We have made it through each individual chapter. And that should be celebrated. But alas the editing is not over. We now have to look at the manuscript as a whole. That’s right, it is full manuscript editing week.
Task #157: If you have edited on paper, add all of your manual edits to the electronic draft. If you have already added them begin a read through of your draft as a whole, try to resist adding edits at this time as you need to read through and make sure it flows well as a book. Highlight things if you see something that you know needs to be monitored or altered, but try to approach it as a reader would.
For those not editing: Take the below item and describe it in as great a detail as you can and then give it an important meaning beyond it’s intrinsic value to your story. Make it the clue that solves the mystery or makes the gaslighting evident.
Today’s object…pajamas
They can be any kind you want and used however works for your tale. The fact of them can be the issue, the condition or style may mater. Perhaps it is just the material or color that provides insight, or even just the placement. I believe there was a Columbo episode where a woman was found murdered in her night gown and one of the clues that proved the timeline and details was wrong was because the woman always folded her pajamas for the night and put them under her pillow during the day. The fact that they were still folded under her pillow let Columbo know that she did not get into her pajamas on her own. So think about how you want to use the pajamas. And maybe check out some old episodes of Columbo, I think they are airing on Tubi these days.
As always, happy writing.
Ten til Midnight 