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Welcome to another edition of Open Book Blog Hop. This week’s question is: “How do you know when you’ve done all the editing you can on your story, or that you’ve gone too far?”
In my opinion, you can never go too far with editing. But you can edit and edit and edit till the cows come home and never get anything published.
Since my late husband was a baseball fan, I’ve developed the three-strikes approach to editing. I read through a piece at least three times. If, upon third reading, I see nothing needing to be changed or corrected, it’s ready to go.
Of course, after something’s been published, I might read it again and find something else needs changing. But by that time, it’s too late unless I want to send it somewhere else that welcomes previously published work. In the case of a novel, as Shakespeare once said, “What’s done is done and cannot be undone.”
Okay, you writers out there. It’s time for you to sound off. How do you know when you’re done editing or if you’ve gone too far? You can click here to participate in this week’s hop and read other bloggers’ responses.
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New! Why Grandma Doesn’t Know Me
Copyright 2021 by Abbie Johnson Taylor.
Independently published with the help of DLD Books.
Sixteen-year-old Natalie’s grandmother, suffering from dementia and confined to a wheelchair, lives in a nursing home and rarely recognizes Natalie. But one Halloween night, she tells her a shocking secret that only she and Natalie’s mother know. Natalie is the product of a one-night stand between her mother, who is a college English teacher, and another professor.
After some research, Natalie learns that people with dementia often have vivid memories of past events. Still not wanting to believe what her grandmother has told her, she finds her biological father online. The resemblance between them is undeniable. Not knowing what else to do, she shows his photo and website to her parents.
Natalie realizes she has some growing up to do. Scared and confused, she reaches out to her biological father, and they start corresponding.
Her younger sister, Sarah, senses their parents’ marital difficulties. At Thanksgiving, when she has an opportunity to see Santa Claus, she asks him to bring them together again. Can the jolly old elf grant her request?
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My Corner 
There comes a time when you have to let it go out into the world, warts and all.
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That’s right. Sometimes, even after it goes out, it still has warts. Oh, well…
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And sometimes those warts don’t show up until several years later. Like you, at that point, I believe in letting them remain.
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Yes, like you I read through 3 times. I think 3 times is enough.
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Great minds think alike, don’t they, Stevie? Thanks for commenting.
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I think the pursuit of perfection holds a lot of people back, and deprives the world of their art. May we all find the right balance! @samanthabwriter from
Balancing Act
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How interesting. Thank you for sharing.
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