There's a large, white box sitting on my desk. It's heavily taped and marked from its trip back and forth from Kentucky to New York to Kentucky again. There's a part of me that doesn't want to open it. There's a part of me the fears the contents of that battered white box. Why? It's got my manuscript for Book 6 within it and I've been warned that there are heavy line edits. Ugh. For some reason (which probably seemed reasonable to me at the time but not now), I chose to be extremely repetitive in Book 6 and my kind editor took the time to cut me back down.
Line edits are exactly what they sound like. They are edits made directly to each line of the manuscript. They can be frustrating and exhausting both physically and emotionally to deal with. Simply put, it gives you a chance to look at the book in exquisite detail (a la line by freaking line) and see how you got it wrong. I know that it's unrealistic to want to be perfect and have no line edits, but I would like to improve from my current status. I think this is going to be my hardest line-edit book because I attempted something outside my comfort zone and there are consquences for such acts, like heavy line edits.
The book arrived on Tuesday, but I didn't touch it yesterday due to a freak illness that kept me away from my computer. Well, it appears that I'm back again and it's time to dig deep and suck it up. It usually takes me a few days to get through all the line edits for the book, but I'm hoping to cut that time in half.
Why? Because the line edits are going to be followed by the official revision letter. Yes, this is the extremely detailed letter my editor sends me listing all the things that need to be fixed with the book. This one is going to be a tough one. So much so, I'm no longer sure how the book is going to end. Things are going to change with this book, but I know it's going to be for the best.
Just a couple of other quick things:
Not all the winners from my contest insanity have claimed their prizes. Please scroll down to see if you were picked! You have only a few days left to contact me.
And it now looks like I will be attending the New York Comic Con! I will be posting details when they are confirmed, but it looks like they are pulling together a great panel for October 8.
2 comments:
Expanding outside your comfort zone is what has made you the fantastic writer that you are today. Don't sweat a few edits.
--Nick
I can't imagine how hard it must be to open that white box and see those edits, but you can do it:) If you throw up it's okay, no one will mind. *snort* The book is going to be terrific, so don't worry. Really:)
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