Come and join the club!
If you’ve been reading this blog for any length of time, you’ll know how much I hate editing. I’d much rather be flying ahead, writing more and having fun. However, I understand the need for editing and doing everything you can to make your book better.
With that in mind, on the advice of a very wise friend who knows, I recently commissioned an editorial report. What an eye opener that was. First off the editor was very positive about the book overall, describing it as ‘engrossing’ and well plotted. Tick on the chart. Using an amateur rather than a police detective as a main character is good, so far so good. Then she started getting into the nitty gritty and revealed she guessed who the killer was. Ah. Not so good. But there’s the benefit of editing; imagine if I’d put that out to market. Doesn’t bear thinking about.
The report has given me food for thought and lots of stuff to work on so yet again I’m standing at the bottom of a mountain of editing and frightened to start climbing. I think the trick will be to break the work into chunks and focus on one bit at a time. The only problem is that the chunks are going to be quite big.
So, I’m just going to have to fasten on my crampons, tie my rope nice and tight and get going. Getting started is the hardest part and I just need to keep my eyes on the summit, a nicely edited book that’s ready to go.
I don’t really have a head for heights so wish me luck!
On the first Wednesday of every month I post as part of the Insecure Writer’s Support Group. It’s a chance for us to support each other in what can be a very lonely pursuit. You can find out more about the group by visiting the website. Thanks to founder Alex J Cavanaugh for bringing us all together.
August 6, 2014 at 7:06 AM
Wishing you luck. Though you don’t need it. It sounds as though you’re at the summit, you just need to dig that flag in and you’re there 😉
August 6, 2014 at 5:03 PM
Editing can be REALLY daunting but it can also be fun, too. Whenever you figure out how to fix something, it’s like a little epiphany, and it makes you feel like you’ve really accomplished something. I kind of look at it like I’m ironing out all the bumps and wrinkles and once I’m finally done, I’ll have a smooth, polished manuscript. Good luck with yours!
Sarah Foster
August IWSG Co-host
August 6, 2014 at 5:58 PM
To use your metaphor. you don’t have to climb the mountain all at once. Just making a bit of forward motion is forward motion. I’ve got on the same climbing gear you do but I’ve decided to climb the small hills first…maybe I can even wear down that mountain before I get to it (See? I wore out that metaphor and I wasn’t even trying). Good luck!
August 6, 2014 at 10:00 PM
Good luck. Have to go look up crampon.