I edit dozens and dozens of manuscripts every year and I've come to realize that there are certain strategies that will allow you to edit your book faster than you ever thought possible.

   But before we begin, I want you know something. No manuscript can be edited to the point of perfection. There's no such thing as perfection, so stop trying to achieve it. When you edit a manuscript, you're simply trying to make it look and read better than it has before. It will never be perfect. I know of writers (and editors, too) who could easily be making corrections and editorial adjustments just before the printing press starts to roll. And even then they wouldn't be satisfied with the result.

   Ask any competent editor if the last project she worked on was as good as she could make it, and she'll start telling you about time limitations, and budget constraints, and still more challenges.

   So, realize now that no matter how much you work on your book, it will never be as good as you want it to be. But it can be made much better than it is.

   

   If you're a perfectionist, I have just three words of advice for you, "Get Over It!" and start realizing there will always be a point in any editing task (even your own work) when good enough is good enough.

   Also, never start the editing process until you have finished the writing process. Don't write a little, then edit what you've written. This is a sure recipe for never finishing the piece. You can't make somthing better unless it already exists. Resist the temptation to edit as you go. It won't help you. It will effectively destroy your chances of ever getting the piece written. Write the complete piece, whether it's a book, an article, an essay, a report, whatever. Only when you've finished saying everything you've got to say do you even think of editing.

   Now let's quickly get on to the task of editing! Regardless of what you may think, the editing process is designed to make the work read better than it did originally. The fastest way to do that is to omit needless words. I have yet to see any work that couldn't benefit from the removal of needless words.

   Right at the beginning, see if you can chop out the first paragraph or two in their entirety.

   

   Now let's get the technology working for us. Search the document for the letter combination "ly". This is usually the ending of an adverb. He ran quickly. Her hair fell beautifully. The cabinet should fit snugly.

   If you can, delete these words. If the sentence looses any impact, look for a better verb.

   Instead of, The eagle flew quickly across the sky, how about, The eagle streaked across the sky.

   As many "ly" words as possible should be gone from the manuscript.

   Next, my favorite, the word "that." Search the document for the word "that" and see if it can be elminated from the sentences. You'll be surprised at what happens.

   Now start the hunt for those words and phrases that can be elminated with virtually no harm done to the sentence. Words like "very" and "In fact," Every manuscript is different, but you'll find the lion's share of examples of these needless words on the first two pages. They'll be repeated time and time again through the manuscript.

   Sometimes you'll encounter a sentence that just doesn't sound right, or doesn't convey the idea you want. How do you make it better? No problem. Reduce the number of words in that sentence. Somewhere a two-word phrase will replace a five-word phrase and the meaning and the intensity of the sentence will just pop! Edit your work on your screen. It's faster than printing it out, using a pen to make your changes, and then making the changes on the screen anyway.

   Even with the best of manuscripts, I can usually remove about 5-10% of the text during the editing process. I haven't changed the plot. I haven't changed the direction of the story, or the content of the information. I've just tighted everything to the point where you couldn't be much more conservative with your word use.

   That's the real secret of editing, omitting needless words. Now, I could go on at greater length about that... but then I'd be violating that very rule, wouldn't I?

   In a few moments you'll be receiving your first email that will help you create your next book (or your first book) faster than you ever thought possible. I look forward to working with you.

    While we're on the topic of strategies, feel free to subscribe to my FREE on-line course, "How To Write A Book On Anything in 14 Days... or Less" it's packed with tips, techniques and tactics for writing your book faster than you ever thought possible! But ONLY if you're SERIOUS about writing a book NOW!

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   Cheers, and happy writing.

   Hope that helps.

   Cheers,

   Steve Manning

   Now get yourself over to This Special Report for even more important information about your book