Don’t expect perfection on the first pass.
Two weeks ago, I completed my first editorial pass through a 103,000-word novel. Working part time, the task took nearly a month. By the end, I’d cut some 7,750 words.
I took care of the POV and made sure each new chapter immediately identified the main character, setting, and time. I fixed telling dialogue attributions and made sure the verb tenses kept consistent. Following Sol Stein’s admonition that “one plus one equals one-half,” I’d eliminated redundant descriptions.
After a month, the manuscript was much tighter. But the job was not finished.
After that month of editing, I went back through the manuscript and edited my editing.
With the biggest problems fixed, other concerns now jumped out at me.
With the biggest problems fixed, other concerns now jumped out at me. I snipped a word here, polished a phrase there.
Editing’s like mowing an overgrown lawn. The first pass with the mower and edger makes huge improvements. But you soon notice jagged tufts and piles of trimmings. How could you have missed those?
It’s easy when you’re concentrating on the big issues. With a bit of time and a new perspective, you can correct what you missed.
In my final days with the novel, I removed only 220 words. I found few elements I needed to change. But like mowing an uncut section in the middle of a lawn, those final changes made a huge difference.
Self editing your manuscript? Take the time to edit it twice. The final snips make all the difference.
