No two writers are alike, but all are subject to the expectations of readers. Both pantsers and plotters should consider this writing principle: write like the wind, but edit like a surgeon.
By: Grant P. Ferguson
Last Updated: October 1, 2025
Why Edit Like a Surgeon?
For most, writing like the wind is straightforward ā you just write.
However, learning how to edit like a surgeon requires a level of skill. Fortunately, today’s writing apps help us edit. For example, a story that resonates with readers requires more than correct spelling and grammar. Picky readers want stories that cause disbelief to evaporate, engaging them at a visceral level and offering the emotions they crave.
To accomplish what readers want, you must inspect for what they expect, and that includes checking all the elements of a story.
What Are the Chief Story Elements?
This infographic captures the essence of the chief story elements.
Edit Like a Surgeon with a Checklist Scalpel
My little gray cells tucker out trying to keep all those story elements in my head.
It gets even more challenging when part of your writing goal is to tell a mini-story with each scene. You can mostly ignore those details while first writing like the wind. However, to edit like a surgeon requires a keen awareness of the story elements.
When you begin the editing process, a checklist saves the day. For example:
Inspect for Character Details and Effects:
- Scene POV
- Scene Date and Time
- Character Descriptions
- Character Senses
- Signs, Symbols, Motifs, and Objects
- Clues and Red Herrings
- Character Misdirection
- Setting and Climate
Consider the Writer’s Details:
- Scene Goal
- Scene Obstacle
- Story Beat
- Genre Key Scene or Convention
- Main Plot/Subplot Name
- Scene & Sequel Beats (1-8)
Action Scenes:
- Hook (Action)
- Setup (Action)
- Trigger (Action)
Sequel Scenes (i.e., Reactions):
- Emotions (Reaction)
- Ponder (Reaction)
- Expectation (Reaction)
- Choice (Reaction)
Action Scene Wrap-up:
- Climax
- Turning Point
- Stakes
- Twists
- Secrets
- Intensity (+5 to 0 to -5 Scale)
- Themes (External, Internal, Philosophical)
- POV Character’s Want/Need
- Foreshadow (Opened/Closed)
- Question (Opened/Closed)
Let Writing Apps Help You Edit Like a Surgeon
It’s no secret I love to use Scrivener, but you can leverage your preferred word processor and spreadsheet to create a checklist for editing scenes.
Create List (Drop-down) Menus
You can create a list, or in this Scrivener example, a drop-down set of answers.
Note: Scrivener allows writers to edit the drop-down contents on the fly, which means your initial setup starts with the basic story elements. Later, you can update the drop-down answers with whatever you deem as good fits for your story.
Create Checkboxes and Text Prompts
You can create check-the-box and fill-in-the-text prompts, and here’s what the pre-edit prompts looks like in Scrivener.
Note: The above screenshot shows what the prompts look like before selecting a drop-down answer, checking a box after inspection, and answering a prompt with a text answer.
Edit Like a Surgeon with Repeated Inspections
Here’s an example of the prompts after editing a scene.
Note: The screenshot above was taken after answering the prompts, and it shows the combination of completed fields (i.e., text, checkbox, and list [drop-down]).
Nothing Replaces a Professional Edit
I encourage you to write like the wind, but edit like a surgeon.
The process will enhance your creativity while getting your manuscript in tip-top shape before the professional edit. Despite all the AI hype, nothing will replace the contribution of a thorough edit performed by a skilled (aka human) editor. I make that bold statement because it’s all about how the overall story comes together.
Keep in mind that excellent stories that resonate with readers are more than the sum of their parts.
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What’s your process to write like the wind, but edit like a surgeon?
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