Write and edit text

I need the first draft of the 1,200-word feature finished and submitted to Maya by Wednesday so she can fact-check before Friday's print deadline. Make the headings consistent with AP style, tighten the lede to the single strongest fact, and flag any sentences longer than 30 words for me to cut. Then export a clean copy and attach it in an email to Maya with the note that sources are listed at the bottom and any factual corrections by Thursday 10:00 get priority.

Before I hand this draft to Maya, make it easy for her to verify facts quickly. Put the most contestable claim and its source in the first paragraph, convert all quoted longer than three lines into block quotes, create a short bullet list of outstanding verification needs at the top, and apply a readable heading hierarchy so she can skim to sections she owns.

Maya says she can't fact-check because sources are buried and claims float without anchors. I own writing but not research. What are the most efficient edits to make now so she can verify in a single pass and I don't miss the Wednesday deadline? Tell me the three edits that give the biggest time savings and a one-sentence script to explain the changes to Maya.

Over the last six features I finish the draft and then spend half my remaining time chasing sources, fixing structure, and shortening sprawling paragraphs, which causes late handoffs and shrinks the editor's fact-check window. Which habit should I change first to stop this cycle, and give me the practical steps for the next three stories so I actually get earlier, cleaner drafts to Maya.