN AMAZING POST!!!!!!! I LOVED IT!!!!!!! Like oh I can relate to every single stage. Editing is such hard work, especially when you just love your baby so much and it’s so hard to change it and accept that there needs to be alterations. I LOVED how encouraging this post was!!!! <333

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    1. YES GIRL! Allyson did an amazing job!!! I knoww, it’s so hard to accept change when we’re so attached to our darling babies! XD So glad it was encouraging to you!

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    2. Thank you so much, Issabelle!!! Ugh. I know just what you mean!! It’s so hard to one, admit that my baby needs to change, and then two, actually change it. But I keep picturing the end goal because I know it’ll be beautifully (or at least I’m hoping, lol! XD). I’m so glad this post was helpful for you!! 💙

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  6. This is such a good post!!! Editing is the hardest part of writing for me. This was perfectly timed because I have projects in need of editing and I’ve been ignoring it *buries face in hands*. Thank you Saraina and Allyson!! This is SO encouraging and is giving me courage to start editing again!!! THANK YOU!!! <33

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    2. I feel you, Moriyah. Editing is by far the hardest stage of the process for me as well and I avoid it like the plague. XD I’ve written several novels over the past couple of years but never took the time to go back and edit any of them. I haven’t wanted to edit any of them. XD But, let me tell you, it’s so worth it in the end! I cannot wait to finish editing my current WIP and see how far it’s come. I can already see the difference and I’m not even that far into edits! So even if it’s hard, even if you don’t want to, even if it makes you cry, edit your novel! What comes out of it is more beautiful than you might think. <333

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      1. Same! XD That’s what I’ve basically been doing the past few months (avoiding editing like the plague). I know that feeling. XD
        I love hearing that! You are right! It’s so worth it! I love that once I do finally edit my work, I get to start sharing it with people and that’s always an amazing thing to do!
        That sounds amazing! It is amazing how fast you are already seeing your story grow and get better! I love that!
        Aww! *wipes tear from eye* Thank you Allyson! This means a lot to me! ❤ You are making me want to edit! XD

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        1. Haha! Glad I’m not the only one! XD
          Yes, that’s a great way of looking at it! Right now that’s exactly what’s helping me get through edits. Because once I finish, the next step is to share it with beta readers-which also includes my family. I’m so excited for them all to read it and I can’t wait to hear everyone’s thoughts! So, yeah. It’s great motivation!
          You’re so welcome! Aww, I’m glad!! Let this be the motivation to go and edit your story. It deserves the love! 🤗💙

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          1. Yes! Me too! XD
            Aww! I love that!!! It really is great motivation and I keep having to remind myself about it! (It helps that my beta reader remind me about it too 😉).
            Aww!! Thank you so much!!! 🥰💛

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  7. I’m getting ready to spend February editing my book. I have beta readers reading it now and will hopefully get their edits back by February 1st. It should be easier than the 1st and 2nd edits because people will be able to tell me what made sense and what didn’t. I’ll be referencing this while I edit though. Great post ladies! 😁

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    1. How exciting! I hope this next round of edits go well for you! I love getting feedback from others, it’s always so fun to hear what they love about the story and beneficial to hear what they dislike as well. Thanks for reading! I’m glad this was helpful for you! 💙

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  8. There really is always a glimmer of hope, in the trash, in the bad to get to the good – one little thing you like about an initial draft can change the whole complexion of the story and make the editing process worth it. It’s nice reading this POV from other writers. Thank you for this post! 😁

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    2. I can’t agree more! There is always a glimmer of hope even when it feels there can’t be. But yes! Sometimes all it takes is a small change for you to fall fully in love with the story all over again. That’s what happened with the story I’m editing. I’m glad you enjoyed this post! Thank you for reading!! 💙

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  9. Reblogged this on and commented:
    A couple months ago I shared a guest post on Saraina Whitney’s blog of encouragement for the editing writer. If you’re editing a novel, or even if you’re not, this is a post a lot of us need to hear. So I hope that it’s helpful for all of you! (Also, be sure to check out Saraina’s amazing blog while you’re over there!)

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