Well,
I've stepped onto the Merry-Go-Round again. Not that I don't like the cycle of editing, submitting, editing, line edits, post line edits, final line edits and post final line edits, it's just--sigh--boring.
I mean think about it. You spend X number of days/weeks/months slaving over a new story/book. Every emotion twisted and contorted as you battle out scene after scene with your characters, only to finish and have to go through it all over again. Only this time you have to explain your motivations for why this part needs to be kept and sobbing over parts you've been told need to be cut out. Not that I really sob over losing scenes--hiss, scream, and argue, but no real sobbing.
The editing of a book, to me, resembles a Merry-Go-Round. You get on, select your horse, or cat, or unicorn, or which ever mythical beast floats your boat, and wait for the ride to begin. Then it's up and down, and round and round, like foreplay without a climax. Fun while it's happening, but not really satisfying.
Perhaps it's just me. I love the angst and emotion and the rollercoaster ride of each new story that trips through my fertile mind, I just don't get the zing from the editing aspect that I do from the creation.
Tell me, authors, how do you feel about this particular part of our jobs? So as not to leave out the readers, I'm curious to know what you've thought a writer's life was like?
8 comments:
Great analogy! I'm not sure anyone really likes the edit stage. That's where having a great editor is vital. The editor must love and understand your work, be able to fight for what's important and yet make you understand why that scene or that phrase you love has to go.
But, once it's done, what a relief!
You catch your breath and toddle off to the next roller coaster ride.
Foreplay without a climax *chuckles* that is one of the best lines of heard to discribe it. LOL.
I actually don't mind the editing. *Shrugs shoulders* what can I say... "I'm weird" (Jonny Depp tone to "you're weird" from The Chocolate Factory) *Grins*
My merry go round is the query letter and synopsis. No matter what I do, I feel like I'm spinning in circles with those two.
Some of us MUST like it, because we go onto become editors!
Honestly, being an editor has given me a good appreciation for why certain things hit the cutting room floor. Carving away extra bits until just the pristine story is left is a lot like being a sculptor, and it's gratifying to step back when it's all finished.
Still, it's always tougher to edit your own work. When something I really love has to go bye-bye, I soften the blow by sticking it in a slush file. Might come in handy for a later project, or at least it delays the thought of treasured words hitting the trashcan.
When an author writes for several different publishers, he or she is in for a surprise from each editor that they work with. One editor may like a certain phrase that you use. If you happen to slip it into another story by accident, the next editor may tell you it doesn't fit the story.
I just love J the editor at eXtasybooks. You couldn't ask for a more easygoing editor and I've worked with a few. We just finished work on my soon to be released Elevator Ride to Ecstasy coming out on July 15th.
So far I've been lucky. I've had really easygoing editors and the editing process was a breeze. I don't expect it always to be the case, though. Being a professional editor myself, I know what it takes. I have realized, to my consternation, that often I miss so many things in my books that I would watch out for in a client's. A critique partner just told me to mind my tenses - go figure! I don't like to edit my own work, but I know I have to. It's tough to find anyone who sees things as you do. Being that I have a literary background (rather than genre/category books), which requires a completely different take on language and form, I know I must have that particular editor/crit partner who understands and yes, even appreciates, my "queeriness" LOL. I like feedback though - as long as a person doesn't only tell me what they feel is wrong with the book, but also why they love it.
In the stylistic sense, I'm a firm believer in artistic license - and sometimes I insert things which may not be "proper" but sound so much better (to me - here's the key phrase: "to me" LOL). It is like creating a melody in music. Let's say jazz - jazz is great because of the improv and all the rule bending. Which is why it's different strokes for different folks. In the publishing world, one editor may be a stickler for form, another may see your vision and embrace it. What can I say, it's like an M. Knight Shayamalan movie... you never know what's gonna happen.
Hi Qwillia,
It's so funny that your blog should come along now because you encapsulated exactly how I feel. However, my editor is awesome and we have a very symbiotic relationship. I used to have an editor who carried a red pencil in her purse and she used it freely. It was disheartening to see red all over my words. I have learned to stand up for what I beliive is important. I pick my battles. Thankfully with my new editor, there hasn't been one...yet. LOL. Kudos on a really accurate, wonderful blog.
AJ
I too love your analogy. I don't mind the editing stage. I want my work to be the best that it can and read smoothly so I usually agree with the editors. I haven't had any drastic deletion of scenes, characters, etc. though so I've been quite lucky thus far.
Kissa, who can't sleep tonight...
Wow,
all those comments are great. I think you've all encapsulated my feelings so well. I think all of you (lynn, lisa, aj, c.a.,et al) are right, it depends upon the editor and I lucked out with the editor I got at Loose Id. G is a fantastic editor who is very supportive and is aware of the vision in my stories.
Ironically, I did have an editor at one time who was very critical--so AJ, I know what you mean about the red pencil. (And my apologies to those authors who've had me as an editor.)
The editing of my own work is the yawner for me, but editing someone else's story! Fun!
Again, thank you all for the comments and good luck on your next books guys.
Qwillia
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