My pace doesn’t exactly feel like this, but I’m happy that it’s steady.
I’ve written posts about editing my novel after C.L. Dyck’s substantive edit, from “Kickbox Editing” to “Gameday Editing” and “Learning to Write Dialogue that Shows.” I received my novel back September 14 and in 73 days, I’ve progressed 34% (but also added 20k words to make it 92k words currently). Despite the new words, it’s safe to say I haven’t progressed 1% a day like I have been the last few weeks. It’s amazing how hard it is to progress just 1%, but that’s a good measure of a day’s work for me, and that’s what I’m shooting for.
This fits with my “Kickbox Editing” post, which compared waking up every morning to go to my kickboxing class at Farrell’s with making an effort every day editing my book. I’m happy to have found a nice goal that both pushes me and allows me to enjoy my life. I wonder how things would be different on a deadline.
Does anyone out there have a sweetspot right now with their production?
I’m in the midst of an edit and it’s officially become painful. My brain hurts just to think about it.
Haha, sorry about reminding you then
Somewhere on the Writer’s Digest website, they mention that one of your editing passes should include reading it aloud. Your ear will pick up word repetition and inconsistencies faster than the eye. I’m reading it to my hubby and encouraging him to make suggestions, or MST it if necessary. We’ve already made a bunch of changes (like cutting the troublesome prologue).
Good point. Maybe after this draft I will do that.
Yes, that really helps. In the Word Weavers crit group, someone else reads your submission aloud. That can be a real eye-opener. Especially for awkward sentences. Also, people don’t always pronounce character names the way you do.
[...] day of editing today, reaching my 1% goal, which I rarely do anymore. Do you remember my post, “Living with 1% a Day?” I’ve been tracking my percentage each day since November, and I’m averaging 3% a week. [...]