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I thought when you submitted a manuscript, agents and publishers cut you some slack regarding editing because you are the writer, not the English teacher. I thought all I had to do was my best and they’d understand. I thought wrong, wrong, wrong. (I meant to repeat those words.) After receiving my manuscript back from a hired-by-me editor, I now know my best sucks.
When the edited attachment popped
up in my inbox, to say I was shocked by all the read lines and notes is an
understatement. Feeling stupid and unworthy sums it up. The repeated words,
lack of correct punctuation, and sentiments which in my mind were touching,
turned out to be unclear left me feeling devastated by my sense of inability.
I wanted to rush in and fix
everything even though I didn’t have a clue how the computer editing program
worked. And then the enormity of what was ahead had me wanting to set aside the
whole damned thing. Why fix it. It’s crap. It’s shit slashed by read lines. I was depressed.
I would have shelved the entire
book but for two reasons:
I drained what was left in my
writing-account to pay the editor. I saved that money as an investment in
myself. I did not want all that effort, all those words from the columns I’ve
written, (which paid a pittance), to come to nothing. And then there is the
emotional connection. The effort and gumption it takes to open myself up counts
for something. My personal kind of writing puts me on display. It ain’t easy
but sometimes you just have to say what you have to say.I waited.
I took a deep breath.
I went slowly back in, one line at a time.
I found my footing.
With each word, line, paragraph and page I am learning.
The process is making me a better writer.
While implementing the edits I’m finding parts which are building my confidence. Some bring me to my knees because I am so proud of them. The tears I have shed related to a baby lost to miscarriage, my wonderful daughters, my amazing mother, Sandy Hook, and the love and loss of a special canine-companion (these are a few among many) have convinced me to proceed. This process instills in me the absolute honor I feel by creating this thirty-year record of why I write what I write AND why I wrote what I wrote and what happened after.
Will it sell?
The articles, columns and essays already have.
Wrapped in “why” will they sell again?
?
I’m sold on finishing.
I’m on it.
I'm sure this post deserves red lines. Spare me.
When was the last time editing stopped one of your projects?
