Editing is crucial. It is necessary. I couldn't imagine ever publishing a novel that hadn't graced the desk and critical eye of a professional editor (or two). The less stupid I look when my book hits the market the better. I want my words to sound the best they can be, and I know I make mistakes (all authors are bound to make some, and I make my fair share) so I want an editor to catch what I can't see and make it better, make it shine all pretty. This is what I signed up for. This is my Dr. Jekyll side. I'm intelligent (okay, I'm just average smart) but I know enough to realize that editing will make my book awesome! And that's everything I have ever wanted. But then why the heck does it hurt so much? (Here comes Mr. Hyde) It sucks to be told you're not as clever and crafty as you once thought you were. There are passages that you pour your heart into, words that you thought, "Holy crap! This is good stuff!" only to open up the file from your editor to find that passage SLASHED and has a comment to the side saying, "This scene doesn't move the story forward" or "Let's revisit this" or "You can do better than this." Revisit this? What? Why? (The ticks of doubt now start to take over, and you find your left eye twitching. It starts slowly at first and then gradually builds... what if you can't do better than this?) And let's not mention all the repeater words you had NO idea you used over and over and over (you start talking to yourself a lot, and decide it is a perfectly acceptable form of communication). Your editor marks areas where you use SOB (state of being) verbs too much, or where you really thought you were showing the scene only to find out you weren't at all. You were, oh dare I say it, TELLING and not showing. Your editor is marking things that even your kindergartener knows not to do! (You don't even notice that your hair sticks up anymore and hasn't been washed in days). Then just like that *snaps fingers* you have lost it. The reasonable side of you, the one that you really thought was strong and capable in handling constructive criticism has become the crazy, irrational, all-day-pajama-wearing, self-doubting writer that you swore you'd never become. You thought you had a nice thick outer shell, only to find out that nope, you're just one big chewy nugget--no chocolaty shell at all. Unlike M&M's, you will melt. You thought you were better than this. Editing is tough business. It's not for the weak of heart at all--especially when the editing process takes months or years to go through. I mean, you're actually paying someone to tell you how much you suck at the one thing you thought you were good at. If that ain't fun, then I don't know what is. But, I will tell you this, I'd much rather take the blows to my ego at this point in the game, than to put out a half-assed book and face the wrath from readers (that's scary in itself). And a good editor, one who shows you how to improve your craft and mold it into something greater than even you thought it could be, is worth every penny. So, your turn. What say you? Do you just embrace editing and love the whole process (Dr. Jekyll), or do you ever get a little emotional and self-doubting (Mr. Hyde)? AND, if you have a way to make thicker skin (without pulling a SILENCE OF THE LAMBS kind of thing) I'd love to know. I need a way to cover up my chewy nugget (yeah, that doesn't sound too good, does it? But I'm leaving it because it made me chuckle) I hope you see what I'm trying to say here :)
13 Comments
3/15/2012 06:47:37 am
Editing is the prime evil in every sense of the word. I have written a full novel (Weehee) posted up on an ebook website (Double Weehee) with a sample chapter. The book sold one copy in around two month, so I decided to download the whole book and see if there was a problem. Please notice how problem is all in lower case, the thing is that the 'problem' was in fact a "SERIOUS PROBLEM." All the editing and formatting was misplaced, spelling was atrocious and the whole thing was just amateurish. So, I have taken the book off sale for the moment and have found a fine tooth comb in my mind and am now editing until the book is no longer capable of holding a single mistake. No doubt this is my Jekyll. I could send it to an editor, but that would only unleash my Mr Hyde. I will just have to play it by ear and see how I go for now. Yes, your comments make perfect sense to me and I am glad that I read it, now I no longer feel alone on my editing dilemmas.
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6/12/2017 03:40:58 am
Hello Pip Morgan! Thank you for showing us a sample of how important editing is. I understand that some writers are too excited for their works to be published that they don't even bother to have their works screened by a professional editor first. We should realize that editing is necessary! Because if not, your novel may have a great story, but because of the errors it will not be liked by the readers.
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I haven't been in your shoes, but can only imagine I'd feel the same. I know when I get a harsh critique I instantly feel defensive, but if I let it simmer--settle down--then I see what I need to do. Most of the time, the person was right and I end up better for it, and less defensive with each critique.
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3/15/2012 12:15:58 pm
Ha. I can relate. When I first get my notes from the editor, I tend to stomp through the house for a while growling and snarling. Then I sigh and think about the meaning of the questions rather than the details. It's ideal when an editor brings up problems rather than suggesting solutions, I have to say. But when an editor does suggest solutions, I focus on the problem, which may mean coming up with a better solution. And, in hindsight, I can freely admit how helpful most of my editors' suggestions have been.
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3/16/2012 03:54:17 am
Editing has always been my biggest downfall mostly because I didn't feel confident in the how's, what's, and why's. With practice I am building that confidence. That's not to say I have no Hyde lurking inside; he burrows deep and his grip is iron tight. We have our understandings and we have our arguments, but my Mr. Hyde never stays in power for more than a day or so. I won't let him. Instead, I try to focus Hyde's ferocity to fuel my creative process, using the fire within to weed out contradictions mistakes with the attentiveness of an assassin. Sometimes it works really well, and others times I end up in the depressed state I am trying to avoid. I think the trick is to keep on keepin on.
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3/18/2012 01:17:31 am
Well necessary evil I suppose. I have never had a book published but worked for years in newspapers. Editors can be friends I guess but it was more when they stupidly axed something that made the story inaccurate that sent me off angrily. Happened a lot in my experience.
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I usually do not comment when I jump around on a whim, but your repeater line had me laughing. A great editor I had in the past called me "comma-challenged". At first I said "Hey, that is not fair!" but it was true. Then I realized years ago I have a love affair with the word "that". Do not ask me why, because I have no clue. But I created a quick macro in word that goes through any manuscript that I have finished and looked at for a bit, before I send it out, and it highlights every single "that" in the manuscript in yellow. And let me tell you. I still have a love affair with the word "that" which in 95% of the cases can simply be deleted. So your repeater comment made me laugh. Now that is truly a good post even if I do admit to being comma-challenged and that is the truth! :)
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deni
3/18/2012 04:35:07 am
I am in this rocky, tummy rolling boat ride myself at the moment. Yes, let us be perfectly candid with one another: it sucks. It hurts, it burns and at times it can feel humiliating. But it's not a personal attack. Editors want the same thing you do, great work. I believe that writers and editors go hand in hand. You need the balance, the outside voice, the reality check. Readers don't have access to our minds. Clever ideas to us may go right over their heads, and last I heard, copies of books don't include free clones of the author when sold. ;) Having worked videogames some 12 years, I am acutely aware of how negative reviews can not only slander the product, but damage the brand, which in this case would be the writer. It's like waxing, really. Stings like a b when it happens, but it reveals the smooth and silky. Even the little red bumps from damaged pride fade quick enough. If you are willing to take the time to shape your story, then vest the energy to see it shine and develop a relationship with an editor. That's my thinking in a shell.
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A nice read, but the whole time I just found myself saying, 'Man, she is lucky to be able to have editor.' The majority of indie authors cannot afford an editor (or two) unless they find a publisher willing to pay for one, which is just as rare from what I hear.
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3/19/2012 03:36:28 am
I received back the notes from my first beta-reader and I am now looking at a rewrite of at least 30% of the book. I hear ya...but I gotta do it because I want my writing to be as good as I can get it. I agreed with my critique partner on just about everything once he pointed it out. It's the "pointing out" part that I was having difficulty with on my own. I'm so thankful to have this kind of resource.
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4/4/2012 09:18:39 pm
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5/22/2012 04:07:20 pm
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