It's true. We could go over it time and
again and still find things to improve. Yet, once the book is published, the
reader will be exposed to any shortfalls. Before my novel Still Rock Water is
published at the end of this month, I asked my contact at Solstice Publishing
if I had time to go over it one more time. He hadn't yet handed it over to an
editor, so he told me to go ahead. He said, "A book is never finished,
only abandoned."
I interpret this as the author deserts/gives up on each book
for sale. And yet, there must be a time to let go and release the story to the
public. A writer could continue editing until they are old and grey and still
not be satisfied.
I'm glad I have the opportunity to correct any glitches I
find as I read out loud. The time-constraint is daunting. What if I don't reach
the end before the publisher requests the work? What if I miss some major
boo-boo? Will the editor find what I've missed? Depends on the quality of the
person assigned.
I don't think it matters that the book is published, Francene, somehow there are always things we could improve, tweak and fix. Having released it to the world just makes it more difficult to correct. You hope one day you will get a chance to add the extra care and polish needed. I know each day I learn more about the craft of writing and yearn to go back and redo old work.
ReplyDeleteLooking at Wind Over Troubled Waters though, I feel your writing needs very little polish. Your Still Rock Water will shine. I'm sure!
It's difficult when I have read the same thing over and over because I can miss the same things over and over. Do you have anybody who can read it with fresh eyes? Out loud is also a good way to catch things, too. Best of luck! Just keep going and you'll get it done. :)
ReplyDeleteI absolutely agree with this, but I also think that we can over edit and start pulling threads from the story and maybe unraveling it. A carefully game of Jenga to be played if ever there was one I think.
ReplyDeleteOh, the little typo elves drive me insane! I am grateful to my reader/s to assist me with finding them. Even so, we still miss them. Good luck with the novel. PS: I do hope you and your DH are speaking again.
ReplyDeleteGood that you've got the chance to make just one more edit but I can see what you mean. There has to be a time when you say "enough!" good luck with it.
ReplyDeleteGood luck! Hopefully no big boo boos!
ReplyDeleteIt's so hard for me to make a perfectly clean copy. I can only imagine. Good luck!
ReplyDeleteI read long ago that an artist never finishes his work...he abandons it. I've found that to be very true. At some point, we have to determine we are DONE. And move on to the next work of art!
ReplyDeleteWe are all plagued with these kinds of securities. And even the best editors and the best books for some reason get tagged with one star reviews. I was looking at one yesterday put out by Harper Teen. It had 400 one star reviews. Given that overall it had tens of thousands of reviews, that was a small percentage. But still...400? Ah well.
ReplyDeleteGood luck with your novel! It's very true that we can always find something to change, but it comes to a point where we just have to let it go. :)
ReplyDeleteVery true! Good luck with it.
ReplyDeleteHi Francene .. hope all has gone well .. but wonderful you have a publisher lined up .. cheers Hilary
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