Sitting in the little cramped attic bedroom of our ocean house, watching out over the waves from a slanted window, I’ve finished my book, again. When I say finished, I mean I have read it all the way through, adding to it here and there, helping it grow by another 8,000 words, better developing characters, trimming superfluous passages, you get the picture. It now stands proudly at 67,350 words, hopefully enough to be a short novel, (although, with any luck, it might grow some more as I revisit my rewrites to make sure everything flows).
So, here is my big girl writing question– do I need to reread the entire thing again or just all the highlighted sections where I made changes or added words?
I know everyone has different writing styles, but it really helps to hear what others do as I work my way through the completion of my first book, (which is all still new territory for me). I really want it to be the best work I’m capable of in this moment, but I also dread rereading the whole darn thing again for what would be the fourth time, imagining myself stuck in reshaping and reshaping for eternity.
Advice?
Please and thanks.
No real time for mermaids, or my less-than-stellar drawings of them, until Expecting Happiness is finished.
oliviaobryon 
First, congratulations! Second, well I think you’ve got to read through the whole thing. Just to make sure the flow it still there, that you haven’t inadvertently repeated or contradicted yourself through adding new stuff. That’s my thought. Again, great job on reaching ‘The End’.
Yes, I know you’re right, thanks for the input, it helps!
Books are never finished. They are merely abandoned. Whenever you decide to “abandon” your novel, please make it available worldwide. I’m willing to read it.
I like that way of thinking about it– I’ll let you know when I abandon my book 😉
I would suggest you do what your heart tells you.
Then I would suggest you read through the entire manuscript. Sometimes a change can have a ripple effect. You must be sure your changes are cohesive and were inserted seemlessly. I’ve been “done” four times now, so I know what you’re going through. Just the fact that you have to ask is an answer in itself. Deep down you’ll know when your manuscript is ready.
Whatever you decide to do, good luck. Never give up and never stop writing.
You’re right– it’s just always so hard to pick it back up right after you finish it. My heart tells me I need to read it again, just hopefully this time will really be the last! Thanks for the input, it helps.
I would suggest spending some time away from it before you read it again. I’ve always found that I’m a better editor once I’ve put some space between me and the manuscript.
Congratulations!
Love that idea! I’m going to give myself a little break, (even though I really, really want to be done with it ASAP hehe).
You need to read through the whole thing … what I call proofreading as opposed to editing. Read it with the idea that you aren’t going to do what you just did, but instead, it’s a more minimal approach. Typos and missing words, and just reading it for the flow and consistency. And, then you need to share it with somebody else and ask them to read it. Not as an editor or anything other than just a reader. “Read it as you would a book you just bought and tell me what you think.”
I like that– definitely helps to think of it just as reading instead of what I just did. Going to take a mini break from it and come back to it, thanks for the suggestions, really helps.