I hate editing! When I wrote THE TRUTH ABOUT VASHAI I could not afford an editor so I gave 4 people a copy of my manuscript and a red ink pen and asked them to read it and make notes, edit it. After publishing the book my father, a newspaper owner, read it and informed me that there were two mistakes but most people would not see it. Editing is a necessary evil if you are going to publish what you write.
When I first started blogging I did not edit. I am posting these exerts from my National Novel Writing Month writings unedited because it effects my word count. There are two phases to my daily writings for NaNoWriMo: my daily journal entries, which is what I am doing now, and my writings which you do not see: I have posted a few. I don’t always edit my bloggings and when I don’t I see my errors publicly! The mistakes become obvious when you walk away from what you wrote and then come back later and read it out loud.
It really is not cost effect for me to hire someone to edit my words. The IRS would classify my royalty from writing as “hobby” income, in 2022 I probably received about $5 in royalty checks; since I have not published any books in over five years that is pretty good. In lieu of hiring an editor I use the “walk-away” method of editing; I write, do something other than write, go back and read what I wrote and make the necessary corrections.
Because I quote a lot of Scripture in my writng I need to make sure that the Scripture reference agrees with the verse quoted. I also must be sure that the verse used is appropriate with the subject. I also like to remind the reader that I am writing my opinion. (I personally believe most commentaries, no matter how credentialed the writer, are opinions.)
When I write it is because I have something on my mind and I want to release it. When I publish what I write I want people to see what I see. I quote Habakkuk 2:3 often, to myself.
Habakkuk 2:2-3 (KJV)
2 And the LORD answered me, and said, Write the vision, and make it plain upon tables, that he may run that readeth it.
3 For the vision is yet for an appointed time, but at the end it shall speak, and not lie: though it tarry, wait for it; because it will surely come, it will not tarry.

Verse three reminds me: My writings will be available long after I have left earth. I have to make sure that what I write not only makes sense to me but to the reader as well. If I don’t edit there will be problems I may not be available to explain.

I am an active participant of National Novel Writing Month- these entries are unedited on purpose- Marsha L Floyd
*Scripture quoted is from the King James Version of the Bible unless otherwise stated
**All Copyright rights reserved by author