EDITING - WEEDING MY MANUSCRIPT GARDEN

I tend to do a good deal of sitting in my occupation so I do like to at least start my day on the move.  Especially, when I'm going to spend my day editing a manuscript.  Not only does getting outside help me sort out plot glitches in my mind, but it can be a source of inspiration in fixing them.

This morning as the sun comes up, I'm off to the lake for my change of scene.

Mr and Mrs Black Swan with their two little swans

These black swans seem to think I've brought breakfast, but they'll be disappointed because all I have is my camera.
 
If I'm not careful, I'll get carried away taking pictures and forget to go home to edit! 

 So between the swans, ducks, not to mention the scenery as well as the people I meet on the way, it's time to head home to another day at my desk where I'm reading, for the umpteenth time, Once Upon A Lie. 

It can get a bit waring when you've read something over and over again.  I feel like I could recite all 60,000 words.  Nevertheless, it's necessary to read and re-read your work because each time you do, you'll find things that need attention.  Of course, with each read through there will be fewer of those glitches - hopefully.

So, what do I look for when weeding my manuscript garden?

• Words and/or expressions that I've used far too often - this is where the "find" button comes in handy.   For me that is the word "moment", according to my daughter.  My most stringent critic! 
• Clunky sentences.  Did I write that? 
• A couple of sub-plots too many.  You don't want your readers reaching for the aspirin bottle.
  
• Grammar.
• The right word choices.
• Too much detail or too little detail.
• Dialogue scenes.  Is it clear who is speaking?
• Check the pace.  It needs to be not too slow, but not too fast either.  I sound like one of the 3 bears.
• Have all my characters been introduced or at least mentioned in the first 20-30 pages?
• Are all plots and sub-plots tied up and all questions answered by the end of the book?    

Of course, you could go on editing forever because you will always find something you can tweak, so beware.  Know when it's time to stop.  And then what, you ask?

You send it away to a professional assessor to weed your manuscript with a fresh eye!

Two helpful books on editing Editing Made Easy and Self-Editing for Fiction Writers. 

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