Editing Still -Getting Overwhelmed any suggestions?

Hi, just want to vent. I've been working on a "Becoming Mr. Martinez: A Modern Immigrant Journey" for three years now. First the edition in English. Now, we have translated it to Spanish and working on the final edits. But believe me when I tell you, every time I open my files to edit, I feel overwhelmed. And feel like there is no end...Has anyone felt like this?

Probably every writer. I finally read mine into a tape recorder and in the process, that was another edit. Then I listened to it; that was another edit. I broke it into pieces and took a piece with me to appointments and felt great to finish one piece. Someone else may have other gimmicks. Edits to my own work are not the fun part....

oh wow...you have just added at least one more edit into mix (reading it for cd)...no bueno...but thank you for sharing...greatly helpful to know it is just not me.

Sometimes, I edit in my sleep. I have put together three anthologies now with contributions from 70-80 authors from around the world who write British/American/Canadian/Australian/ English ... and some for whom English is their second language. For the several months it takes to read every story, edit, re-read, make final edit, my mind is constantly in edit mode.

This year I published three books written by other authors: On the Way to Siberia (translated from German to American English), An Introduction to Mechanics of Human Movement (first published in 1983, now in its fourth edition), and Forever Families, an anthology of short stories. Somehow (I know not how), I managed to write a 10,000+ words short story that is my best writing to date (judged by others, although I agree). I assume that all the editing work is the main reason my own writing has improved. The harder we work, the greater the improvement. Keep on working!

This is how I work, but what works for me may not for others.

Every time I sit down to write I go back and re-read at least the last chapter of what I've already written. Then I begin to write, starting with what changes I've decided on while doing the re-read. When I write "The End", I read it ONCE more, then turn it over to someone else to read. I have found this works for me, otherwise I never finish, because every time I read through it, I want to make changes. When I changed publishers with BEARKILLER, I rewrote it again.

When you have a third party edit for you be sure it's someone you trust can be unbiased and you will accept correction from.

awesome!! thank all three for your comments... feel at ease and much more comfortable with taking my time...thanks again for the wonderful advice!