I know many of you have done this sort of thing, but the project seems intimidating to me. I don't think I can read it on the computer screen and figure it out, but also, it even seems daunting (not to mention a waste of ink and paper) to print it off and do so.

Here's how I approach it.

Assuming the former, it might be best to sit back and assess the overall story, what's the central thread, what are the primary sub-threads, then initially go through and toss out anything that is not essential to those threads. Arguably it's better to be overly aggressive cutting than timid (you can always put something back).

From there I like to get three highlight markers and highlight what advances plot, reveals character (through thought and problem-solving action), or sets scene, each in it's own color. Anything not highlighted gets removed. Then I look to see where I can merge things. If there are long blocks of a single color I try to find ways add some of the other colors. Ideally I have all three happening a couple times per page minimum.

I don't worry about grammer and diction and style at this point, I'm still assembling the story. Usually the above means it's easiest to then do a rewrite using the butchered copy as an outline of sorts.

Then I repeat with the new draft where hopefully the changes are less extensive, then polish it up.

I would break the story down by chapter, then by scene, or maybe point of view. Break it up into workable chunks. And then do what Dee said.

Review where the action or tension is suppose to be, and note it in the text. During a rewrite you can adjust the pacing.

For long stories I do a monomyth compliance check. Make sure there is a departure, an initiation and a return. Then check if the sub-elements for each are there and in original ways. I don't believe the order has to be strict just well told.

If I were still in the "write for myself" mind set, I'd go through a 120 page draft using all those suggestions and everything would still seem fairly great. But as soon as I have a reader lurking behind my shoulder, waiting for my pages, my draft looks awful. Melodramatic, boring, nonsensical. So that's my suggestion to you: Set up a reader for your first scene right now. Then edit the heck out of that scene. Make it perfect. Edit it and rewrite it as if it's your last chance. Line by line, plot, character, everything. Make sure it's right. Then actually give it to them.

If you focus on the story as a whole, editing here and editing there, then the last-pass edits you make on the first scene will throw the rest all out of whack. In that way, this edit you make to your first scene IS your last chance. It needs to be right, or you're wasting your time (unless you happen to be way smarter and more clear-thinking than me, which is likely).

Let's say your character yells at his father in the first scene. You realize on your last edit, that your character wouldn't actually do that, it's not his nature. So you change it. BUT WAIT! The fifth scene that you already spent so much time perfecting hinges on the fact that he did it. Whoops.

Or, you edit the whole thing then give it to a reader. He says that the first scene makes no sense, he doesn't have enough information. You spent a full week rewriting the flashback scene that comes later and explains it all, but your reader says he needs it up front. You were never confused during your readings because you already knew that information and were incapable of seeing the problem. Again, wasted time and edits. It's all about the reader.

Also, if you work in small chunks, then you can print them out as you need them without guilt.

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