Notes from copyediting

[pbray]

This is the sixth time I've had this copyeditor, and I have to report that this is the lightest series of edits I've ever had. The queries took up less than one page.

I wish I felt that this was a sign that I've grown as a writer. Instead the pessimist in me is convinced that she missed giant gaping problems, so I've been staring at each individual word.

There are still some parts of the book that I like, which is a rarity at this stage of the process. I cracked up while reading the scene of Josan translating a poem--his life is very much in danger but at this particular moment he's ignoring everything else because he's obsessed with getting his terms correct. lnhammer I was thinking of you while I wrote this part--because I knew that if this were your book you'd have been able to come up with a nifty poem to stick in this spot, instead of the careful dodge* that I had to do.

Anyway, one last skim through at lunch looking at all the spots that are still tape-flagged, then off to mail it after work.

*Note: if the circumstances call for poetry and you don't feel up to the task, then make it clear that the lines included are a translation of the original, and have your viewpoint character mock how bad it is.

Comments

[icedrake.livejournal.com]

Note: if the circumstances call for poetry and you don't feel up to the task, then make it clear that the lines included are a translation of the original, and have your viewpoint character mock how bad it is.

Ooh, I *love* that approach!

[pbray.livejournal.com]

Being a pro is all about knowing your weaknesses, and how to compensate.

[sylvia-rachel.livejournal.com]

Awesome. So awesome.

[janni.livejournal.com]

Yeah, I think of lnhammer when I need to insert poetry into a manuscript, too. (And then often go to him whining, "How do I fix this?" :-))

[pbray.livejournal.com]

And now that I know he's a physics geek (He has a Master's Degree in... SCIENCE!) I can think of him when the physics go oh so terribly wrong :-)

[deannahoak.livejournal.com]

The more accustomed a CE and author get to each other's style, the fewer edits there are. Don't fret. :)

[pbray.livejournal.com]

Thanks for the reassurance. I *think* that everything's okay, and couldn't find any glaring errors.

Plus it's book three of a trilogy, so by now we've both agreed on all the special capitalization rules and how to handle my invented terms :-)

[sylvia-rachel.livejournal.com]

deannahoak is wise. :)

[jjschwabach.livejournal.com]

However, many of us are perfectly willing to read over the MS if you feel like you're missing some huge problem. It's no trouble. Honest.
And I can keep a secret, I swear...

[pbray.livejournal.com]

Hmm... why do I suspect a plot? :-)

Thanks for the offer, but I think everything is good and have shipped the manuscript off to New York so I can enjoy the holidays with a clean conscience.

Where clean conscience is defined as coming up with a new book proposal....

[jjschwabach.livejournal.com]

You can't blame a girl for trying...

After all, when Ysobel becomes Empress...?

When Josan reveals his true nature....?
(Watches Tricia's Buddha-like smile.)

I wish I had the problem that my publisher couldn't wait for my next.

[pbray.livejournal.com]

Well the current issue is deciding just what the "next" will consist of... hopefully there will be good news in the New Year.

[jjschwabach.livejournal.com]

Hard cover!

Paying you so much money JK Rowling will turn greener than the cover of Half-Blood Prince!

Book tours that drag you to Hawaii! In January!

[pbray.livejournal.com]

Hey, I'd settle for Hawaii in August :-)

[jjschwabach.livejournal.com]

True that.

[larryhammer]

Note: if the circumstances call for poetry and you don't feel up to the task, then make it clear that the lines included are a translation of the original, and have your viewpoint character mock how bad it is.

This is actually a fruitful approach even if you feel up for writing an actually good poem. This way you can have it both ways.

---L.