aiming for perfection
“Editing might be a bloody trade. But knives aren’t the exclusive property of butchers. Surgeons use them too.”
~Blake Morrison
As you know from last week’s post, I have finished my latest Harlequin Desire & am now knee-deep in proofing & polishing so I can get it turned in to Editor C. (I’ve kind of warned him it was finished & would be on his desk soon, so now I feel compelled to actually deliver on that promise. :oops )
I’m on Chapter 5 so far…which may not sound like much, but editing tends to be a long, drawn-out process for me.
For one thing, by the time I finish writing a book, I just want to be done with it. No matter how much I love the characters & storyline, it’s always a race to the finish, a struggle to make sure I’ve used the exact right descriptions, tied up all the loose ends, come up with just the right ahh-worthy happily-ever-after ending… And when I’m done, I just want to breathe a contented sigh of relieve & send that puppy off to my editor as-is. But I can’t! Because even though I’m a pretty clean writer (meaning that what I write the first time through tends to be darn close to what I turn in; I’m very 
careful as I’m writing, which is why it can take me so long to actually finish a book), it’s still a first run-through & not only do I know there will be typos, but I also leave spots that I know need more work the second time around.
For another, I’m too close to the story when I first finish it. I know everything, I remember everything, I know exactly how certain scenes & paragraphs read. So I need to take a break & just let it sit. This is my decompression time when I try to catch up on non-writing-related stuff & let myself be a little lazy—often catching up on sleep or enjoying a movie or two to both clear my head & get it filled with something other than my characters & plot. (Can you say popcorn & a Supernatural marathon?! :twirl )
And finally, one of the reasons I’m not a fan of the editing process is that it takes 
extremely focused concentration. That means sitting with the laptop, reading every single word very carefully, without entertaining TV as a distraction. (That means no Supernatural marathon…& definitely no popcorn.)
The good news is that, so far, the manuscript currently known as A Baby in the Billionaire’s Boardroom is reading really well. :jumping Even though I’m quite familiar with them, I’m falling in love with the hero & heroine all over again.
And I’m taking care of those pesky little typos, so those errorists are definitely not gonna win!
I’ll keep you updated on my progress. Slow & steady wins the race, right?
And in case you’re reading this, Editor C, I really will have the book to you soon. You’re gonna love it! :heart (I hope.)
Comments
10 Comments • Comments Feed
Mary Kirkland says:
You’ll have it done in no time…and then you can do it all over again on the next book. Bwahahahaha.
:rolf :muahaha :moon
On March 22, 2012 at 3:42 am
Heidi says:
Grooooooaaaaaan. Don’t remind me. :sick
On March 22, 2012 at 11:46 am
Donna A says:
Perfection is tough. Love the sad kitty picture.
On March 22, 2012 at 5:21 am
Heidi says:
True. And it won’t really be perfect, no matter what I do. I’m just trying to make it as good as I possibly can before I send it off for other eyes to see. :winkwink
On March 22, 2012 at 11:47 am
Kathleen O says:
You have STRENGTH girl and you will get it done…. :blowkiss
On March 22, 2012 at 9:59 am
Heidi says:
LOL Thanks. I will. I keep hearing Dory the fish (from Finding Nemo) in my head: “Just keep swimming, swimming, swimming…” :runrun
On March 22, 2012 at 11:48 am
Ruth Chestnut says:
Heidi, you’ll be finished in no time. Can’t wait for the book to come out. Love babies and bachelors. I’m always attracted to a cover with both of them on it.
Happy editing.
Ruth :blowkiss
On March 22, 2012 at 4:43 pm
Heidi says:
Thanks, Ruth! I have no clue what they’ll end up putting on the cover, but I wouldn’t be surprised if it gets a baby & his daddy on it. It may even end up as one of Desire’s “Babies & Billionaires” headliners like HER LITTLE SECRET, HIS HIDDEN HEIR. I’m kind of hinting at that with my working title, which has both “Baby” & “Billionaire” in it. Heh-heh. :winkwink
On March 22, 2012 at 7:14 pm
Hollie says:
You will be done soon and It will be Wonderful!!! and if you need a “reader”…..I’m here….just sayin’ :winkwink
On March 22, 2012 at 7:48 pm
TamVan says:
Add me to the list of those who can’t wait for it to come out. I know it will be great! And as for typos, I’ve gotten to a point were I consider them a sign that I’m not a bot. 😉
On March 22, 2012 at 10:10 pm