Thursday, September 2, 2010

I Love Edits

I love getting edits. Am I crazy? Or am I not the only one?

When I first sold, my biggest fear was not being able to complete edits. At least not right. I mean, then the editor would really know she made a mistake and should never have bought a book from that woman posing as an author. :)

I got over that fear long ago. Especially after getting one set of edits on a contracted book when the editor said she didn't like the beginning or the ending, and oh, by the way, she didn't believe the hero and heroine loved each other. (!) I had a rock in the pit of my stomach after I got that e-mail, let me tell you. I couldn't help but wonder why she'd even accepted the manuscript. All I could do was tell myself she did it because she was certain I'd be able to revise the manuscript to her satisfaction. And I did.

Tonight, I just sent back first edits on a short story to be released this fall from Samhain. They were pretty easy, compared to edits like the one above. I was shocked as I went through it how many typos I still caught (yeah, ones that she hadn't caught either) and all the repetitions she did find. But here comes the reason that I love edits.

There's always a better book when I come out the other side.

That's what editors are for. A good editor doesn't want to change your book, she wants to make it the best that it can be. I've been blessed with wonderful editors who have, without exception, made my work much better than it was before they got their hands on it.

So no matter how crazy I make myself trying to rephrase awkward sentences and add more motivation and tighten a slow beginning - I'm glad I've done it. Each round of edits makes me a better writer, too, because I (hopefully) learn from my mistakes and catch more problems before the manuscript ever gets submitted.

So there you have it, the reason I love edits. How about you?

Natasha
www.natashamoore.com

8 comments:

Mona Risk said...

Natasha, like you I love editing. Whether the request for edits comes from my CPs or from editors, I enjoy doing them. It's that special time I spend reading and re-reading my finished book. I know it will soon hit the public but it is still mine to change as I want. And it always comes so much better.

Sheila Tenold said...

Great post, Natasha. It's funny how the excitement of writing a first draft leaves so many ackward sentences and misdirections in a scene.

I, too, find editing to be a confidence-building process.

Jill James said...

Natasha, I went through the whole "why did she buy it?" thing too. If she notice all the wrong stuff, why did she like it?

I can't believe what editors do to our stories. A spot here, a subplot there and I have a whole new amazing book, so much better than before.

I loved when I got my first edits. Someone was able to tell me how to make it better!!

Paisley Kirkpatrick said...

I actually love edits because I can see how I am improving my writing. It is more of a challenge to me to do this than just write out plot. Plot has always come easily for me, but revising is like polishing the silverware.

Now when it comes to conflict... :(

Madeline Smyth said...

For me, writing is all about revision.

Josie said...

Natasha,
I love edits, too. Nothing scares me more than a blank page.

Natasha Moore said...

Thanks for stopping by everyone. I've heard so many writers complain about edits that I thought I was the only one who felt differently. :)

Clarissa Southwick said...

Natasha, Thanks for an encouraging post. I'm so glad I'm not the only one who gets a pit in my stomach when I read editorial notes.