Below are some tips from Blundell on editing. This is the best writing and editing advice, I found out of a dozen of writing books., I have been following since a year.
EDIT FOR LENGTHENING THE STORY NOT SHORTENING IT
Read quickly through the story.
Read quickly through the story.
Look first the ways to lengthen it, not to shorten it.
If you have omitted some portions of reporting that buttress the key sections.
Make sure everything needed to make the story clear and convincing is in it. (BTW I love this tip. It gives me freedom)
PAY SPECIAL ATTENTION TO THEMES AND CONCLUSIONS
Pay special attention to conclusions and summaries including main theme statement.
Check do they say exactly what you want to say? and are they as forceful as the material that back them up?
(I am still trying to learn it but am not as much successful)
PAY ATTENTION TO TRANSITIONS
Are the sections logically connected?
SHARPEN THE VERBOSE ELEMENTS
If any are verbose or fuzzy? Is your account extra flowery? Have u used words like magniloquent? and grandiloquent?
Is your account redundant? Have you repeated same facts repeatedly?
Is there any secondary character annoying you? Get rid of him immediately if he/she is not needed.
DON"T CUT ENTIRE SENTENCES TO SHORTEN YOUR STORY
Alternately, first micro-cut i-e make space by cutting extra words. Avoid major surgery in the beginning.
Blood and bone get away with the fats and some wounds appear that must be stitched. Adress the gaps left after editing.
Word by word editing takes more time.
Siamese twin sentences should be combined.
Slowly a better brisker story takes shape.
Check if a simple statement can do instead of full set of proofs?
Thank you Michael FitzGerald for Blundell's scanned pages. I have ordered the book.
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