Subtitled: Get Thee to an Editor.

[Subtitled for Buck Rogers Fen: Beta Beta Beta]

I know from experience that I can't edit my own work worth a damn, especially after I've worked on it for months on end. Words that I *know* belong there automatically appear when I read through, despite the inconvenient fact of their non-existence. Therefore, I can say with perfect equanimity: have somebody else read your work before you post it to a public forum. By this, I don't mean your best friend and/or biggest fan. There are good reasons for this. To be effective, an editor cannot be afraid to tell you to toss out entire chapters, if they really don't fit in with the story. Your editor has to have the time and desire to go through your story with a sharp eye, ready to fix any and all errors that your electronic checker missed for whatever reason (there, they're, and their being one of the most common [and annoying IMNERHO]). There are a surprisingly large number of people out there who are willing to do just that, for nothing more than an advance peek at your next work.

Personally, I love to edit the work of my favorite authors, and when I can, I'll spend hours reading and rereading, just to make sure it's absolutely perfect. Getting the right editor can do wonders for your story, just as getting the wrong one (i.e. someone who will read it and tell you it's great, no matter what you write) can be as bad as not having one at all. You'll have to decide between having one editor that you trust implicitly, or a few whom you trust as a whole. For me, it varies, depending on the genre.

Small note: Not that anybody would ask, but I want to make it plain now. If I really like your work, there's a good chance I'll offer to edit it. It's entirely up to you to decide whether you want it or not, and I won't be offended if you decline. However, considering the constraints on my time from now until the turn of the (next) millennium, for me to ask if I can edit your story is the equivalent of asking if I can bear your children. It's not that my editing skills are that good, it's that I've got to adore your work to make the time to do it. So, again, not that anyone would ask, but if you were considering it, please don't. Thank you.