To draft my first novel, I supported myself by investing in and then taking an online course provided by The Novelry—The Complete Novel Course. This course was THE reason I completed my first draft. It guided me at every turn with its lessons, its online community, and most importantly, its support via a book writing mentor.
Now, as I move into The Big Edit phase of my novel-writing journey, I’m being guided by The Novelry’s The Big Edit online course. Just a few lessons in and I’m seeing how useful this sort of guidance can be, especially during my first go-round.
One of the very first tasks The Big Edit Course recommends is to choose a few books to keep on your desk during the editing process. These are NOT books about writing, how to write, how to edit, etc. Instead, these are novels you admire and want to emulate in some way.
What books will I choose to turn to as I edit my own words into something great?
What books will I compare my own pages to to ensure I’m on the right track?
I can imagine these would be difficult questions to answer for some. For me, I knew the exact two books I’d keep on my desk during my first big edit, maybe even the entire editing process.
The Two Books I’m Keeping On My Desk While I Do My First Big Edit
#1 A Tree Grows in Brooklyn
As you may recall, this was my favorite book I read in 2021. I had originally read it by listening to the audiobook but promptly purchased a brand new paperback for myself. I knew I needed this book in my home for some reason if only to crack open once every five years and read a few lines.
Then I was prompted to have a few books near me as I edited and I knew immediately, Ah, that’s why I needed this book in print!
A Tree Grows in Brooklyn is a work of literary fiction set in Brooklyn, New York in the early 1900s. Many have said “nothing really happens” in this book, and in some ways, I guess they’re right. But at the same time, within the same exact pages, everything happens in this book with stark, unrelenting, sometimes even harsh, clarity. In short, its author, Betty Smith, is honest. She’s honest with the story and she’s honest with life itself.
As I edit my own novel, I aim to evoke and uphold such honesty.
#2 All the Light We Cannot See
I read All the Light We Cannot See many years ago while on vacation. I don’t remember much of the plot, but I do remember the main protagonist. Her experience of WWII while blind may always stick with me.
There was something about this book that said to me, I’m a true work of art. I’m unsure of how else to describe it. But when tasked with finding a few books to keep near me during my first big edit, this one sprung to mind.
This is another big book that is seen as historical literary fiction. Yes, there’s a ton of imagery in this book. Or, rather, description to enlighten the senses other than sight since the main protagonist is blind. But there’s also so much happening in the plot it does anything but drag.
As I edit my own novel, I aim to infuse this rich description that enlightens the senses. Maybe not to the degree Anthony Doerr writes his, but his writing is sure to stretch and grow my own.
Why These Two Books, Together?
Once I chose these two books to keep on my desk as I edit, I couldn’t help but see the underlying need to have them both there, together.
I see how these books are ones that will stretch me out of my comfort zone. They’ll press upon my own pages a force, unlike the one my mind puts on them.
These books will require a literary tilt that may not come naturally to me, especially as I set about my very first novel. I know my plot. It’s taken new twists and turns as I’ve drafted it, but I’ve always really known my plot. I don’t need an action-packed mystery or thriller on my desk as I edit because of this. I do need something that will remind me to slow down, expand, and develop my characters.
What better to do this than these two books I’ve chosen? Books that many could say about them, “Great characters, but I don’t know what really happened.” While others could easily say, “Everything happens in these books and MY GOD the characters—I’ll never ever forget them!”
Yes, that’s what I choose to aim for.
What books might you keep close during an edit? Tell me in the comments.
