One of the difficulties a writer faces is reviewing his work in an attempt to locate all the errors. Generally, there are two forces that work against a writer trying to make sure that his work is free of errors.
1. Being too close to work has a hard time concentrating on writing.
2. You know what you want to say, so you may read the errors simply because your mind only sees your impression of the article.
To be effective in reviewing your own material, you must work hard to read every word …
Refuse to rush by simply because you know what the writing says.
Consider each word, then each sentence, and then the context of the thought.
Does the article flow or are there phrases that bog down it?
Check punctuation and grammar.
Look at the title and make sure it is correct.
Do all of the above again.
In most cases, the best personal review requires multiple continuous readings and edits. The key to the whole process is discipline: personal and professional discipline.
Check and double-check the facts in your story and, when possible, allow another set of eyes to correct your writing. They are likely to see things you missed.
There is another myth that is closely linked to copyediting and that is the myth of the perfect story. Everything we write will have a useful life because styles and accepted practices change or we have missed something in the realm of coherence, grammar, spelling or the use of words.
If we keep a piece of writing under lock and key until we think it is perfect, we will probably find that the article will never be published. You can go over your article with a fine tooth comb and you will likely see some error when it is finally published.
Writing should be taken seriously, but not so seriously that the stress of word writing takes away the joy that led you to become a writer in the first place.
The best advice may be to simply write your story first and worry about fixing any problems later. If you stop writing in the middle of your story to correct trouble spots, you are likely to lose the spontaneity of the story. Ultimately, this can have a detrimental effect on overall consumer reading satisfaction.
If you have to be a perfectionist, wait until the story is complete and then take out your red pen and make some modifications.