The Writers' Circle

Man, I wish I knew. I rewrote just the online about 4 times. I have editted the first chapter three times, but I'm finished with those chapter edits for now. 

I guess as long as you are still willing to edit, then it can't hurt. Each time I have editted some writing I'm happier than I was before, so eventually, I should be happy enough to move on. Then again every time I walk away and come back I want to change something. 

Maybe you should do your editting by chapter. I don't know if this works. Just throwing this out. Edit a chapter. Read it over. Put it down. Come back and edit it again. Put it down. Come back and edit it again. Keep doing this until that chapter satisfies you. Then lock it!! Never edit it again and move on to the next chapter.

I'm doing something similar with my novel length story just so I don't get distracted with editting constantly.

I'm guessin the first part would be to put chapters in my work then...

JD

Thanks for the advice. I'll give that a try. I've just got to learn to let go a bit I guess.

JD

Where do you end? You don't, but you have to make yourself do it. When you first put words down, it is with feeling, you can't get them down quick enough, the adrenaline is pulsing through your veins.
Now, some weeks later, you start to edit. You find mistakes. You find little bits that need more work or cutting out. Bear this in mind though; over editing often takes away the initial gutsy feeling; the life of the piece. 
Reading it just by yourself is not good enough. Family and friends can help but are all too ready to say something nice regardless. If you belong to a creative writing group which you physically attend, then have one or two of the better writers look it over. If you don't belong to a group, I strongly suggest you join one.

Also, if an agent/publisher is interested enough, they should arrange for an editor to help you polish it. Your main task is to cut out what might be crappy bits; unnecessary words and to show not tell wherever possible.

I hope this helps. 
Oh, you asked for personal experiences. I edited my novel three times, but the publisher had me expand and contract certain areas of the story until they were satisfied.

Reiner.

Is most welcome*

My dad once said, "it is best to leave things handled by a professional".  After my first draft, I'm much aware there will be plenty of errors; grammatical, spelling and wrong usage of words like corroboration instead of collaboration or vice versa.  You've indicated somewhere you were a perfectionist.  Most writers are (I think).  So my take is, and you don't have to do it the same way, was to hire a professional to do the editorial evaluation.  I believe there's one on this forum.  Use him or her.
As for me, even if my life depends on it, I will not be able to edit and re-edit my work ... English was not my mother tongue and I'm half-dyslexic and if not for MSWord's ability to catch my inaccuracies, you'd think I'm speaking in tongues.
Besides, with professional evaluation, you can skip the flowery adulations of family and friends; unless of course you want your ego massaged with their excessive flattery or admiration.  Anyway, when you're done and feel that your work is finished with a gazillion of errors, pass it to a professional who would also check and will likely provide constructive criticism of your manuscript and show you areas in which you can make your book even better and refine your skills as a writer.  Keep in mind that no author-no matter how successful-writes a perfect first draft.  So you may forget being a perfectionist for a fleeting moment and submit it to a professional evaluator even if you think it was half-assed.  Writing is a process of continual growth ... that's how I feel about it.  But with a commitment to writing a great book, the willingness to accept a brutally honest critique of your manuscript and have the patience to continue revising while gritting your teeth, then you'll understand why professionals get paid to do what they are supposed to do.  Now, how do you find a good evaluator?  I honestly don't know so I just went with the publisher's recommendation.  I hope this helps.