Editing? Find your way.

 Story editing is a tiring, yet exhilerating task.

Successful completion is as wide open as the formula to get there.

Let's explore an example.

The original version:

Sculptured by the wind’s swirl, the cylinder of twirling snowflakes lifted from the curbside pile, raked an icy chill across Jenny’s unprotected facial skin. Without a desire to stop and delay her plodding morning journey to the bookstore, she ignored the stray cat’s caterwaul behind her.

 While the original imagery tries to create a mood, it overpowers if not confuses. If it's slow going for Jenny, the reader doesn't get to understand there is a Jenny until too late.

Let's try to rewrite:

Off to Jenny’s right, a windy swirl lifted snowflakes from a curbside pile. Sculptured into a twirling “dust” devil, the cylindrical funnel raked an icy chill across her unprotected facial skin. With no desire to stop and delay her morning journey to the bookstore, she plodded on, this day ignoring the stray cat’s caterwaul behind her.

The original first sentence is divided into two parts. Within three words we know we are on a journey with Jenny. The cylinder of swirling snowflakes is emphasized to be a cylindrical funnel. Not a tornado, but similar to a summer dust kickup.

The last sentence in the revision could also be split into separate sentences. Left together they may imply a simultaneous perception. All is subjective. 

Try it yourself.

Use your own examples or visit Author Donan Bert at Amazon.com . This link will take you to his Find the Girl, A Fantasy Novel where a free sample is available. If you wish, his other novels also offer free "inside the book" samples.