To Edit or Not to Edit? That is the Question

HELP…

I have a wonderfully rare gift tomorrow. A day off from work, almost entirely child free that I intend to dedicate to writing. Whilst I am acutely aware I now have an overdue assignment, tomorrow is dedicated to my novel. But I have a problem.

I have 50 something thousand words written – that need a heavy edit, I have some major character development needed too, and probably before I carry on. I have also lost a bit of confidence due to the mis-timed feedback and I’m not sure how to get it back. But it has knocked me significantly off track, and now I feel like I need to go back and edit major storylines, sub-stories and character lines.

But here is my question, Should I go back and spend the time I have between life admin editing the 50K? Or do I spend a couple of hours on character development and then soldier on with the story and edit at the end?

Now – before you all charge in and tell me to plough on (because thats what everyone has said without exception)

There are a few caveats –

I need to either raise my confidence with what words I already have down on the page or I am not going to be able to continue, OR someone needs to provide me with an extremely rational logical argument as to why I should continue.

Listen to me. I already know the answer, I am inviting you to tell me to continue, but I am stuck. Stuck wanting to edit, to critique and perfect what I have before carrying on… the urge to edit is overwhelming.

Also now I haven’t looked at my novel since the 26th Nov when I completed NaNo, the usual ‘carry on to keep the flow going’ doesn’t really apply, as I am a bit out of the flow now anyway.

So what do I do???

Answers on a blogpostcard!

Writing Tips #8 Follow an Editor

I have lost count of how long I have been subscribed to Jamie’s blog, but it’s been a while. I follow a number of bloggers, but Jamie’s is the one I wait with baited breath every week to see what delights she gives us. The reason I wanted to mention her blog, is because she is an editor. A developmental editor.

Her blog, which you can find here, is no less than a gold mine. She has hundreds quite possibly thousands of blog posts rich with information, from writing tips, industry insights, general information, book reviews to all you could ever want to know about working with an editor.

Any writer who is reading this, listen up – I cannot advocate you reading her blog more. Be warned, Jamie can be cuttingly honest at times, so much so it took me over a year before I even plucked up enough courage to post a comment on her blog, and still now I can count on one hand the number of times I’ve done so! But it’s an honesty you need… if your serious about being a writer anyway. Jamie will tell you exactly what not to do, all about the habits writers do that annoy editors, and educate you in just what you do and don’t need to do when approaching an editor. Jamie will make you a better writer. I only hope one day my stuff is good enough to get edited by someone like Jamie.

The respect and admiration I have for Jamie is infinite. If you’re even half serious about writing, GO. CHECK. HER. OUT.