Actually, I find the editing journey is best started with a map. There's little point in correcting the typos and moving commas if I'm going to delete that whole scene.
So, I start by opening the document, that I haven't looked at for a few weeks, and read it through. I don't let myself touch the keyboard but I do have a notepad and pen to jot down instructions to myself for later (Chapter 1 needs more description of character's appearance; meeting character C would be better moved to before event D; etc.).
I start with the big changes e.g. to plot structure, scene sequence, or add/delete scenes. After all the big changes on my pad are ticked off, then it's time to say goodbye to my manuscript again.
'Lather, rinse, repeat.'
I repeat the whole process moving from the level of whole story, to chapters, to paragraphs to sentences before I worry about punctuation and spelling.
So, I don't have a master checklist written down while I'm reading through. But I know there are checklists available - whether on this site, the scores of blogs about writing or numerous books.
My art teacher at school told me once that the difference between a good artist and one who has all the technical skills is knowing when to stop. He was talking about painting but the same is true for any art I think.
'The longest journey starts with a single step.'
Actually, I find the editing journey is best started with a map. There's little point in correcting the typos and moving commas if I'm going to delete that whole scene.
So, I start by opening the document, that I haven't looked at for a few weeks, and read it through. I don't let myself touch the keyboard but I do have a notepad and pen to jot down instructions to myself for later (Chapter 1 needs more description of character's appearance; meeting character C would be better moved to before event D; etc.).
I start with the big changes e.g. to plot structure, scene sequence, or add/delete scenes. After all the big changes on my pad are ticked off, then it's time to say goodbye to my manuscript again.
'Lather, rinse, repeat.'
I repeat the whole process moving from the level of whole story, to chapters, to paragraphs to sentences before I worry about punctuation and spelling.
So, I don't have a master checklist written down while I'm reading through. But I know there are checklists available - whether on this site, the scores of blogs about writing or numerous books.
My art teacher at school told me once that the difference between a good artist and one who has all the technical skills is knowing when to stop. He was talking about painting but the same is true for any art I think.