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Jennifer talks about editing her manuscripts...
For the past month, I’ve been focused on editing several
manuscripts. My number one priority was the manuscript I was submitting to my
agent. She provides editing guidelines that we are to follow prior to sending
it in to her. Once she receives it, she does her own editing and sends it back
to us. So, with a self-imposed deadline of February 1, I went through my
manuscript, tentatively titled In The Moment, one last time, doing a final
polishing. I incorporated additional comments from my critique group and made
sure I met the guidelines of my agent. Then, with fingers crossed, I submitted
it to her.
I’ve also spent time editing a friend’s manuscript. I was
really excited to do this, as I hadn’t gotten the chance to read beyond the
first ten or twelve chapters when she first wrote it, before she decided to
revise it significantly. So this time, I was able to read it from beginning to
end. Other than one particular chapter, I loved it! And that one chapter that I
didn’t like? Well, I can’t speak for her, but I enjoyed going back and forth
with her, discussing why I didn’t like it and helping her problem solve. I
can’t wait for it to be published—it’s going to be a great book!
Finally, I’m editing Skin Deep, which is getting re-released
by Rebel Ink Press in March. It has a new, gritty cover, which is more in
keeping with the type of story it is, and now that the editor has reviewed it
and made suggestions, I’m going through it one last time and incorporating some
of what she suggested.
Bottom line? Editing always works better, at least for me,
when multiple eyes see a manuscript. No one person can catch everything, so it’s
best to have extra help.
Critique partners, beta readers, and a professional editor are an author's best friends. I can imagine that being able to go through a previously published book is a wonderful thing to do. We learn so much with each new manuscript.
ReplyDeleteI agree with your "best friends" idea, Ana. For me personally, though, I don't like going through the previously published work nearly as much, because there is a large part of me that wants to be done with it once I've finally submitted it. But I'm grateful I get the chance to catch mistakes or things I and a whole slew of others missed the first time around.
DeleteI enjoyed re-editing 'His Leading Lady' once I got the rights back. It enabled me to tighten up my writing considerably (having learnt a lot since I first wrote it) and I even managed to get Kyle in full Highland dress at the end - an idea which only occurred to me after it had been first published! I just got my rights back for 'Fragrance of Violets' and am looking forward to editing that again for re-publication.
DeleteEditing my work after the first draft is one of my least likeable jobs. What I had thought was a perfect manuscript turns out to be nothing of the sort. I edit as I go along initially, which slows down my writing but I can't do it any other way.
ReplyDeleteI have to get the words on the page first (albeit with a little editing along the way). Otherwise, I lose the flow and miss what I wanted to write in the first place.
DeleteI used to do a lot of editing as I go, but with this last mss, I wrote from beginning to end and didn't go back except for once or twice to tweak something on my mind.
DeleteI edit as I go along, but I still enjoy the 'big edit' once the story is finished. My main problem is when to stop editing and tweaking as I could probably go on for ever!
DeleteI agree about 'multiple eyes', Jen, as different people see different things, all of which can be useful. And as for 'that' chapter, I also enjoyed our discussion about it, which helped me to write a more coherent and therefore much stronger chapter. I'm so pleased you liked the story once you got to read it all! Thank you!
ReplyDeleteYou're welcome. The chapter is SO much stronger now that you've revised it.
DeleteMust admit I'm quite proud of it now, thanks to you! :-)
DeleteIt seems all I've been doing lately is editing...editing my two short stories that my publisher now has, which I am currently editing with my editor, and editing my novel after beta readers look at it. Writers do a TON of editing. ;)
ReplyDeleteYep, lots of editing for writers. And it's a whole different mind-set than writing a first draft.
DeleteYes, I think it goes in waves (at least, it seems to do so for me).
DeleteI do wish I could go back and edit a few things in my first book or two. I've learned so much since then.
ReplyDeleteYou really are in editing mode, Jen. I love editing other people's work. Not only do I feel like I'm helping them, but I get a lot out of it, too, and it makes me a stronger writer.
And let me tell you, it is SO much easier to edit someone else's work than my own!!! :)
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