4 signs you have finished editing your manuscript

Years ago, I was at a writing group when a newer writer asked a loaded question:

"When do you know you have finished editing a manuscript?"

Without hesitation, one of my writing buddies, JC Harroway, blurted out, "When someone takes it away from you." Of course, the room burst out laughing, but JC was serious. She is a dreadful tinkerer, never happy with what she has written and constantly obsessing over it. But she is a writer with publication deadlines, and when those deadlines arrive, she has no choice but to hand over that manuscript to the editor or it won't get published.

But when you look at the original question with seriousness, there are multiple aspects to consider. Not only do you have those who constantly obsess over every little detail, but the editing question goes the other way, too. You also have those who think they have finished editing but in reality still have work to do to ensure that the story they envision is what is on the page.

In today's post, I want to discuss some of the benchmark tests you can use to determine if you have finished editing a manuscript.

1) You have sent the latest version to others for critique—a sign that you have finished at least that round of editing.

External eyes on a story are vital. What you think is on the page may not be what is actually on the page, but the only way to know that for certain is to get another person to read your story.

Whether you send your manuscript to a critique partner or beta reader (or an editor) will depend on what stage of the editing process you are in, but at the end of every major editorial round, I would recommend seeking those other eyes.

It's a good sign if you feel happy with sharing a draft with others. It means that you have finished working on that particular round of editing. You might still have work to do, but until you get feedback, you might not know exactly what needs to be done. But check that partially done box.

2) Multiple critique partners or beta reader have said that it's good to go.

If you are seeking publication, then the odds are you want multiple readers to read your stories. But every reader is different; what works for one reader might not work for another. This doesn't mean that you should try to write a story that will appeal to every reader, because that would be a pointless exercise, but getting feedback from multiple readers prior to seeking publication is a good idea.

Not only is every reader different, but different readers focus on different issues.

However, if the majority of the people you have asked to read your story all come back with little to no feedback, then you likely have a story that is ready to head out the door.

3) Wait a week on anything. If you still feel the same way, then…

This one is about using the metaphorical drawer. The more you can gain emotional distance from your story, the better you are at reviewing your story objectively.

If you "finish" your story and want to send it out, unless there is a pressing deadline involved, put it in that metaphorical drawer for a week or longer. When you pull it out again, if you still feel like the story is finished, then it's probably finished.

4) If you're obsessing over typos, then move on.

Typos and grammatical errors slip through the editing process all the time. Even if you paid the money to have five or more editors on a manuscript, something will get missed. It's inevitable.

So, if you ever get to the point where you are making minor, insignificant changes to anything in your manuscript (i.e., punctuation, wording choice in a single sentence, paragraph breaks, typos), then call that thing done and move it into the next phase of the publication process.

And while you're at it, start writing the next manuscript. Move on!

I know that editing can at times feel like a never-ending process. But my recommendation is to set yourself some benchmarks to test your progress against.

Subscribers to my newsletter can get access to my personal self-editing checklist, which includes the things that I look at during my various editorial rounds as I'm getting a manuscript ready to go out the door.