One of the most interesting parts of doing a new edition of a book is being forced to re-read your own words. In this case, I’m re-reading an entire how-to book that I’ve written. I have to read each chapter and decide if I think it should be updated or kept as is.
But it also means a re-evaluation of my style, grammar and punctuation. As someone who tends to be a perfectionist, this is my idea of hell. I can see it now, Satan will stick me in a room with a pile of my own prose, and make me look over it again and again. It’s not that I dislike my writing or that I dislike the act of revision. Not at all. That’s not the case at all.
But I think in the case of most writers, we don’t go back and revisit the past. Once we’ve shipped the manuscript off, copyedited, answered questions and finally put it to rest, we don’t, by nature, go back and revisit what we’ve done. Once it hits the stores, we’re done with it and on to the next one.
But this revision process makes me take a look at a book I considered done. To that end, it’s a very different process. I like my style overall. It’s rather light, breezy, and chatty, all the things I used to yell at my family for being! So now I have become a part of that. As I grow older, I see more and more of my parents in me.. I even find myself spouting their old chestnuts.
Hopefully, I’ll keep those out of my latest edition. It’s back to editing and a winter deadline here.. We’re expecting more ice and snow here, so I could have the day off !!
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I hit a point with each novel that I’m so tired of it that I think no one could possibly ever like it. I guess that’s why we have editors — if it really does stink, they’ll tell us! : )
by Judy
on December 7th, 2007 at 7:50 am
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I’m starting to edit my ARC for The Unraveling of Violeta Bell this very afternoon — after I get a few hours of cabinet painting in. I hate reading my work after it’s finished, but it’s part of the process. And I don’t hate t
by C.R.
on December 7th, 2007 at 9:41 am
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Wel, that was weird. My reply submitted itself before I was finished. What I was saying was this, I don’t hate it quite as much as not being published. So, I’ll somehow struggle through it.
Now, on to Mr. paintbrush!
by C.R.
on December 7th, 2007 at 9:45 am
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I have no problem editing my own work. I sort of put on another hat and am able (usually) to look at my writing objectively. What I do hate…I was recently at a book signing where they asked me to read from one of my books. “Oh, no,” I said. “I don’t read.” Until they told me a group of college students from a creative writing class were there. As part of their class work, they had to listen to an author read. It was the most uncomfortable thing I’ve ever done! Figured I’d read 11 pages, stopped at 4. Told them they could ask any questions and I’d be happy to chat, but no way was I going to read one more word!
by Casey
on December 7th, 2007 at 10:23 am
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How different we all are!
I actually don’t mind the readings at all. But editing my own work –eek.
by C.R.
on December 7th, 2007 at 12:18 pm
