"Is it a bad thing if I fell asleep while reading my own story?" another author asked me recently.

I know what she's talking about. Sure, the first time you read your manuscript it's semi-interesting even though you know what happens around every corner. Sloppy writing, but pretty interesting stuff here, you think.

The 2nd time through, you're busy tweaking and fixing and rearranging. Oh, yeah. Much better. This is kinda fun!

The 3rd time through you're starting to appreciate some of the turns of phrases. Great similie--did I really write that?

The 4th time through. If I can just get through this scene to the more exciting one that happens on page 184, I'll be fine.

The 800th time through. Someone put me out of my misery. Please, please, please don't make me read it again!

And then the editor sends it back with corrections. You make the changes and go back through it. It's been a while since you've read it so it's not quite so stale. The changes made it better Hey, my editor is a genious! You send it off, brush off your hands, and hope you are done, done, done.

Then the copy edits arrive. How did I miss this? And this? And this? Thank you, God for editors! You make the changes read the manuscript and check for mistakes. This is where the sleep happens. Note to self: do not read copy edits at night. Or during mid-afternoon slump. Or in the morning before caffeine. Or without caffeine EVER. Finally, you've slugged through the thing. You send it off, and hope you are done, done, done.

Then the galleys arrive. But you don't need them. You can recite your entire manuscript verbatim to anyone who wants to listen. Of course, no one does, especially not you. You slog through the words anyway trying, and failing, to see it with a fresh eye. But mostly you're hoping and praying your editor was right when she said it made her laugh and cry, because by now, it only makes you fall into a deep coma-like sleep.

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