Starting the first editing process!
Okay, so after a long day at the park (pictures to come later) I get to sit down and start the first edit of the book. I like this part, because it is me just going through the VERY rough draft and deciding which parts work, and which parts suck, which parts need to get reworked, and which parts are just missing stuff!
I think I like this part because *I* am the one doing the editing. It makes me feel like I am in total control of the book, and I didn’t really feel like that when I was writing. I am sure it is a beginner author thing, but it was more like the book was in control of ME. The book was deciding where it was going next, and the characters had minds of their own! Now, I am able to go through and decide which stories need to be told, and which stories are silly!
This part of the book is scary though… because now… it’s written, it’s done, and some day it could actually be a real book. It’s scary to think that my chances of ever seeing it in print are SO small! But, taking a risk is what it’s all about, right?
Congrats! A lot of editors say you should put it aside for a couple of weeks (or even months) to get a little distance from it. Were you planning on doing that after you go through it once? Just curious. I admire the fact that you finished an entire novel. I haven’t been able to glue myself to a chair enough to do that yet. That, and I haven’t figured out my story yet. Heh.
Absolutely…that and sheer dogged determination! In revisions too. UG. Have you read Donald Maass’ Writing the Breakout Novel yet?