Feelings, Something More Than Feelings…...

Well. I hit send.

After seven entire weeks of non-stop edits on my novel, based on the recommendations of a freelance editor whose opinions I value and respect, that book is out of here. At least, for now.

You may be mystified—as I was—by what’s known as an “editorial letter,” and the accompanying 1500 comments and corrections (give or take) that might appear in “track edits” mode in your Word document.

I’d never seen one of these letters up close and personal and let me tell you, for the first week or so after receiving one, it FEELS personal. But then you settle down to the hard work of deciphering exactly what the editor is saying, and doing your level best to bring your manuscript up to more publishable standards.

It stops being about feelings. You don’t have the luxury for feelings anymore. My editor only used one phrase that made me tear up a little. I hid my emotions from Doug until he started using the EXACT SAME PHRASE when acting as a reader for me.

The phrase? “Is this really NECESSARY?” Okay, call me immature, but every time I saw that phrase, to me it looked like “Are you really NECESSARY?” I finally told Doug to never use that phrase again under any circumstances, even if he was objecting to me spending $5 million on the McMansion in forclosure the next county over.

In the beginning of the seven-week stretch, though, it was all about feelings. My editor started out in the first page of the 22-page single-spaced letter by saying that I have a “FANTASTIC voice!!!!!” My heart swelled with a tad more pride than it had a right to. Several pages into the letter, she indicated that my story would be much better served if I could somehow make MY voice subservient to the voices of the actual characters.

See? There’s always a catch.

I felt quite complimented—and yes, even vindicated (a joyful feeling!)—several more pages into the letter when the editor wrote that my female lead and another female character each had very distinctive personalities and voices. Deflation set in when she added that each of the females had a male counterpart who sounded just like she did!

As I wound up dealing with the 1500 (count ‘em!) edits, I emailed the editor with my thanks for her tremendous help, expressing my feelings of triumph over handling so many changes to my manuscript.

She wrote back, incredulous. “FIFTEEN HUNDRED? I had NO IDEA there were so MANY!”

Which made me feel all, like, “Has any other author on the history of the PLANET faced such a large number of changes?”

Suffice it to say, I survived. And today I feel relief. For the moment, the book is out of my hands.

And now I feel like I’ve missed my fallible readers VERY much. And I feel like I’m going to be blogging a lot more, starting today.

Posted by Katy on 09/01/08 at 01:21 PM

Fallible Comments...

I can't express how proud I am of you, Katy. You are truly an inspiration! :) Love you.
Posted by Bridget on 09/01/08 at 02:30 PM
Praise God that you've finished your editing. (Or would survived be a better word?) It's hard taking corrections on writing, no? For me it's even worse when they come from my relatives. Glad that you made it, and that I can read your posts again. Blessings!
Posted by Gracie on 09/01/08 at 03:39 PM
Woo hoo! How awesome to have that all done. And I am looking forward to hearing from you more often at Fallible. And to seeing your book in print. :)
Posted by Carrie K. on 09/01/08 at 04:31 PM
Oh yes. Welcome to the big leagues, dear one. I've had WORSE letters. And they always hurt. But I'm always glad I listened after all the hard work of editing. Hang in there, and revel in the SEND button.
Posted by Mary DeMuth on 09/01/08 at 06:35 PM
Congratulations!! What a feeling to know that you've survived such a tedious process. Keep that keyboard singing.
Posted by Jennifer L. Griffith on 09/01/08 at 06:48 PM
Bridgie--You are such a supportive and sweet sister. Thank you!!

Gracie--I used to have a very hard time with my husband commenting on my work, even though I ASKED for his input. That's all changed!! I have far fewer problems if I just ask for his help to begin with....

Carrie K--Thank you for your prayers! You mean a lot to me, lady. I am going to turn into an uber-blogger now, I promise. OK, maybe not uber. But frequent!

Mary--This was one of the more intense experiences of my life, work-wise! I did go way beyond the edits suggested to make story changes that I realized had to happen. Writing new scenes, deleting old ones, etc. I think that's what took me so long. But MAN. Your encouragement, my dear BFF, has meant the world to me....

Jennifer--Thank you so much!! I am reading your blog about you being an adventurer. I need to hoist myself out of my "writing recliner" and have a big old adventure!!! Any ideas for an old chick?
Posted by Katy on 09/02/08 at 08:54 AM
Katy, COngratulations!! fro persevering through so much. I am sure that it will be wonderful and I cannot wait to read the finished product!!
Posted by Sandi Thompson on 09/02/08 at 09:32 AM
Using my post-Gustav internet time allotment to say, BRAVO, KATY!" for finishing. Treat yourself to a pool-full of sugar-free Jello!!
Posted by Christa Allan on 09/02/08 at 12:42 PM
Just passing by, tripped over your site really. Still, looks nice.
Posted by Linusingelin on 09/03/08 at 04:25 AM
Sandi--You are a loyal someday-reader and I appreciate you so much! One of these days, I'll write my Irish historical....

Christa--Wow! You're on a generator! Hope things get back to normal down there soon! And thank you....
Posted by Katy on 09/03/08 at 01:49 PM
Thanks, Brandon, and great to hear from you. Hope your business is thriving up in Oregon (with or without gold-ups).
Posted by Orgu on 10/08/08 at 04:34 AM
Astroloji, Tarot, tarot kartları, horoskop, yıldız haritası, yükselen burç, burç, burcu, burç yorumları, burçlar, fal, gelecek, kehanet, gezegen, element, Zodyak.Site üzerinden astroloji ve tarot kursu alabilirsiniz.
Posted by astroloji on 12/30/08 at 08:01 AM
thank you..
Posted by güvenlik kamerası on 02/10/09 at 04:15 PM
vers thanks
Posted by Canlı TV izleme, Canlı Tv izle, tvizle, tv izle, on 02/23/09 at 03:23 AM
Amazing accomplishment! The one thing I can share is something I believe in so strongly, I trademarked it.
Posted by aion account on 08/02/09 at 03:10 AM

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Personal blog of christian writer & fallible mom Katy McKenna Raymond in Kansas City, Missouri Katy is represented by Greg Johnson at WordServe Literary Read more Katy at LateBoomer.net Follow Katy on Twitter Follow Katy on Facebook 123 Recent Posts Try Becoming Brenda Starr Off Beat Scattered That’s It So I’ve Finally Signed With An Agent. Now What? The Spoon Sciatica Sweetheart A Woman’s Train of Thought Has No Caboose However much we own, we are all still living on borrowed time After all, when restaurants shrink portions, they don’t shrink prices. As with everything in life, balance is key. Slow down, you move too fast… Yeah, I know. I have issues. Search Advanced Search Syndicate Login E me at katy @ ngenius.com	Feelings, Something More Than Feelings…... Well. I hit send. After seven entire weeks of non-stop edits on my novel, based on the recommendations of a freelance editor whose opinions I value and respect, that book is out of here. At least, for now. You may be mystified—as I was—by what’s known as an “editorial letter,” and the accompanying 1500 comments and corrections (give or take) that might appear in “track edits” mode in your Word document. I’d never seen one of these letters up close and personal and let me tell you, for the first week or so after receiving one, it FEELS personal. But then you settle down to the hard work of deciphering exactly what the editor is saying, and doing your level best to bring your manuscript up to more publishable standards. It stops being about feelings. You don’t have the luxury for feelings anymore. My editor only used one phrase that made me tear up a little. I hid my emotions from Doug until he started using the EXACT SAME PHRASE when acting as a reader for me. The phrase? “Is this really NECESSARY?” Okay, call me immature, but every time I saw that phrase, to me it looked like “Are you really NECESSARY?” I finally told Doug to never use that phrase again under any circumstances, even if he was objecting to me spending $5 million on the McMansion in forclosure the next county over. In the beginning of the seven-week stretch, though, it was all about feelings. My editor started out in the first page of the 22-page single-spaced letter by saying that I have a “FANTASTIC voice!!!!!” My heart swelled with a tad more pride than it had a right to. Several pages into the letter, she indicated that my story would be much better served if I could somehow make MY voice subservient to the voices of the actual characters. See? There’s always a catch. I felt quite complimented—and yes, even vindicated (a joyful feeling!)—several more pages into the letter when the editor wrote that my female lead and another female character each had very distinctive personalities and voices. Deflation set in when she added that each of the females had a male counterpart who sounded just like she did! As I wound up dealing with the 1500 (count ‘em!) edits, I emailed the editor with my thanks for her tremendous help, expressing my feelings of triumph over handling so many changes to my manuscript. She wrote back, incredulous. “FIFTEEN HUNDRED? I had NO IDEA there were so MANY!” Which made me feel all, like, “Has any other author on the history of the PLANET faced such a large number of changes?” Suffice it to say, I survived. And today I feel relief. For the moment, the book is out of my hands. And now I feel like I’ve missed my fallible readers VERY much. And I feel like I’m going to be blogging a lot more, starting today. Posted by Katy on 09/01/08 at 01:21 PM Fallible Comments... I can't express how proud I am of you, Katy. You are truly an inspiration! :) Love you. Posted by Bridget on 09/01/08 at 02:30 PM Praise God that you've finished your editing. (Or would survived be a better word?) It's hard taking corrections on writing, no? For me it's even worse when they come from my relatives. Glad that you made it, and that I can read your posts again. Blessings! Posted by Gracie on 09/01/08 at 03:39 PM Woo hoo! How awesome to have that all done. And I am looking forward to hearing from you more often at Fallible. And to seeing your book in print. :) Posted by Carrie K. on 09/01/08 at 04:31 PM Oh yes. Welcome to the big leagues, dear one. I've had WORSE letters. And they always hurt. But I'm always glad I listened after all the hard work of editing. Hang in there, and revel in the SEND button. Posted by Mary DeMuth on 09/01/08 at 06:35 PM Congratulations!! What a feeling to know that you've survived such a tedious process. Keep that keyboard singing. Posted by Jennifer L. Griffith on 09/01/08 at 06:48 PM Bridgie--You are such a supportive and sweet sister. Thank you!! Gracie--I used to have a very hard time with my husband commenting on my work, even though I ASKED for his input. That's all changed!! I have far fewer problems if I just ask for his help to begin with.... Carrie K--Thank you for your prayers! You mean a lot to me, lady. I am going to turn into an uber-blogger now, I promise. OK, maybe not uber. But frequent! Mary--This was one of the more intense experiences of my life, work-wise! I did go way beyond the edits suggested to make story changes that I realized had to happen. Writing new scenes, deleting old ones, etc. I think that's what took me so long. But MAN. Your encouragement, my dear BFF, has meant the world to me.... Jennifer--Thank you so much!! I am reading your blog about you being an adventurer. I need to hoist myself out of my "writing recliner" and have a big old adventure!!! Any ideas for an old chick? Posted by Katy on 09/02/08 at 08:54 AM Katy, COngratulations!! fro persevering through so much. I am sure that it will be wonderful and I cannot wait to read the finished product!! Posted by Sandi Thompson on 09/02/08 at 09:32 AM Using my post-Gustav internet time allotment to say, BRAVO, KATY!" for finishing. Treat yourself to a pool-full of sugar-free Jello!! Posted by Christa Allan on 09/02/08 at 12:42 PM Just passing by, tripped over your site really. Still, looks nice. Posted by Linusingelin on 09/03/08 at 04:25 AM Sandi--You are a loyal someday-reader and I appreciate you so much! One of these days, I'll write my Irish historical.... Christa--Wow! You're on a generator! Hope things get back to normal down there soon! And thank you.... Posted by Katy on 09/03/08 at 01:49 PM Thanks, Brandon, and great to hear from you. Hope your business is thriving up in Oregon (with or without gold-ups). Posted by Orgu on 10/08/08 at 04:34 AM Astroloji, Tarot, tarot kartları, horoskop, yıldız haritası, yükselen burç, burç, burcu, burç yorumları, burçlar, fal, gelecek, kehanet, gezegen, element, Zodyak.Site üzerinden astroloji ve tarot kursu alabilirsiniz. Posted by astroloji on 12/30/08 at 08:01 AM thank you.. Posted by güvenlik kamerası on 02/10/09 at 04:15 PM vers thanks Posted by Canlı TV izleme, Canlı Tv izle, tvizle, tv izle, on 02/23/09 at 03:23 AM Amazing accomplishment! The one thing I can share is something I believe in so strongly, I trademarked it. Posted by aion account on 08/02/09 at 03:10 AM Page 1 of 1 pages Commenting is not available in this weblog entry. Next entry: Unto The Third Generation Previous entry: Eau de Sugar-Free Jello << Back to main


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Personal blog of christianwriter & fallible momKaty McKenna Raymondin Kansas City, Missouri

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Feelings, Something More Than Feelings…...

Personal blog of christian
writer & fallible mom
Katy McKenna Raymond
in Kansas City, Missouri