Stages of Editing

Stage One: While writing, I make notes on the manuscript. That way I'm not forever going back and editing what I've already written—I'm always moving forward. So if on page 97 I realize that a scene on page 5 needs to change, I just go back to page 5, stick in a note that says "Change to fit page 97" and move on.

Stage Two: Go back and fix all those notes made while writing.

Stage Three: Print the beast out. Inhale the scent of toner so long that I start to get dizzy.

Stage Four: Pretend like th...