10/23/2023 — I was going to start with some publishing updates, but I’m afraid they are few and far between! Editing on my end goes on (albeit slowly), and I’m awaiting news from my cover designer on the second draft.
I had planned on this post being a few, fun covers designed by me, myself, and I… I may have overestimated my Canva skills. It’s quite humiliating. Sorry to say that you won’t be seeing them ever. Instead, let’s make a list!
Five Things I Hate About Editing
1. It takes time
Even if I have all the changes noted in one file, I have to replicate them in a separate file down to the T. I’m talking the smallest details, like making sure I didn’t miss a period. My eyes might suffer at the end of this. I also have over 2,000 edits/comments to comb through in a 470 page document. That’s a lot of things!
2. I need to relearn grammar
I can hear you thinking: “But you have an editor! Don’t they fix your grammar?” Sure, editors can do copy edits (grammar, syntax, etc.). However, the whole process goes smoother and I can focus on more plot-based edits if I already have a strong grasp on grammar. I won’t lie—I had to do a good amount of relearning to get a solid grip on my grammar skills. Anyone else know the difference between an em and an en dash? I can confidently tell you that I now know this information.
3. I get side-tracked
Yes, this one is partially my own fault. The more I edit, the more ideas I have that could be added into To Favor Blood & Flowers. For the most part, these ideas are not significant enough to add them into the plot of book one. I’ll occasionally jot these ideas down into my “cut” folder just to get it out of my head, but they won’t make it into the final copy.
4. I have to practice saying no
With self-publishing, I don’t have to make every edit my editor suggests. It’s quite nice to have the flexibility! Editors often have important insights and more experience with books, but I—as the author—have final say. Sometimes, I struggle to say “no” to my editor and disregard some edit suggestions. I’ll sometimes leave things unedited and flag them to check on later. If I come back and still want to keep as-is, then I’ll make a comment and move on. Even though my editor is a lovely human being whose knowledge I value, it can be really intimidating to say no to her.
5. The timeline has to be solidified
Coming up with a timeline for my book has been a frustrating aspect I was not expecting! When the final rounds of edits are being done, I can’t be altering character’s ages or changing how long it takes them to get from point A to point B. I have to be consistent about the time it takes to travel by horse, by foot, by sea. The timeline also comes into play with younger character’s ages, like Carina’s siblings Lusine and Manco. My current graduate program focuses on child development, so it would be sad and a little embarrassing if my younger characters weren’t developmentally accurate. It takes me a bit of time to figure out their ages at certain points in the story, then I have to make sure the way I portrayed them in scenes matches their cognitive functioning. I know, I know. I don’t have to do this, but it’s important to me that these characters come to life in a way that’s believable!
And with that, I continue edits! I wanted to make my list “10 Things I Hate About Editing” (like the amazing 90s movie), but it turns out that I couldn’t think of 10 things. I think I’ll take that as a good thing. Can’t wait until To Favor Blood & Flowers is perfect for you all.
Much love and happy reading,
Gail ❤
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