I am a avid reader and a romance writer, but one thing that is becoming abundantly clear as I continue down this Road to Publication, is I am not an editor.
This is something I am learning the more I work at this 'aspiring author' dream of mine.
What's interesting to me about this particular realization is that, an editor was something I had on the list of interesting and possible careers choices while growing up. I always have loved reading and often, easily zero in on errors in already published works, and would think to myself: I could do that job. It's not that I can't edit. I enjoy the editing, as I am writing the story and rewrite and improve on the interactions, details and pace of my scenes.
Perhaps if my interest is primarily editing, then it wouldn't feel like such a tediously monumental and endless task. As I try to edit the first draft of my current manuscript, Tumble Into Me, I find myself really begrudging this task as it pulls me away from what I really love: writing. I feel as though precious time I could be spend meeting new characters and developing their stories, is drained by the necessary time spent editing, and re-editing this draft.
What's most frustrating is, the further along I get in the editing process of this novel, the more words I've added, while I work in much needed transitions (the bain of my 'editorial' existence). When all is said and done, I will need to do another edit of this draft, to scale back down all this extra girth. The idea of getting though to the end of this editing pass, only to have to start back into it, leaves me grimacing. I'm not sure I can withstand another jaunt through that jungle. "Suck it up" right? If I want to turn 'aspiring author' into 'published author' - I have to do what I gotta do, I know that. It's just, when something begins to feel forced, the interest tends to wander and what could wind up suffering is the end result of the project itself. I don't want that.
Another realization has come out of this editing process, and that is, as a hopeful soon-to-be-published author *fingers crossed*, there are many avenues a writer might choose from, to share their words with the world: some may choose self-publishing, perhaps as online formats, others might choose indie publishers or aim for the big publishing houses. One thing is very clear to me: I don't think I would make it far as a self-published author. Why? Because of how much more editing is required. It's true that some people self-published imperfect, error-laden works, we've all seen them in one format or another, and while that's okay for them, it wouldn't be okay for me; and by no means am I a perfectionist!
I am a reader, first and foremost, and as a reader, I know when I stumble across typos and obvious grammatical no-nos, it snags my attention, even if momentarily. But it is noticed. It briefly takes my attention from the story line and I wouldn't want that for my readers. I much rather them stay captivated with the story, and not distracted by errors which were overlooked.
What this means is, when the time comes to query (soon, very soon!) and hopefully connect with someone interested in my romance stories, I will hope to establish a great author/agent relationship as well as, wait for it...an editor! That sounds like a dream team to me.
What are some of your experiences or realizations of editing, perhaps tips to overcome the tediousness of it and somehow reach the end, I'd love to hear them all!
This is something I am learning the more I work at this 'aspiring author' dream of mine.
What's interesting to me about this particular realization is that, an editor was something I had on the list of interesting and possible careers choices while growing up. I always have loved reading and often, easily zero in on errors in already published works, and would think to myself: I could do that job. It's not that I can't edit. I enjoy the editing, as I am writing the story and rewrite and improve on the interactions, details and pace of my scenes.
Perhaps if my interest is primarily editing, then it wouldn't feel like such a tediously monumental and endless task. As I try to edit the first draft of my current manuscript, Tumble Into Me, I find myself really begrudging this task as it pulls me away from what I really love: writing. I feel as though precious time I could be spend meeting new characters and developing their stories, is drained by the necessary time spent editing, and re-editing this draft.
What's most frustrating is, the further along I get in the editing process of this novel, the more words I've added, while I work in much needed transitions (the bain of my 'editorial' existence). When all is said and done, I will need to do another edit of this draft, to scale back down all this extra girth. The idea of getting though to the end of this editing pass, only to have to start back into it, leaves me grimacing. I'm not sure I can withstand another jaunt through that jungle. "Suck it up" right? If I want to turn 'aspiring author' into 'published author' - I have to do what I gotta do, I know that. It's just, when something begins to feel forced, the interest tends to wander and what could wind up suffering is the end result of the project itself. I don't want that.
Another realization has come out of this editing process, and that is, as a hopeful soon-to-be-published author *fingers crossed*, there are many avenues a writer might choose from, to share their words with the world: some may choose self-publishing, perhaps as online formats, others might choose indie publishers or aim for the big publishing houses. One thing is very clear to me: I don't think I would make it far as a self-published author. Why? Because of how much more editing is required. It's true that some people self-published imperfect, error-laden works, we've all seen them in one format or another, and while that's okay for them, it wouldn't be okay for me; and by no means am I a perfectionist!
I am a reader, first and foremost, and as a reader, I know when I stumble across typos and obvious grammatical no-nos, it snags my attention, even if momentarily. But it is noticed. It briefly takes my attention from the story line and I wouldn't want that for my readers. I much rather them stay captivated with the story, and not distracted by errors which were overlooked.
What this means is, when the time comes to query (soon, very soon!) and hopefully connect with someone interested in my romance stories, I will hope to establish a great author/agent relationship as well as, wait for it...an editor! That sounds like a dream team to me.
What are some of your experiences or realizations of editing, perhaps tips to overcome the tediousness of it and somehow reach the end, I'd love to hear them all!
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