Editing halfway through a multi-part story?

[LettersFromTatyana]

I'm new here, both as a poster and as a writer. I'm looking for some editing advice for a multi-part story, two parts of which are already up.

I didn't ask anyone to edit either the first or second chapter. Since the editing process at my day job is paralyzingly painful, I think I sort of convinced myself that I could go without editing, twice.

Then a reader caught that I'd typed "hair-brained" instead of "harebrained" in chapter 2. Ouch!

That slapped some sense into me, but what should I do now?

Should I ask an editor to start with chapter 3, or is that awkward for an editor?
Should I take the old chapters down, edit them, and then re-post?

If I do the latter (and I'm leaning towards it), how many changes can I make while still ethically calling it the same story?

After reading the threads here for a couple of weeks, I now know some small things have to change (adverbs, overuse of certain words and tags, etc). But there are some big problems, too; the first half of the first chapter is almost all description (as you can probably tell, I'm kind of wordy). It's not a mistake I'll make again (I hope!), but I'm not sure how to progress from here.

Thanks in advance for any advice,
Tatyana

 

[_Lynn_]

I think you have to decide how much you want to put into the first chapters. They're already posted, so taking them down will lose all the votes and comments you have. Posting it again as a new story might anger some readers who recognize it and are looking for new reads. Some might think you stole the story, not recognizing your name, only the story. If you do an edit, you'll save the votes and comments, but few people will realize you made corrections since it won't be listed as a new story.

If you take the piece down and then re-post, you might want to add an author's note at the beginning of the chapters.

My preference is to move on. Improve the new material and let the old go. Take the time you would use to fix the first parts and write new material.

As for asking an editor to begin in the middle, I don't see a problem with that. If they want a feel for the characters, they can read the beginning.

I hope this helps a little.