This article first appeared here on October 9, 2008. We're happy to repeat it for all the NaNoWriMo participants last month. ~~~~~~~~ The answer to the question “When should I start editing” is the same answer to many writing and editing questions: It depends . Writers fall into two distinct camps when it comes to editing. Some like to edit as they write. They finish a scene or a chapter and go back and edit it before moving on to the next scene or chapter. I know a few successful and prolific writers who do a good job of editing as they write. Perhaps that has always been the way they write best or maybe they developed the skill through years of experience and the pressure of deadlines. Editing as you write requires: An organized and well-planned outline: If you don’t know exactly what plot point will occur in every chapter or the how you will structure your how-to book, you will end up editing material that you later decide to delete or change. The discipline to edit,...

Dear Exalted Editors, So I've taken a look at my grammar and my formatting. I'm even (a little) less scared of editors than I used to be. Now I'd like to know how I go about finding the right editor for me! There are so many choices out there. I can pay for a one-on-one session with an editor at a conference I'm attending, or search the internet, or even get in touch with one of you! Can you suggest any resources for locating good editors? Next question: once I've found an editor (and I've met some great ones through this site already), how do I know if he or she is right for me? Some of these editing services can get kind of pricey, and I'm always worried about shady dealings on the Internet. Also, should I use different editors for different projects? Signed, Desperately Seeking Revision Maryann: First of all, you should know that there are differences in editors. The ones you might meet at a conference are usually acquisition editors. They are ...

You’re faced with editing your first draft. Where do you start? What do you look for? Here’s an overview to get you started. Remember that writing comes before editing. On the first draft, don’t worry about making the prose perfect—just focus on getting your ideas on paper (or screen). You’ll have plenty of time to improve the work after you’ve written something to improve. Whenever possible, allow some time to pass between finishing your first draft and beginning to edit . You’ll see your work with fresh eyes if you haven’t been struggling with it for hours or days. Depending on the deadline and the length of the piece, I like to focus on other things for a week or more between writing and editing. Often, that isn’t possible, but even a few hours will help. First, read the entire document for the big picture . Look at the content, organization, and flow. Have you included everything you intended and nothing that isn’t needed? Does it make sense? Is it organized in a logical way...