Editing M.O.

Let's face it , editing your work (maybe for the 1000th time ) can get so boring you put it away and practically forget about it. Here's a simple method I use . When I'm in the writing- a- book phase, after segments I DO put an image in between, not just a space of a few lines . This is not just for decoration--it's functional .

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So, then I can set definite perameters for my editing when the time comes, and its not so daunting (as Princess Di was want to say). For example , on average maybe a segment is 3 or more pages . I may want to self-discpline myself to do 2 in the a.m. at some point and 2 in the p.m. For a book of 160 pages , allow yourself a month at this rate. Some segments will be longer , and some will be shorter , but you can 'tailor' the amount as you go along according to your time-frame.

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Further, when I have read through the segment editing anything that hits the eye right away, I next do through the whole thing 1)the Spell check , starting again from the top of the segment 2) the grammar and 3 ) I do the Read Aloud function on my computer , which may sound at times like Steven Hawking but it seems , after a while , to even inject some emphasis etc to the words. In any case , it's the final stage to see or hear something that doesn't quite jibe. Once that's done , move onto the next segment . You'll find you don't get quite so bored because you're not tackling the entire manuscript all at once . As for the segments, if you miss a day, just make it up in your own time and way . This works for me , hope it does for you too. You may find , in the finished product, a publisher does not want these images between segments , but personally, if they apply then fight for them, and if not , don't bother, but I think readers also like to have 'points' they can begin reading at or stop.