Editing has Begun

The Ride is no longer sitting untouched on the editor’s desk or, to be more accurate, in the editor’s computer. I’ve been advised that the edited copy should be back in my inbox, and I quote, “by next week, if not before.”

If that’s good news, why do I have butterflies…no, too pretty… moths…no…vampire bats…yes…that’s it…why do I feel like I have vampire bats residing in my stomach?

I suppose it’s because my manuscript is now under the scrutiny of a professional and I have no idea what to expect. I’m hoping the process won’t be as severe as—

“The Review’s labyrinthine editing process does to the written word what the Cuisinart does to broccoli.” - David Margolick (http://thinkexist.com/ ).

Not pretty picturing my manuscript meeting a food processor.

I felt confident that the manuscript was in good shape when I submitted it but I’ve had almost a year to worry that perhaps it wasn’t. Lately, I’ve spent a few restless nights wondering, after a critical eye has dissected the manuscript, how much will I need to change, correct, add to or take away. Or, will I simply receive a note that says, “Ever think about taking English 101?”

However, I am trying to make myself think positive thoughts. One such thought is that I’m at least coming closer to being able to declare a winner of the “when will The Ride be published” contest.

If I’m not in over my head in editing symbols such as ^, sp, ⁄, ℓ, □, ○, #, x, ¶, stet, ital, bf, #, tr, etc., I’ll see you next week.

Thanks for stopping by.


Jane Kennedy Sutton
Author of The Ride (to be released by ArcheBooks Publishing)
janekennedysutton@gmail.com
http://janekennedysutton.googlepages.com/
http://www.authorsden.com/janesutton

Tags: The Ride, Archebooks, Margolick , editing symbols,

Going Red

It’s finally happened—I’ve gone ‘red.’ That means The Ride has officially entered the production process.

My reaction, when I saw my information in red on Tuesday, was not the one I expected. I thought I’d be ecstatic—like when I signed the publishing contract with ArcheBooks http://archebooks.com/. And, although I am excited, my initial and strongest reaction as I stared at the red print was fear.

This fear was best expressed by Sandy Lender, author Choices Meant for Gods, during my interview with her when she said, …“Seriously, once I saw that the book was in editing and things were moving along, I waited for some bizarre phone call saying, ‘Oh, Sandy, you need to rewrite it all and, by the way, you suck.’” (For the complete interview go to my July 20th blog http://janekennedysutton.blogspot.com/2007/07/interview-with-sandy-lender.html)

The logical side of me realizes it’s a silly concern because I know I would never have received a contract if that were the case. But, like the idea of a monster under the bed to a child, it’s not that easy to shake off.

Of course, I am hoping the manuscript won’t require major rewrites but I am not naïve enough to believe it’ll sail across an editor’s desk with no changes at all. The best I can hope for is that it falls somewhere in between the two.

So for the following week or two or three or more, you can find me pacing and trying not to develop the nail biting habit as I wait to hear from my editor, Vickie.

If you have any editing horror or happy stories to share, I’d love to hear from you.

Thanks for stopping by. See you next week.

Jane Kennedy Sutton
Author of The Ride (to be released by ArcheBooks Publishing)
janekennedysutton@gmail.com
http://janekennedysutton.googlepages.com/


Tags: The Ride, Archebooks, Sandy Lender, Choices Meant for Gods, editing