In Which The Writer Talks More About The Editing Process.

I know I promised a Convergence Report, and you will get one. Just as soon as I find my notes. I really thought they were in my inbox, but I cleaned it out this morning, and they were not there…

I realized why the whole editing process I've been going through with Carina Press has been such a wonderful experience (Editing process as wonderful experience? Finding joy in rewrites? Am I mad?). Besides the fact that my editor has been great to work with, I realized the process of rewriting things under her suggestion, of discussing things over email, of occasionally putting my foot down and writing STET in the manuscript made me feel like a real writer again.

It came as a shock to me when the thought passed through my head. It's just that I've been on this plateau for so long, been struggling with trying to find the next level of writing, that I was starting to despair. I was beginning to wonder if this was it, if I had hit the end of my talent and abilities and was never going to move forward again, that I had hit a certain level and my skills and talent were not up to the task of hitting the next level. The very idea that I was as good as I was going to get was enough to make me want to be sick, because where I was (and still partially am) was not good enough. Working with an editor made me realize that, no, I can get where I want to go. It helped me begin to break out of my rut and start to look at story (and how I construct one) differently.

I really wish I could have this level of editing help (and push and occasional thwap over the head) all the time. And since I know 99.8% of the magazine editors out there simply don't have the time to help a writer develop, and since I seemed to have gotten what I was going to get from OWW, I guess this means I need to sell a novel and develop a relationship with that editor. I'm only under contract with Carina Press for this novella, but I'm starting to wonder if I should, once we have Should We Drown In Feathered Sleep published, consider offering one of my unpublished novels to them.

In Which The Writer Talks More About The Editing Process.

I know I promised a Convergence Report, and you will get one. Just as soon as I find my notes. I really thought they were in my inbox, but I cleaned it out this morning, and they were not there…

I realized why the whole editing process I've been going through with Carina Press has been such a wonderful experience (Editing process as wonderful experience? Finding joy in rewrites? Am I mad?). Besides the fact that my editor has been great to work with, I realized the process of rewriting things under her suggestion, of discussing things over email, of occasionally putting my foot down and writing STET in the manuscript made me feel like a real writer again.

It came as a shock to me when the thought passed through my head. It's just that I've been on this plateau for so long, been struggling with trying to find the next level of writing, that I was starting to despair. I was beginning to wonder if this was it, if I had hit the end of my talent and abilities and was never going to move forward again, that I had hit a certain level and my skills and talent were not up to the task of hitting the next level. The very idea that I was as good as I was going to get was enough to make me want to be sick, because where I was (and still partially am) was not good enough. Working with an editor made me realize that, no, I can get where I want to go. It helped me begin to break out of my rut and start to look at story (and how I construct one) differently.

I really wish I could have this level of editing help (and push and occasional thwap over the head) all the time. And since I know 99.8% of the magazine editors out there simply don't have the time to help a writer develop, and since I seemed to have gotten what I was going to get from OWW, I guess this means I need to sell a novel and develop a relationship with that editor. I'm only under contract with Carina Press for this novella, but I'm starting to wonder if I should, once we have Should We Drown In Feathered Sleep published, consider offering one of my unpublished novels to them.