New Literary Term: Scalpeling
I suspect this is going to become a regular feature…
Scalpeling (v): The stage of revision that entails making small, precise edits that may be indistinguishable to some readers but nonetheless have a very large impact on the work as a whole, bringing forward important story elements. One step above tweaking, two steps above proofing.
Yup, that’s pretty much what’s going on with my thesis right now.