Does this sound familiar?

 You open a manuscript. Feel overwhelmed. Close the manuscript.

That feeling of being overwhelmed by a manuscript happens because we care deeply about doing our best work for the author.

Breaking the process down into manageable sections can help.

If you’re editing or proofreading, and have done it for some time, you’ll have developed a systematic process. It doesn’t mean it can’t be changed, but you’ve most likely got a checklist and know which books and resources will be able to help you answer your questions.

For me, if I’m working on a short story, I read the story through completely without making any changes, then complete a spelling and grammar check in Microsoft Word using my first readthrough to contextualise any suggestions it makes. If I’m working on a full-length manuscript, I will read a couple of chapters before making any changes.

This is just what works for me and you may have a different process.

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