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>I seem to be unable to edit my own work. I know that this is >not an uncommon occurrence, but I really need to address this >issue.
After seven years of teaching university English and two years of
writing, I've found that the best way to self-edit is to get a different
perspective on your work.
You can get a different perspective in a couple of ways:
--Leave the work for a couple of days.
--Print out your work (always a good idea, since very few people edit
efficiently on-screen).
--Read your work aloud (or at least the troublesome passages)
--Get someone else to read your work.
>what sort of timeframe should I plan for?
Teaching composition, I suggested that all levels of editing should
occupy 35-50% of the total writing time (and be done separately from the
actual drafting of material. Also, preparation should take about
one-third of your time, if you're going to work as efficiently as
possible).
--
Bruce Byfield, Outlaw Communications
(bbyfield -at- axionet -dot- com) (604) 421-7189 or 687-2133 X. 269
www.outlawcommunications.com (redesigned and updated 07 Feb 1998)
"Wait for me at midnight
(With thirty seconds' grace,
Midnight is not a time,
Midnight is a place."
- Joan Aiken
