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Does Editing a Manuscript Help get it Published? Part 7 of 12

I could almost start this post with “I Hate Editing.”

To those who just came welcome, post comments to any of the posts, and enjoy, it’s great to have you and your voice here. I encourage all to leave comments!

There are days when editing just doesn’t seem all that fun, perhaps because I’ve sat at the computer and nothing seems to look right. I print it out and nothing seems to look right. My inner critic comes out and speaks to me saying “This is wrong” “that is wrong.

Then I wonder why I bothered to write in the first place. It goes away once I go away from whatever I was editing. I create something new, usually in fiction. it helps me at least to think that I can shut off my inner critic. Wish I could do that all the time.

My goal is publishing, and that is what keeps me motivated. I also have other passions and goals and they help as well anything that I’ve come across. Is writing one of my passions, you bet it is. I can’t think of a better way to work than to write, and I’ve done a lot of different types of work.

Does my book and the topic I have make me passionate? You bet and that is why I want to publish it. I have to plug away at it each day and make the most of what comes to me for time. If that means I work in the morning and than late at night so be it.

As much as I can dislike, or even hate editing, there is a time for everything. Including editing. I spoke with my editor and she mentioned one thing when you send it to a literary agent and they find a mistake ( can be big or small) they will send it back, especially if they don’t know you well.

I many ways once i heard that I look upon editing as a form of investment. You spend the time getting the manuscript to the best of your ability and then it takes a life of its own. It’s still yours, after a fashion, but it becomes more.

My Question for the day then is this: Do you think that your Inner critic can give you days where it is hard to do any editing?

3 Comments

  • Rob

    Yeah.
    My inner critic says the nastiest things.
    But I truly think that happens with every writer. That critic is nothing but self-doubt at the wrong moment. I say, if you feel that inner critic completely despising your work than THAT is the time when you DON'T edit and wait for a proper time when you are in a good mood.

  • Rebecca

    I write in non-fiction, though I am spreading out to fiction, with an interest in fantasy and mystery… I'm not sure about Romance though.