How do we edit a novel that's written by several people?












4















Two other friends and I have been writing a fan fiction and we basically write a chapter each one after another every week. Now that we're nearing the end of the project, we've noticed that the writing style keeps changing and that's it's quite horrible, so what should we do? Should we elect someone to rewrite every chapter so that the writing style stays consistent or we should just roll with it and keep things unchanged for the most part?










share|improve this question

























  • Revising is part of the writing process. Don't put shit out. You'll regret it.

    – Double U
    7 hours ago











  • Is having 3 different styles really that bad?

    – repomonster
    7 hours ago











  • If you have 3 main characters, then no.

    – Double U
    7 hours ago






  • 1





    Yes. George R.R. Martin created multiple voices for multiple characters.

    – Double U
    6 hours ago






  • 3





    You still have to think about author's voice. If there are 3 voices, then there must be a reason why.

    – Double U
    6 hours ago
















4















Two other friends and I have been writing a fan fiction and we basically write a chapter each one after another every week. Now that we're nearing the end of the project, we've noticed that the writing style keeps changing and that's it's quite horrible, so what should we do? Should we elect someone to rewrite every chapter so that the writing style stays consistent or we should just roll with it and keep things unchanged for the most part?










share|improve this question

























  • Revising is part of the writing process. Don't put shit out. You'll regret it.

    – Double U
    7 hours ago











  • Is having 3 different styles really that bad?

    – repomonster
    7 hours ago











  • If you have 3 main characters, then no.

    – Double U
    7 hours ago






  • 1





    Yes. George R.R. Martin created multiple voices for multiple characters.

    – Double U
    6 hours ago






  • 3





    You still have to think about author's voice. If there are 3 voices, then there must be a reason why.

    – Double U
    6 hours ago














4












4








4








Two other friends and I have been writing a fan fiction and we basically write a chapter each one after another every week. Now that we're nearing the end of the project, we've noticed that the writing style keeps changing and that's it's quite horrible, so what should we do? Should we elect someone to rewrite every chapter so that the writing style stays consistent or we should just roll with it and keep things unchanged for the most part?










share|improve this question
















Two other friends and I have been writing a fan fiction and we basically write a chapter each one after another every week. Now that we're nearing the end of the project, we've noticed that the writing style keeps changing and that's it's quite horrible, so what should we do? Should we elect someone to rewrite every chapter so that the writing style stays consistent or we should just roll with it and keep things unchanged for the most part?







style novel editing collaboration






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share|improve this question













share|improve this question




share|improve this question








edited 6 hours ago









Cyn

12.7k12763




12.7k12763










asked 7 hours ago









repomonsterrepomonster

1,309626




1,309626













  • Revising is part of the writing process. Don't put shit out. You'll regret it.

    – Double U
    7 hours ago











  • Is having 3 different styles really that bad?

    – repomonster
    7 hours ago











  • If you have 3 main characters, then no.

    – Double U
    7 hours ago






  • 1





    Yes. George R.R. Martin created multiple voices for multiple characters.

    – Double U
    6 hours ago






  • 3





    You still have to think about author's voice. If there are 3 voices, then there must be a reason why.

    – Double U
    6 hours ago



















  • Revising is part of the writing process. Don't put shit out. You'll regret it.

    – Double U
    7 hours ago











  • Is having 3 different styles really that bad?

    – repomonster
    7 hours ago











  • If you have 3 main characters, then no.

    – Double U
    7 hours ago






  • 1





    Yes. George R.R. Martin created multiple voices for multiple characters.

    – Double U
    6 hours ago






  • 3





    You still have to think about author's voice. If there are 3 voices, then there must be a reason why.

    – Double U
    6 hours ago

















Revising is part of the writing process. Don't put shit out. You'll regret it.

– Double U
7 hours ago





Revising is part of the writing process. Don't put shit out. You'll regret it.

– Double U
7 hours ago













Is having 3 different styles really that bad?

– repomonster
7 hours ago





Is having 3 different styles really that bad?

– repomonster
7 hours ago













If you have 3 main characters, then no.

– Double U
7 hours ago





If you have 3 main characters, then no.

– Double U
7 hours ago




1




1





Yes. George R.R. Martin created multiple voices for multiple characters.

– Double U
6 hours ago





Yes. George R.R. Martin created multiple voices for multiple characters.

– Double U
6 hours ago




3




3





You still have to think about author's voice. If there are 3 voices, then there must be a reason why.

– Double U
6 hours ago





You still have to think about author's voice. If there are 3 voices, then there must be a reason why.

– Double U
6 hours ago










2 Answers
2






active

oldest

votes


















5














The first step is to work out some style guidelines among yourselves. Agree on what style you want the finished product to follow. Because this is a project among friends rather than, say, a corporate publication, you'll probably end up including aspects of each writer's style while moving the whole thing toward a compromise center.



Once you agree on what the style rules are, don't each go revise your own contributions. Even with good intent, you're naturally going to favor your own style because you're so used to it. You'll miss things. Instead, revise each others' parts. You might need to do this more than once. When you think you've mostly converged, look for a beta reader from outside your group and see what that person notices.



My documentation team has used peer editing to good effect. We already have a thorough style guide and everybody intends to follow it, but there's drift. We get better results when a second person makes a pass through the work.






share|improve this answer































    3














    I would recommend two rounds of edits, for each author. If the friends are A, B, C (Ariel, Bethany, Cindy) then:



    1) First Round: A->B->C->A. Ariel makes edit notes for Bethany, Bethany makes edit notes for Cindy, and Cindy makes edit notes for Ariel. Then each person gets their edit notes, and the author of the chapter makes changes if they want, or gets more clarification from their editor, but the author has the final say.



    2) Second Round: Backwards. A->C->B->A. Ariel makes edit notes for Cindy's revised chapters, Cindy makes edit notes for Bethany's revised chapters, Bethany makes edit notes for Ariel's revised chapters.



    Again, each author makes changes if they want, or gets more clarification from their editor, but the author has the final say.



    3) You are done. Everybody had input on every chapter, but each author retains some level of individual voice in the chapters she wrote, and she decided whether to make changes her way, or rewrite, or whatever. So nobody should feel their voice was shut down or some bully boss (I'm lookin' at you, Cindy!) took over the project and made it her own.



    If you are worried about very different voices, introduce three narrators, Debra, Elsi and Fiona for Ariel, Bethany and Cindy, and open the chapter with sub-heading of the narrator's name, "Fiona", or "as told by Elsi", or work the name into the first sentence. Or wrap the story as told by the three women that lived through it. Anything like that.






    share|improve this answer























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      2 Answers
      2






      active

      oldest

      votes








      2 Answers
      2






      active

      oldest

      votes









      active

      oldest

      votes






      active

      oldest

      votes









      5














      The first step is to work out some style guidelines among yourselves. Agree on what style you want the finished product to follow. Because this is a project among friends rather than, say, a corporate publication, you'll probably end up including aspects of each writer's style while moving the whole thing toward a compromise center.



      Once you agree on what the style rules are, don't each go revise your own contributions. Even with good intent, you're naturally going to favor your own style because you're so used to it. You'll miss things. Instead, revise each others' parts. You might need to do this more than once. When you think you've mostly converged, look for a beta reader from outside your group and see what that person notices.



      My documentation team has used peer editing to good effect. We already have a thorough style guide and everybody intends to follow it, but there's drift. We get better results when a second person makes a pass through the work.






      share|improve this answer




























        5














        The first step is to work out some style guidelines among yourselves. Agree on what style you want the finished product to follow. Because this is a project among friends rather than, say, a corporate publication, you'll probably end up including aspects of each writer's style while moving the whole thing toward a compromise center.



        Once you agree on what the style rules are, don't each go revise your own contributions. Even with good intent, you're naturally going to favor your own style because you're so used to it. You'll miss things. Instead, revise each others' parts. You might need to do this more than once. When you think you've mostly converged, look for a beta reader from outside your group and see what that person notices.



        My documentation team has used peer editing to good effect. We already have a thorough style guide and everybody intends to follow it, but there's drift. We get better results when a second person makes a pass through the work.






        share|improve this answer


























          5












          5








          5







          The first step is to work out some style guidelines among yourselves. Agree on what style you want the finished product to follow. Because this is a project among friends rather than, say, a corporate publication, you'll probably end up including aspects of each writer's style while moving the whole thing toward a compromise center.



          Once you agree on what the style rules are, don't each go revise your own contributions. Even with good intent, you're naturally going to favor your own style because you're so used to it. You'll miss things. Instead, revise each others' parts. You might need to do this more than once. When you think you've mostly converged, look for a beta reader from outside your group and see what that person notices.



          My documentation team has used peer editing to good effect. We already have a thorough style guide and everybody intends to follow it, but there's drift. We get better results when a second person makes a pass through the work.






          share|improve this answer













          The first step is to work out some style guidelines among yourselves. Agree on what style you want the finished product to follow. Because this is a project among friends rather than, say, a corporate publication, you'll probably end up including aspects of each writer's style while moving the whole thing toward a compromise center.



          Once you agree on what the style rules are, don't each go revise your own contributions. Even with good intent, you're naturally going to favor your own style because you're so used to it. You'll miss things. Instead, revise each others' parts. You might need to do this more than once. When you think you've mostly converged, look for a beta reader from outside your group and see what that person notices.



          My documentation team has used peer editing to good effect. We already have a thorough style guide and everybody intends to follow it, but there's drift. We get better results when a second person makes a pass through the work.







          share|improve this answer












          share|improve this answer



          share|improve this answer










          answered 5 hours ago









          Monica CellioMonica Cellio

          15.7k23584




          15.7k23584























              3














              I would recommend two rounds of edits, for each author. If the friends are A, B, C (Ariel, Bethany, Cindy) then:



              1) First Round: A->B->C->A. Ariel makes edit notes for Bethany, Bethany makes edit notes for Cindy, and Cindy makes edit notes for Ariel. Then each person gets their edit notes, and the author of the chapter makes changes if they want, or gets more clarification from their editor, but the author has the final say.



              2) Second Round: Backwards. A->C->B->A. Ariel makes edit notes for Cindy's revised chapters, Cindy makes edit notes for Bethany's revised chapters, Bethany makes edit notes for Ariel's revised chapters.



              Again, each author makes changes if they want, or gets more clarification from their editor, but the author has the final say.



              3) You are done. Everybody had input on every chapter, but each author retains some level of individual voice in the chapters she wrote, and she decided whether to make changes her way, or rewrite, or whatever. So nobody should feel their voice was shut down or some bully boss (I'm lookin' at you, Cindy!) took over the project and made it her own.



              If you are worried about very different voices, introduce three narrators, Debra, Elsi and Fiona for Ariel, Bethany and Cindy, and open the chapter with sub-heading of the narrator's name, "Fiona", or "as told by Elsi", or work the name into the first sentence. Or wrap the story as told by the three women that lived through it. Anything like that.






              share|improve this answer




























                3














                I would recommend two rounds of edits, for each author. If the friends are A, B, C (Ariel, Bethany, Cindy) then:



                1) First Round: A->B->C->A. Ariel makes edit notes for Bethany, Bethany makes edit notes for Cindy, and Cindy makes edit notes for Ariel. Then each person gets their edit notes, and the author of the chapter makes changes if they want, or gets more clarification from their editor, but the author has the final say.



                2) Second Round: Backwards. A->C->B->A. Ariel makes edit notes for Cindy's revised chapters, Cindy makes edit notes for Bethany's revised chapters, Bethany makes edit notes for Ariel's revised chapters.



                Again, each author makes changes if they want, or gets more clarification from their editor, but the author has the final say.



                3) You are done. Everybody had input on every chapter, but each author retains some level of individual voice in the chapters she wrote, and she decided whether to make changes her way, or rewrite, or whatever. So nobody should feel their voice was shut down or some bully boss (I'm lookin' at you, Cindy!) took over the project and made it her own.



                If you are worried about very different voices, introduce three narrators, Debra, Elsi and Fiona for Ariel, Bethany and Cindy, and open the chapter with sub-heading of the narrator's name, "Fiona", or "as told by Elsi", or work the name into the first sentence. Or wrap the story as told by the three women that lived through it. Anything like that.






                share|improve this answer


























                  3












                  3








                  3







                  I would recommend two rounds of edits, for each author. If the friends are A, B, C (Ariel, Bethany, Cindy) then:



                  1) First Round: A->B->C->A. Ariel makes edit notes for Bethany, Bethany makes edit notes for Cindy, and Cindy makes edit notes for Ariel. Then each person gets their edit notes, and the author of the chapter makes changes if they want, or gets more clarification from their editor, but the author has the final say.



                  2) Second Round: Backwards. A->C->B->A. Ariel makes edit notes for Cindy's revised chapters, Cindy makes edit notes for Bethany's revised chapters, Bethany makes edit notes for Ariel's revised chapters.



                  Again, each author makes changes if they want, or gets more clarification from their editor, but the author has the final say.



                  3) You are done. Everybody had input on every chapter, but each author retains some level of individual voice in the chapters she wrote, and she decided whether to make changes her way, or rewrite, or whatever. So nobody should feel their voice was shut down or some bully boss (I'm lookin' at you, Cindy!) took over the project and made it her own.



                  If you are worried about very different voices, introduce three narrators, Debra, Elsi and Fiona for Ariel, Bethany and Cindy, and open the chapter with sub-heading of the narrator's name, "Fiona", or "as told by Elsi", or work the name into the first sentence. Or wrap the story as told by the three women that lived through it. Anything like that.






                  share|improve this answer













                  I would recommend two rounds of edits, for each author. If the friends are A, B, C (Ariel, Bethany, Cindy) then:



                  1) First Round: A->B->C->A. Ariel makes edit notes for Bethany, Bethany makes edit notes for Cindy, and Cindy makes edit notes for Ariel. Then each person gets their edit notes, and the author of the chapter makes changes if they want, or gets more clarification from their editor, but the author has the final say.



                  2) Second Round: Backwards. A->C->B->A. Ariel makes edit notes for Cindy's revised chapters, Cindy makes edit notes for Bethany's revised chapters, Bethany makes edit notes for Ariel's revised chapters.



                  Again, each author makes changes if they want, or gets more clarification from their editor, but the author has the final say.



                  3) You are done. Everybody had input on every chapter, but each author retains some level of individual voice in the chapters she wrote, and she decided whether to make changes her way, or rewrite, or whatever. So nobody should feel their voice was shut down or some bully boss (I'm lookin' at you, Cindy!) took over the project and made it her own.



                  If you are worried about very different voices, introduce three narrators, Debra, Elsi and Fiona for Ariel, Bethany and Cindy, and open the chapter with sub-heading of the narrator's name, "Fiona", or "as told by Elsi", or work the name into the first sentence. Or wrap the story as told by the three women that lived through it. Anything like that.







                  share|improve this answer












                  share|improve this answer



                  share|improve this answer










                  answered 4 hours ago









                  AmadeusAmadeus

                  52.7k467171




                  52.7k467171






























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