Friday, November 18, 2005
THE NEXT LEVEL
My friends say I'm crazy, but they're wrong, at least about this issue. In fact, to prove it to them, I asked other writers on a loop we're on. I'm not the only weird writer who loves the revision process. The majority of us DO love it. We crave the feedback from our editors that tell us what we got right and what we need to work on.
I just got my revision letter from my fabulous editor, Erin Healy. She is a MASTER at what she does. I was telling her when we talked the other day that a gift like hers can only be God-given. This letter was long--14 single-spaced pages--and she was worried I'd freak out, but I said "bring it on." I love seeing how the manuscript can grow and get better. A good editor is the difference between an okay book and a great book. Ami McConnell has the same gift as Erin, so I'm doubly blessed. I'm still waiting on Ami's comments with bated breath.
The reason I wanted to bring this up is that I want to tell you that though we published authors may SEEM hard on an unpublished writer when we critique for them, the reality is that this process NEVER stops. When you get published, your work will be scrutinized even more than it is now. And to grow as a writer you have to be willing to EMBRACE the suggestions that come your way. I know it sounds about as appealing as hugging a porcupine, but it's all in the attitude. Writing should be a partnership with your editors and publishing house. As a writer, you don't always know best. The quicker you learn that, the more you'll grow as a writer.
Erin rightly pointed out that Leia's goal seemed a little fuzzy, that I could use her artistic outlet of making kapa as more of an integral part of the inward process that's taking place in her life, that there were places I could deepen the emotional impact of a scene--all things that will take Dangerous Depths to the next level.
I don't know about you, but I want to climb the levels high enough to get a nosebleed. I say, "God bless my editors. May their number increase and spread to bless other authors."
Colleen
9 Comments:
I know when you gave me some edits to do I was overwhelmed. Now that I've done them I'm so much happier with the beginning of my wip. It's made me excited to see how much better others can help me make my book. Hopefully each time we get those edits or advice we learn from them and next time won't make the same mistakes. I can totally see why you love the editing process!
She is crazy, don't let her calm and seemingly sweet email fool you. She's a glutton for punishment. She takes fourteen pages of edits, and sends them to me, like I too should be thrilled for all the work ahead of her!
Don't get me wrong, you cannot get better in this business without some HARD editing, and I'm all for that, but to enjoy it? It's sick, sick I tell you!
I keep giving myself little goals to celebrate. Like this week, I hit the 2/3 mark on the book I'm writing for Bethany. Soon I'll hit 3/4, and so on. Thanks A LOT, Colleen, for reminding me that 'done' will actually mean 'just getting started!' Big sigh here. (I'm still smiling, though...)
The rewrites are coming, Julie. LOL But that's the fun part!
Colleen actually squeals with excitement when she gets her edits--all 14 pages of them, and I'm one of those friends who thinks she's, well, a little nutso. Don't get me wrong, I LOVE making the book better, but the process is downright painful for an organized person like myself because editing is messy, messy, messy! But oh the joy when it's done and BETTER for all the effort!
LOL.....Sabrina, wait til she tells you to rewrite the entire first 30K of your ms to make it better! LOL My couch took a serious kicking for that! But I reopened her comments, found myself nodding, and got all excited and dove right in and did the major rewrite. The result? Well, it placed 3rd in the NT this past year, so I'm pretty certain Colleen's advice was right on! Now, I have to say, I get all excited when I get crits back. I can't wait to see where I hit the mark, or where I fell short of it. I guess I don't think Colleen's crazy for getting all squealish over edits. I would be, too. :)
Okay, I don't know if I'd be THAT excited to get a revision letter, but thanks Colleen, for the insight. I can relate, because I got a bunch of editing suggestions from my agent that made me suddenly go bling! I can make my story so much better if I do that!
Funny how I didn't see that until someone else pointed it out to me, eh? But now I'm excited because it's like cleaning my dirty wedding ring and seeing more sparkle that I didn't realize was missing.
Camy
I love edits, too. Maybe I don't jump up and down for joy, but I love the chance to go back in and make a story better, stronger.
I'll never forget reading a blurb from Emma Thompson, screenwriter for Sense and Sensiblity. She said they rewrote it about 14 times. Earned her an Oscar.
So, you go, Colleen. I'm with ya. Rachel
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