It needs more editing!

It doesn’t matter who you are or what you’re writing. It needs more editing. You cannot have enough GOOD editing.

I just received critical comments from four of the women I trust the most to act as my informal “board of editors.” They all liked my latest manuscript. They thought it has potential, all of them, which encourages me tremendously. They also raked me over the coals for the things they say I missed in the first draft.

Interestingly, all four editors had different things to say, but mostly around the topic of “more background on the time and place” and “more character development, for major and minor characters.” I tend to be very plot-driven, so I’m taking their advice very seriously.

In just a few weeks, I’ve improved my first draft considerably. And I do plan to seek the advice of professional editors as well. My amateur friends are great, but I think a professional will know things about what today’s readers want that no one else can know.

Lots of editing. I have high hopes for this new book, but I have to make sure it gets the attention it needs before I publish it. I’ve made mistakes here before, and I don’t intend to repeat them.