Feedback and editing as a process

Compare what you wanted to say with what readers say they understood; begin with sympathetic readers, widen to your target audience and online writing communities. Even after print, feedback helps the next piece.

Editing is not only proofing: at the second level work on content, organisation and style — cut verbal flab, paragraph well, weed out bias, check facts, sharpen vague language and remove ambiguity.

An outside editor must make no needless corrections and must not meddle with the writer's opinions or style. David Davidar: a good editor polishes to a 'mirror finish' without letting his craft show. James Thurber: ask 'How can I help this writer say it better in his own style?'

Keep a revision-of-work journal and form peer review groups to sharpen your eye.

Susan Bell's three self-editors: arrogant and blind; panicked (too timid or too aggressive); and pragmatic and cool — who edits 'coldly', neither genius nor idiot. Tolstoy felt every old page 'must be rewritten'; Roald Dahl reread his openings at least 150 times.