Just as I’m getting into a new book, the copy-edited ms for the book that will be out next Feb, A Lady of Scandal, comes back with an urgent need for attention. (It has to be back in NY THIS Friday.) So I drop everything, of course, to read the ms and make any changes. Fortunately, the editor has asked for almost no changes, and–a rarity–the copy editor only has a few questions. But I still have to read every page– first, to be sure that I’m happy with it, still, and second to see if I agree with any changes the copy editor has made. (Should I mention that I’m–ahem–something of a perfectionist?)
So far I’ve gotten through about 150 pages and I’m (sorry, no false modesty here) thoroughly enjoying the story and amazed at how it all came together because I remember when I wondered if it would, and I’m at that stage in the new book when I’m juggling all the strands of the story and hoping they will fit and interweave as I want them to and wondering where the #$@# the middle of my story is hiding, and how the mystery and the love story will balance and. . . and now I can go back and see, yes, the stories usually do work out, even when, in the first few pages, I may not see how it will all work. . . but the story will come together. . . the characters will show me what they have to do and where they want to go. . . because they always do. So panic is not really called for, and when the story really gets going, I just go with it. . . and having written, by this time, a lot of books, I know it will work. The sexy hero and the strong heroine will take over, as they always do, they’re show me where the book has to go, they will surprise me, happily, and hopefully also the readers. . . So I’ll finish the copy-edited ms, try to remember that I go through the same stages with every book, and send this baby back and then plunge into the new story, and wait for the miracle to happen. . . one more time!
Nicole Byrd
Nicole,
Glad to hear you’re surviving edits. I had to smile when you said you read the story over one last time, even though your editor asked for minimal changes. I do the same thing.
Look forward to reading A LADY OF SCANDAL (great title BTW)!
Julia
Comment by Julia Templeton — September 19, 2006 @ 7:13 pm
Thanks, Julia. It’s hard to let them go, isn’t it! We keep wanting to tinker just a little. Change this word, that sentence–
Nicole
Comment by Nicole Byrd — September 19, 2006 @ 9:52 pm
Great post, Nicole. I’m so torn when page proofs come. The juggling aspect of being a professional writer just isn’t easy (having to drop everything you’re working on today to review a book you finished many months ago). On the one hand, it’s gratifying to read the completely finished and typeset novel (enjoy the work as a reader), but on the other hand, there’s the pressure of having to act as proofreader/editor on this last pass to make things perfect, which is, let’s face it, impossible! Looking forward to checking out A Lady of Scandal (great title) when she hits the stands in Feb!
Luv,
Cleo
Comment by Cleo — September 20, 2006 @ 5:51 pm
Thanks! For sure they never end up perfect, sigh. Always another mistake that gets past me, or another word I would have changed,
you have this vision and you never quite get there–but it’s certainly fun to try–
Nicole
Comment by Nicole Byrd — September 21, 2006 @ 3:19 pm