mugenmine | Read over and read over time (Reply)

I've reached my favorite part of the editing process, when the first round of insane edits and prose fixing is done and now I get to read with a purpose. Now I'm reading through for adverb overflow, repetitive verbs, tense madness, POV consistency and run on sentences. It takes me a couple of read throughs to realize that I've started a strange habit or have used a word or phrase WAY too many times...

I have to read the story out-loud as it slows me down and forces me to not gloss over things. It also really lets you hear when a turn of phrase or dialogue is awkward or if you need to work on your word choice. So I did this about three times which is a lot for 10K, but I managed to make some good changes and tackled some bits which were just flat out weak. At 1:30, I figured that perhaps it was time to go the hell to bed, so I wrapped it up and shipped my story off to my first pass reader. I'm looking for a very general story level crit from her like does it work, is it odd, did something i do throw you out of the story or confuse you, do the character voices ring true to you?

I'm too close to it right now to really know what's working or not working, so we shall see. Then back for some more edits!