The
Writerly Life
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All,
It's my birthday today, March 10, and I got a really great present.
But not without a lot of work and worry.
Colin, my editor at Simon & Schuster, just emailed me regarding
his appraisal of my new novel, Broken Jewel. I will ask
his permission to include his email to this website later.
I've been looking for this communication from Colin for the last
three weeks. But, because Broken Jewel is scheduled for
a winter release, other books got slotted in front of mine for
his attention. He's a great editor and in demand inside his publishing
house, so I begrudgingly clamped my mouth and waited, glad to
have him on my team, irked at having to wait.
Finally, my patience was rewarded, and not a day too soon. I've
been reading Watchmen in preparation of seeing the movie,
and it's so bleak, I was getting down in the mouth. I mean, really,
why so much violence and anger? But, unquestionably a work of
genius. Just a bit grim for my taste.
Then, this morning, my wait was over (Happy Birthday to me) and
I got word. The photo is of me immediately after reading what
Colin wrote.
He loved it. Used words like "triumph" and "remarkable,"
even "flawless" when describing one of my characters.
Oh, and we have a lot of work to do in the middle third. Seems
I lost the thread in there somewhere. Hmmm.
So let's discuss editing for a moment. I know of many writers
who view their editor as a problem, an interventionist, a tool
and not in the good sense. Me? I have a different approach. I
consider the fact that, at no expense to me, a professional is
going to help make my work better. Wow. Imagine, someone trained
at improving a manuscript is going to do this for my book. I look
forward to the collaboration and the finished product. Colin is
circumspect and considered in his comments, professional in his
conduct, and is on the same team as I am, which is to put out
the best novel I can. What could I ask for more? In your own work,
I recommend you embrace the editorial process, so long as the
editor is respectful and likes (preferably loves) the underlying
work. Let them do their work; often it's a skill set writers lack.
Learn from your editor, you'll never have a better writing teacher.
So, what's next? Colin will send me a detailed editorial letter
(again, I will try to post it). I'll go over it with him, and
in the following weeks, I'll attack the book along the guidelines
he will establish and I will ratify (and when I don't agree, we'll
talk it through). Then, when we're both satisfied, the next phase
begins: designing cover art, dust jacket copy, marketing schemes,
and a plan for the next book or books.
Nerve wracking, gratifying, challenging, rewarding, scary stuff.
Stay tuned.
David R.
—Posted
3.10.09
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Click
on image to enlarge it.
I've
just finished the first draft of Broken Jewel; my right
hand is on the mouse, hitting SAVE.
Here's
the printed and bound version of the book, with my edits marked
on the page. Note the beard lengthening.
Clean
shaven, just finished writing the update.
My reaction to my editor's appraisal of Broken Jewel.
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