One of the happiest days in a writer’s life happens when the book is done. You’ve polished the manuscript and sent it off to the editor. DONE! With notes put away, the desk cleaned and plans made for a celebration, the feeling of accomplishment looms large. And, of course, the announcement posts on Facebook and Instagram, “I’m done! #bookisfinished.”
But wait. . . there’s more. Much more.
The book is only partially done at this point. The substantive edit is underway at your publishing house. The editor will usually read the manuscript through once for the holistic look. Then the editor gets down to serious editing.
- Are there holes in the manuscript?
- Spots that are unclear?
- Threads dropped?
- Superfluous verbiage?
- In fiction, are all the characters fleshed out?
- Does the dialogue ring true for each character?
- Do you have a good balance between character and plot?
- Did you make the beginning strong enough?
- Will the reader find the ending satisfying?
- For nonfiction, is everything endnoted and all permissions included?
I could go on and on, but you get the point. When the edits come back to you it’s easy to feel frustrated. You finished that book and moved on to the next. “I was done with that one,” you whine. Plus, when you open the file and all the edits spill out, it’s natural to cringe. Critique is hard to swallow.
But the magic happens in the edit process. Rush through this at your own risk. If you want to go from good to great, it often happens in the revisions. Authors who enjoy the edit process, who appreciate the experienced eye of their editor, and who understand that creating an outstanding book is a team effort, are the ones who continue to create bestsellers and continue to get contracts.
Authors who balk at reasonable suggestions, rush through their revisions or just give an “accept all changes,” without digging deep, pay for it. They may not realize that when they grit their teeth and say, “I’m so done!” they may actually be predicting the future. I’ve had sad discussions with acquiring editors who, when deciding they must drop an author, cite that working through the edit was like pulling teeth. No one has time for that kind of pain in an already overworked life.
So just consider this a quick word to the wise. There. I’m done.
Pandemic Reading
Such a good reminder, Wendy! We are encouraged to get busy on the next book right away … but that doesn’t mean to rush through that vital revision process. If the goal is something beautiful to set loose in the world, then time and skill and some pain are required.
Ding, dong, my book is done
(“You wrote a BOOK?”), my masterwork!,
and I had thought to have some fun,
but editor’s become a jerk,
demaning changes, cutting scenes
here, there, and almost eveywhere!
I think she’s power-mad, really mean,
beaking bad, and it’s all so darn unfair!
I never knew so much red ink
existed in the universe,
and it’s begun to make me think
that being published is a curse
not benison of smiling sun,
for it seems had work has just begun!
Such a great reminder to hold our works loosely and trust the experts, to remember the blessing of working with those of experience. And every author I know says that though the changes were hard to swallow, the changes benefited the work; the experts were right.
Dear Shelli, your words “every author I know says …” is comforting to me as I swallow a trainload of suggested changes. 🙂
Blessings ~ Wendy Mac
I’ve swallowed the same with the feedback my crit group has offered, and I know my MS is better because of their wisdom. ????
Dear Wendy, I especially love this line: “But the magic happens in the edit process.”
My memoir manuscript is being touched by the magic wands of the critique group I’m in. Yes, slay me with a thousand red lines because I know they’re pointing me in an oh so much better direction. Thankfully, my group also knows how to praise so that I don’t bleed to death. 🙂
Blessings ~ Wendy Mac
Every pass through, I find things to tweak. A wiser mind than mine will have to say, “It’s finally good enough. You’re done!”
Great post, Wendy. That feeling of beingn done with the initial aspect of a book feels good. I’ve found that, when others take time to share their honest thoughts about my book, I take what they say to heart. The story comes out better when I’ve taken the time to work through the problems others spotted but I missed.Writing is rewriting, right? 🙂
Grateful to all those who make my words “sing”! Thank you for sharing this insight, Janet.
Writing a book is a very difficult process. I have no idea how talented it is to write a book that will appeal to many. Personally, I think that it would not work for me, because sometimes I have problems even when writing an essay.