Returning to my last post and the question of when a manuscript can be said to be ready, I think I would have to say that it is never really ready. It is the same as with a painting. Should I have another line, another blob of colour?  Right up until submission, I was still adding words, removing sentences, changing paragraphs. Once it was submitted, it was out of my hands - just like the painting on its way to an exhibition - now it was on its own.