They gripe about the unreasonable and undiscerning editors who continually reject their submissions. On the other hand, writers who have learned to edit what they've written are the ones who are likely to get published. By following seven steps in editing yourself, you're not likely to be heavily edited by editors and are likely to get your work published. Swallow your pride. Few writers can admit that their writings are imperfect at best and can be improved.
Every word is fair game for the editor's blue pencil.
The wastebasket is our best friend, and the blue pencil runs a close second. Cut the fat. Cutting the fat means that no word or phrase can remain in your manuscript unless it has a justifiable purpose, carries its own weight, or supports another word or idea. It also means saying the most in the fewest possible words and saying it as simply as possible. But my desperate financial situation and my desire to be published in that particular magazine prompted me to comply.