- I had written the story in fragments and had to combine them in editing.
- I wasn't sure if I would be able to clearly perceive the pace of the book, because as the author I already know what's happening.
- I'd never edited a complete work of this length before.
- The way I had repetitively 'polished' small bits of writing in the past wasn't going to be possible for a complete novel.
Nevertheless I tackled the editing with enthusiasm at first, but after a week, it began to seem too onerous. I began to feel overwhelmed. That was about the time my wife convinced me to let her read the first half of the book. She did an amazing job of finding contextual issues and where wording was unclear or belabored the point. With her help I was able to get back on track and focus on the issues that needed fixing, rather than worrying about what I might be missing.
The lesson I've learned from this is that once you have a first draft you've at least checked for the most common spelling and grammar issues, it's not too early to start getting feedback.
A.I.Marin.
