Couldn't have enumerated it any better, Mike. But then I'll get galleys later and wish I'd done more line edits. And then I'll get the final printed copy and wish I'd done even more line edits. You know, that whole bit about never finishing a creative work, but just abandoning it is pretty accurate.

Good question --

I can tell it's time to leave the words alone when:

1) I can't stand looking at the story/chapter any longer
2) A change I made yesterday I go back to today and change it back to the way it was yesterday.
3) I've addressed any questions my critiquer(s) have brought up, either in the text itself, or at least in my head.
4) I'm no longer excited by the words and want to move on!

Anyone else do something similar?

And there's always more line edits to do, by the way.

Of course. But how do you recognize when you've reached that point where you're just tweaking, without really improving the overall effort (or, heaven forbid, actually doing more harm than good)?

--Trey

Yeah, it's a fine line between getting feedback on stuff vs. getting sidetracked by those comments and not moving forward.

To hell with da neighbors. ;)