I am Editing and Just so Damn S-M-R-T

I realized this morning that I was not necessarily editing the right chapters of Binding & Spines. I gave the beginning a serious overhaul during the last rounds of edits, making a better read without doubt. These newly organized chapters were sent to my beta-reader and, from them, I compiled a new manuscript. What I had been working off of was the returned, and corrected, chapters from my beta-reader (may the gods bless her).

The flaw in this? When I recompiled these chapters into the new manuscript, I made more changes as was fitting for chapter length, and natural breaks. I also did further edits, as I can’t seem to read my words without having to tweak them yet again.

So this morning, I started the process of re-re-reediting. Opening the chapters I just edited, and the completed manuscripts, side by side. Then I worked through line by line. There were differences between the two, not counting the edits I had just made. I’m not talking about a slew of radical disparities, but they were there.

Why bother? Well, taking the best from both, means I am making the best, strongest, story I can. On a more practical level – the changes I made in the manuscript also affect chapter break. So chapter six, in the individual chapters I was going from, doesn’t match with the manuscript version, which is the newer, better version–the last version I decided on.

So I have a bit extra on my plate, a going back over, for a few chapters. I’ll catch up soon enough and then can just go from the manuscript. Ain’t edits fun!

Filed under: Writing Tagged: beta reader, Bindings & Spines, Brain, current work in progress, edits, Jonathan Alvey, paranormal private investigator, plot, Urban Fantasy, White Dragon Black Series, world building, writing