Revisions

How many times do we need to revise our books before it gets published? That is a question no one can really answer.

When I first wrote Gift of Life, I put it away for about a month or so then re-read it, making note to save the file as GOL2. That’s what we all do right? I mean naming our files. I made some changes to the story itself, and put it away again. The next time I opened it, I read some things and thought, “Ew. What was I thinking?” And made more changes. Throughout all of this, I wasn’t keeping a timeline of what was going on in my story, yet the revisions continued. It took a while to straighten my timeline out, and almost two years later, thinking I was ready to go on and have someone edit for me, I sat down and read it again. After eighteen (Yes that many) revisions, I was still not 100 percent happy with it, but it was at least ready for an editor to take a look at it.
Five months and two more revisions, it was ready. Yay! I thought. It was just published three months later, and I bet if I sat down and read it again, I would find more things I don’t like about it.

So, there is not a real answer to this question. So my advice is, do not rush to publish. Take at least a year on your manuscript (If it is a full length novel anyway) and make sure you don’t hate what you’ve written after someone has downloaded it. Then it is too late.

I read my novels all the time and find things that were missed even after a third or fourth edit. Of course by this time, the errors are minor. A missed end quote, period or comma (Boo! Hiss!). But because I publish electronically I can fix those without any real damage to my story (Yay!)

Well, until next time,
Kayresia

Editors

The topic today is editors. A phenomenal people who have a way of looking at your book entirely differently than you did. I will most definitely agree with anyone who wants to publish a book, needs one. And forgive me; I can only speak on fiction, seeing that is my area of “expertise” if you will.

My first published novel, though a good story, was riddled with both spelling and grammatical errors. Because I published way before I should have, I learned quickly that I wasn’t the English genius I thought I was. Some of the reviews treaded lightly. They offered polite, constructive criticism, encouraging me to continue. Other reviews were just nasty. Totally beating up both my story and my ego. I digress.

Your editor is your friend no matter how much they may seem to be against you. My advice? Listen. Okay, fight if you must, but they will win on most points in the end. Remember that they are the one looking at your manuscript with new eyes. There is no way that you will foresee what they will ask. You will be grouchy with them at times, and maybe even angry. But remember, they are looking to publish the best of you. Yeah, you paid them to do that, but if you have a good story, they will also find themselves invested by the sheer nature of your words.

My advice? Find a good one. I promise you will be rewarded by the hard work both of you put into your manuscript.

Until next time,
Kayresia