As I've moved into full editing mode on my next book I wanted to spend a little time talking about some editing tips and tricks I use. And yes, before you ask, this is a way for me to procrastinate from doing more editing. If I'm writing a blog about editing, it's sort of the same thing as editing, right? 

FIRST TIP: MOVE SLOWLY
In my youth I was a terrible editor. The reason for this was speed. I got so excited when I'd finish the rough draft of a project that I'd race through the editing process. I'd run through notes from my external editor, I'd look at suggestions from test readers, and then I'd blaze my way through a final edit. My mind was always on releasing the book and never on making sure the edit was as close to perfect as it was going to get. These days, I take a very slow and methodical approach to editing. I intentionally plan my release schedule to give me plenty of time and space to make sure the book I do eventually release is as error free and enjoyable as I can get it. It can be painful moving slow, especially when you're reading your own stuff for the fourth or fifth or sixth or seventh time, but that's the editing process. It's a procedure that demands your attention. Word by word, line by line, really READ each word. You'll be amazed how much easier it is to improve upon your work and catch mistakes when you move at a slower pace.  

SECOND TIP: EDIT THE EDIT
The most egregious errors I've ever released into the world weren't mistakes that were in the original manuscript, they were new mistakes created by an edit. I'll decide to change a character from a robot into a slime alien during the edit, and then I'll release the book and come across a reference to the robot version of the character. Or I'll add a line of dialog in paragraph one not realizing that I already had a similar line in paragraph four. No one messes my stuff up more than I do when I'm editing. That's why you have to edit the edit. Make your change, and then check all the dominos. What did that change impact? Where else is this thing you just changed referenced? Again, it's a slower process, but it'll keep you from looking like an amateur. 

THIRD TIP: LET IT GO
One of the biggest issues I see writers have is an inability to let it go. They'll write a line, and then spend twenty minutes editing it. If they ever do get a story or a book done, they'll drown in the editing process, trying to get every single thing perfectly dialed in. Sadly, a lot of those people never end up finishing or releasing anything, which is a real shame. One thing I've learned in life is that nothing is ever perfect. I've found terrible errors in books from the biggest authors and publishers in the world. A hundred people can edit a book and a mistake can still slip through. It stinks when it happens to you, but you can't let that stop you from putting your stuff out into the world. So my third and final tip for this blog is to know when it's time to let the edit go. Get the project out, and if you made mistakes with it, learn from them and make the next book even better!

So there you go, three quick tips on the art of the edit. Now if you'll excuse me, I'm heading back to do some more editing!