4d (edited) • General discussion
The Four Phases of Editing
One of the biggest lessons I’ve learned since I started writing books with AI is that AI doesn’t replace the editing process.
When I began, I put almost all of my trust in AI to write the story. We’d build the outline, write the chapters, and I’d move on to the next one. I rarely went back to edit, revise, or even proofread. I assumed the manuscript was essentially finished because it had already gone through so many conversations.
Looking back, I realize that writing and editing are two completely different skills.
Now I’m going back through every book I’ve written, and I’m approaching them with fresh eyes. Instead of trying to improve everything at once, I’m working through the manuscripts in four separate editing passes.
1. Structural Editing
This is the big-picture pass.
Does the story flow naturally? Are the chapters in the right order? Are there scenes that should be added, removed, or expanded? Do the character arcs feel complete?
This pass is about strengthening the foundation.
2. Prose Editing
Once the structure is solid, I focus on the writing itself.
I’m looking at rhythm, dialogue, description, transitions, repetition, and whether each chapter reads the way I want it to feel.
This is where the manuscript begins to find its voice.
3. Copy Editing
Only after I’m happy with the story and the prose do I move on to the technical details.
Grammar, spelling, punctuation, consistency, formatting, timelines, and all of those little things that help a book feel polished.
4. Proofreading
The final pass is simply catching the tiny details that somehow survived everything else.
A missing word.
A repeated phrase.
A misplaced quotation mark.
The kinds of errors that are almost impossible to notice while you’re still creating.
This has been a huge mindset shift for me.
AI helped me create the first draft far faster than I ever could have on my own. But I’ve learned that a first draft is still a first draft, no matter how it’s written.
The craftsmanship happens in the editing.
That’s the stage I’m in now, and I’m excited to see how much stronger these books become because of it.
0
0 comments
The Four Phases of Editing
powered by
skool.com/ash-light-institution-8926
Turn dreams, astrology, and AI into unforgettable books, fantasy worlds, and income while discovering yourself through storytelling.
Suggested communities
Powered by