Endless Editing

There’s something a little twisted about editing. I’ve received pages of notes from my editor, which feels totally intimidating. Slowly I’ve been working through them, thinking about them, trying to understand the problems they’re highlighting, and deciding how I want to fix them. And yes, I do want to fix pretty much every one of them, because I have a really good editor, even though I’d be much happier in the short term if she just showered me with praise and published the book. And there’s the twist. When I’m done, when we’re done, the story will be much better. So much better. And I will be full of praise for my dearly beloved editor who puts so much time and thought and vision into my story, helping it sing.

I’ve finally reached that turning point when I understand where she’s heading with her comments, and what I want to do with them. I’m still intimidated by the mass of work I need to do, but at least now I’m working to the end product, a much better story.

I just need to remember this every time I receive criticism for a story.

Maureen