Editing and Proofing Woes

I love to write, but I’m not fond of proofing or editing!

If anyone has ever successfully participated in Nanowrimo, you know that words just seem to flow non-stop, or hopefully they do. Nanowrimo is a site where you have the thirty days in the month of November to write a 50,000 word novel.  This is no easy task, I can assure you. If you have any kind of life apart from writing, interruptions happen.  It’s inevitable.

They say “just write a rough draft.”  Isn’t all writing a rough draft at first? Which brings me to the topic at hand: editing and/or proofing.  Perhaps you are fortunate enough to have a paid professional do this for you.  Not so with me, since I am a newbie and lack funds. I do have a couple of friends that are willing to help me with this, thank you Shelby Boswell and Barbra Finley. But alas,  the bulk of it falls to yours truly, me!

I’m currently involved in my WIP and have finished (it’s over 110,000 words).  At least  I think I’m finished! I have gone through twice already with proofing and editing.  Whew! Isn’t that enough?  Apparently not!

The first two run-throughs were done on the computer. I decided to print it out for a final proof/edit. All I can say is WOW! The things I’ve caught on a hard copy that I never noticed as I read it on the computer. Some pages contain more red ink than not.  Am I alone in this? Is it easier to catch things reading the hard copy?

So I plod and plow forth.  There are surely things I would rather be doing right now.  But then I think of the analogy of giving birth to children. Once those little darlings enter the world, our job is not over as a parent. It’s an ongoing process and takes work and diligence.

I’m definitely in need of more pencils, highlighters and red ink pens! I can’t throw the baby out with the bath water. (hm…does that even apply to  this?)