In this episode of Daggers & Daydreams, we’re pulling back the curtain on one of the most intimidating parts of the writing process: editing.

When we first started out, we didn’t know what editing meant. We thought it was fixing typos and grammar—but we quickly learned it’s much more than that. From facing tough feedback for the first time to learning how to restructure entire plots, editing has been one of the most challenging (and most rewarding) parts of writing books.

We’re sharing our early editing experiences—the overwhelm, the trial-and-error, the feedback that nearly broke us—and how we eventually found what works. We talk about how our approach has evolved over time, what resources helped us, and how editing has become something we no longer dread (most of the time).

If you’re just starting to revise your first draft or wondering what editing really looks like behind the scenes, this episode is for you. Think of it as the editing chat we wish we’d had when we were starting out.

Timestamps:

00:00 – Intro: What we used to think editing meant01:05 – Part One: Editing as beginners—our first big edits and feedback moments02:22 – What are the different phases of editing03:58 – What totally threw us, and what surprised us16:34 – Part Two: Where we learned how to edit

16:47 – Books, podcasts, and peers that helped21:44 – The feedback that changed everything (in a good way)

23:05 - Lessons learnt working with beta readers26:05 – Part Three: What our editing process looks like now29:36 – Tools, habits, and how we tackle messy drafts31:11 – Outro: Advice to our past selves, and how we stay open to learning

Keywords: editing for beginner writers, revision tips, writing advice, debut authors, how to edit a book, editing feedback, writing motivation, women writers

If you’re revising your first book—or bracing yourself for feedback—this episode is full of real talk and lessons learned. Have questions or stories to share? Send us a DM on Instagram. We’d love to include your voice in our Q&A later this season.