Hello everyone,
Thank you for your daily messages asking about the children's book I'm working on. I'm glad so many people are curious about progress. And I am every bit as excited about eventually having a finished copy in my hands as you are! Books do take time though, because so much goes into creating them.
Thank you for your daily messages asking about the children's book I'm working on. I'm glad so many people are curious about progress. And I am every bit as excited about eventually having a finished copy in my hands as you are! Books do take time though, because so much goes into creating them.
"So what's going on with your book?"
I received an edit today so I've started reading through it. There are lot's of little details in red, a new comma here, a word crossed out there. I was trying to pay careful attention but then I realized I'd been sucked into the story. Yep, I was laughing loudly at something one of the characters said.
Editing is no laughing matter
The thing with editing is, you really need to pay attention to the markings on the page. You really can't drift off into the story, you can't let the words become invisible.... it's tricky because as I read they just seem to fade away, But I have a plan!
I remembered the advice I read in my favourite children's book writers group - reading backwards can help during the editing process.
So, I'm going to grab a coffee and start reading each chapter from finish to start - hopefully that will keep the words fixed on the page a little better!
So, I'm going to grab a coffee and start reading each chapter from finish to start - hopefully that will keep the words fixed on the page a little better!
Once I've finished reviewing the edit, the manuscript will go back to the editor. The editor will check over it again. The back and forth of the editing process goes on, and on, and on until everyone is satisfied that all the details are just as they should be... or they die of old age whichever comes first ahahahaha.
But seriously, editing is no laughing matter. My story for middle graders has already been through more rounds of editing than I can remember.
But seriously, editing is no laughing matter. My story for middle graders has already been through more rounds of editing than I can remember.
The editing process is an act of love.
Publishers, beta readers, editors, copy editors, and authors all work together with a great deal of patience and persistence because we love our readers.
We want to present our readers not with the rough rock that the story was at the beginning, but with the well cut polished ruby it becomes during the editing process.
We want to present our readers not with the rough rock that the story was at the beginning, but with the well cut polished ruby it becomes during the editing process.
Speaking of Rubies, here's a little picture I started playing around with while I was waiting to get the edit back.
And now I better get back to work, I hope you all have a wonderful weekend filled with moments as precious as hidden gems.
And now I better get back to work, I hope you all have a wonderful weekend filled with moments as precious as hidden gems.
PS. This website will be treated to many rounds of editing over time, at the moment it's still very much equivalent to rough draft in progress. I share it in this state so people can watch it grow and transform - it's my hope that people will be inspired by seeing it slowly improve, inch by inch, step by step....
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