How many times or how often would you suggest editing a story? @Znandrew

I actually just asked a question similar to this to LoriGoldstein. She told me she outlined like crazy before she wrote her novel, Becoming Jinn. Her outline was about eighty pages long. So when she wrote the story, her story was already thought out and planned well. And guess what? She got an agent and a publisher. It comes out this April.

My first novel is naturally going to need more edits than Expiration Date, because my writing has improved since I wrote the first draft.

I'm probably at about draft six of major drafts on my first novel, and I'm really happy with it. I have a critique group, and they are amazing. I'm always super excited with my chapters after I make the changes they suggested. I wish I had the critique group a long time ago.

Now I've read that manuscript more than six times, because after I do a major edit I have to go back and edit for grammar mistakes I missed when I added new stuff in. A read through doesn't always count as a edit.

I know people advise against it, but when I finish a new novel, and after I've edited it on my own, I'll have my mom read it. She's not afraid to get onto me about coma errors, annoying characters, and plot holes. Whereas other moms would over look stuff like that, she really pushes me, and for that I am grateful. I think she even screen shots mistakes in Expiration Date.

You can edit your story forty times, but unless you have another person reading it and telling you what they think, your book won't ever be ready.

There is really no set number for how many edits. It all depends on the writer. But when you think it's ready, go back and edit it again, or have someone else read it. Someone who won't be afraid to tell you what's wrong.

I hope this helped and thanks for the question.

By the way, you can check out the beginning of Becoming Jinn on LoriGoldstein's page. It's amazing and fantastic!