Why to edit your stuff

[TheWritingGroup]

In a work in progress, I say this: "She shyly looked at the pretty face across the counter."

The next paragraph contains, "Ro hadn't realized until that moment that there wasn't a counter between them this time."

Yeah ... no.

 

[TheLobster]

In a work in progress, I say this: "She shyly looked at the pretty face across the counter."

The next paragraph contains, "Ro hadn't realized until that moment that there wasn't a counter between them this time."

Yeah ... no.

But that's not contradictory? Assuming "that moment" is contemporaneous with the paragraph it is said in.

 

[BobbyBrandt]

Far too many writers here are on their own where editing is concerned, and this results in developmental, copy, and line editing being neglected, with only proofreading taking place.

Even with loyal and honest alpha and beta readers, unless they have the requisite skill and knowledge which would allow them to perform developmental or copy editing, what they can contribute is usually limited from a technical writing perspective.

Some have tried to counter this editing resource void by utilizing AI technology, which then results in rejections.

I wish that I had more bandwidth to offer editing assistance, and I'm sure that I am not alone in that desire.

 

[lwppp000]

My spelling, grammar, and punctuation are slightly better than average but I still make mistakes. My worst editing curse is that when doing edits I become blind to errors. I read right past them time after time.

 

[ElectricBlue]

My spelling, grammar, and punctuation are slightly better than average but I still make mistakes. My worst editing curse is that when doing edits I become blind to errors. I read right past them time after time.

Change the font, the font size, and the font colour regularly, as you write and do rolling edits. You've got to trick the brain to see what's actually there, not what you think is there.

 

[SimonDoom]

It really matters. My spelling, punctuation, and grammar are much better than average, but I still make mistakes constantly in the process of writing. I hate seeing errors slip through. Good proofreading and editing definitely make a difference to my enjoyment of a story as a reader.

I don't use another person for proofing and editing. I do it myself, and invariably there are mistakes. It can be frustrating.

 

[BobbyBrandt]

My spelling, grammar, and punctuation are slightly better than average but I still make mistakes. My worst editing curse is that when doing edits I become blind to errors. I read right past them time after time.

Listen to it instead of reading it.

 

[TaniaTulle]

And whatever you do, don't think 'sod it, I'm sure it's fine' at two in the morning and hit publish, only to discover you've changed a character's surname mid-story or had a maid magically reappear after saying she was gone for the day.

Give it some time, and look at it with fresh eyes (not tired ones that just want to publish now, dammit!).

 

[WaxPhilosophic]

Listen to it instead of reading it.

Yes. Text to speech helps catch a lot of things.

 

[BobbyBrandt]

And whatever you do, don't think 'sod it, I'm sure it's fine' at two in the morning and hit publish, only to discover you've changed a character's surname mid-story or had a maid magically reappear after saying she was gone for the day.

Give it some time, and look at it with fresh eyes (not tired ones that just want to publish now, dammit!).

Patience, Young Grasshopper.