Quote:
Originally Posted by Hitch
[...] I think that SEFW is the most approachable--and therefore, the most useful--of the "how to" books.
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I think this is what I found most surprising. I'm used to reading articles (and some books) where the authors say really stupid things (some try to dig themselves back out later, others don't seem to notice they are in a hole). I typically end up so frustrated with what I'm reading that I possibly miss anything useful they have had to say. That didn't happen with this book.
I'm about a third of the way through a third pass over my manuscript (waiting on the tax office to get back to me about some stuff, so paid work is on hold for a few days). I've managed to drop about 1500 words so far - once is usually enough - but, more importantly, I feel more confident in my review, as if I am seeing things more clearly. Some passages are getting reworked in ways that I feel better about, rather than the usual, dubious, "is that really an improvement?" sensation.
That is
not to claim that I will see all the faults in my own work as a result of reading this - that's asking too much of any book/advice - but it has definitely given me a better grasp of what I'm looking for. ... I guess the real test is yet to come.