Final Round?
I got my first revision letter. Well, really it was a short email with my manuscript attached in Word and comments added with the track changes feature. (The dreaded red pen has been replaced by intrusive red font) I don’t know what I was expecting, but it wasn’t this. Basically I was told in six or seven comments to up the tension a bit, increase the pacing, etc. And there were no comments at all after page 76.
I don’t know why, but I suppose I was under the impression that I was submitting a diamond in the rough. Of course, I personally though it was totally polished before I submitted to my agent, but the two of us certainly went some rounds in the editing process, and I have no doubts that the book is infinitely better for her nudging, recommending, and suggesting. Still, I imagined that my editor would then take my submission and finesse it into something magical, something that was still mine but transcendently better. And it will be better, I’m sure, once I follow her succinct little instructions. But it’s almost as if she left it untouched. And while I’m thrilled, I’m also a little nervous.
Having read the eloquently written dedications and acknowledgements of some authors to their editors, I suppose I imagined the editing would be more of an obvious collaboration. Maybe Book 2 will be like that, seeing as I only have one year to submit it and not years to polish it up to perfection. But maybe not, seeing as my agent will get the first look at it. Maybe she’ll finesse it in all the right ways so my next revision letter will be just as short. One can hope.
Posted in edits on 11/10/2010 05:26 pm
11/10/2010 at 5:34 pm
I feel your nervousness. Sound like you could use an extra editor on the side to help. Another set of wizened romance eyes.
11/10/2010 at 6:10 pm
You should be proud of yourself and all that you have accomplished so far!
11/11/2010 at 1:16 am
Are you volunteering, Legend??
Aw, Jill, you're so sweet! Thank you!
11/11/2010 at 7:37 pm
Oooh, I get how you'd feel nervous. I have to ask my agent if he'd like me to continue with the "tone" of his edits on my first 75 pages throughout the whole manuscript–or is he planning to mark the entire thing and I only fix those bits?
Good luck–I know your next book is going to be great!
11/12/2010 at 1:34 am
Maybe it means you are already perfect in which case congratulations!
11/13/2010 at 4:08 am
Thank you, Green Girl.
And Sarakastic, if that's the case, then I have absolutely nothing to worry about.
Thanks for even suggesting it!
11/14/2010 at 5:56 am
Do you feel comfortable enough asking your editor about this? Although it could be that part of the reason she bought the book was that she knew it was in super good shape and wouldn't take much input from her. Isn't the publishing world crazy? Angst all the way!