word·play blog

If you miss it, you know you've found it.

4/10/2014

By no means is editing an easy task. Each book brings new challenges because every author is different, and each book is different. And as my husband can attest, sometimes I'm banging my head against my desk as I struggle to put just the right polish on someone else's story. Not because the writing is bad, but because I want to honor each author's voice, precisely the way it deserves to be honored.

Since the beginning of the year, I have been working non-stop on editing books, in addition to working a "normal" full-time job. No matter how well I plan, or schedule, I always feel under the gun; the pressure is always on, and some days I just want to be done so I can have a single moment for myself. I feel guilty if I take an evening off--less than four hours--because I had a really stressful day at work and I just want to watch a show, or something.

But after being away from it for over a week while I prepped for my first event and recovered from a misadventure down the stairs, I am ridiculously giddy sitting here working on my latest edit. Even though I know this is the beginning of another round of insanity, I am so freaking excited to be behind my desk editing.

(Yes, I do realize I can't be editing and writing this blog post at the same time, but really, it was just supposed to be a simple Facebook status, but then it morphed into a whole lot more I didn't know I needed to say.)

I have eighteen books either published, in process, or booked for editing. 18! That blows me away, especially since only two of the eighteen books published in 2013. And it's only April. Potentially, sixteen books will publish this year with my name listed as the editor. 16! I'm booking at least eight weeks out, and it's filling up fast. I had to create a new category on my editing schedule just to keep track of the samples I've committed to for potential new clients. I'm struggling to keep up with everything and maintain a balance between day-job (fixed hours), editing, and my husband. I can't remember the last time I made a real dinner for the two of us. Did you know you can live on popcorn and coffee? No, really. I've been doing it for weeks.

But here's the thing...I wouldn't change anything.

Not. One. Thing.

In all my life, I can honestly say I have never been so content, or satisfied, with my chosen profession. All the times in the past, when I thought I'd found it, I was just getting a taste of what was to come. Each time was a little closer, but nowhere near the real moment when I found it.

A fabric emergency and a fall down the stairs forced me to step away from the editing for seven days. For the first time since January 1, I did not edit for one whole week. And I missed it. Like seriously missed it. I was dang near twitching because I hadn't opened a manuscript in so long.

And as I sat down tonight to edit, I realized something really crucial to this whole endeavor: I have got to be doing what I'm meant to do, if I missed it so much while I was gone.

A lot of things in life are all about perspective. If you can just take a moment, step away, and look at the big picture, your perspective will change. You may discover you need to make a change because the return on your investment isn't on the good side of the ratio. Or you may discover what I did: Even though I'm working essentially two full time jobs; and even though my husband has had to eat cereal for dinner more nights than not; and even though I dream the solutions to the problem parts of the current book I'm editing; and even though I don't have time to watch all the prime time shows I used to watch; and even though most nights I can't come home from the day job and just zone out on the couch; even though I'm working harder than I ever have before...

I am doing exactly what I'm supposed to be doing.

But more importantly, I'm doing exactly what I want to be doing.

And I figured all of this out simply because I missed it.

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Why I'm changing from RED to GREEN

2/5/2014

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Several years ago, my best friend was diagnosed with a pituitary tumor; benign, but still a tumor. And just to clarify, yes, that's a brain tumor.

The pituitary gland is the gland when it comes to the endocrine system; it's the Boss gland, telling all the other glands what to do regarding growth, sexual development, metabolism, and the reproductive system. All that power and control stuffed into a gland the size of a pea.

Anyway. The endocrine system releases all these hormones, to control all these systems, directly into the blood stream. As you can imagine, when something isn't right with the Boss gland, all hell breaks lose--not enough of this hormone, too much of that hormone; oh hey, we're just not going to make any more of this other hormone--and dumps straight into the blood stream. Leaving my best friend with all sorts of side effects from the Boss being out of line, combined with a hereditary struggle with high blood pressure.

Because of all this havoc being wreaked, she spent a lot of time getting poked and prodded by various doctors, as they tried to figure out what was wrong and determine the best course of treatment. And I mean A LOT. Then, once she finally had the surgery to remove the tumor, she developed complications and landed back in the hospital, flat on her back, for three days. Still getting poked and prodded.

The whole ordeal occurred over the course of three years, and somewhere along the road, my best friend developed what's known as White Coat Syndrome. The anxiety of having to see one more doctor built to the level that just the thought of seeing a doctor's coat makes her blood pressure spike.

Here's my question...would it make a difference if the coat was a different color?

In just about every aspect of life, red is bad. In accounting, red is literally negative. We stop at red lights; stop signs are red. Criminals are caught red-handed. So I guess it was a natural progression to use a red pen to correct stuff. Probably every single teacher I had in school had a red pen for the sole purpose of grading assignments. Hell, my sister (a middle school art teacher), and her boyfriend (a high school chemistry teacher) use red pens to grade their students work; assignments that aren't even writing related.

Be it a book, a research paper, or a memoir, I think the use of red in editing has created a negative stigma when it comes to writing. We've all developed RED Pen Syndrome.

But who says editing has to be done in red? And while we're at it, who says editing has to be a bad thing? Why do we fear the part of the process that is meant to make our writing better? I'm just as guilty in my writing. I loathe rewrites. I cannot stand for someone to tell me I'm wrong. Even if I really was wrong. It drives me nuts. I start thinking I'm not good enough to show off my writing, even though I know that couldn't be further from the truth. I know I'm a good writer. I'll even be so bold and say I'm a damn good writer. So why do I start second guessing myself when someone is just trying to help me be better? That makes no sense at all. RED Pen Syndrome.

I'll admit, I've fed this crazy notion as an editor. I was lazy. I let MS Word determine the color of Track Changes for me. I'm a little ashamed to admit, I didn't even know the color could be anything other than red. Not until I started having problems with my laptop and changed computers, and the bubbles were suddenly blue. It wasn't until I went into the settings to figure out why the bubbles changed that I learned I could choose from a number of colors. But again, I was lazy. I said, "Meh, everyone is used to seeing the red bubbles anyway, I'll just leave it at the default." I fueled the RED Pen Syndrome.

I may as well have walked up to my best friend in a white doctor's coat just because I could.

Again, I ask, why?

Why do we let things stay the same, simply because that's the way it's always been?

When I decided to make editing books a business and created word·play, I decided I would be different. I decided I wasn't going to be a knuckle slapper. I decided I didn't want to tell an author how bad the writing was, or berate her for making so many mistakes. I decided I wanted to be more than just an editor. I decided I was going to empower my authors; to help them become better writers.

Well, this week, I realized I had a fundamental flaw in my editing practices. How can I help an author be better if I continue to make all my edits and suggestions in red? I know this may seem like a really stupid, small thing to go on and on about, but I know, for a fact, at least two of my authors are terrified of getting their manuscripts back from me. I've actually heard "I'm scared of the red."

Well...I'm going to turn this little world I've jumped into on it's ear.

Starting right now--I've already made the switch in the master settings--I will never use RED Track Changes again.

From now on, my authors will be seeing GREEN.

Why GREEN?

Well, GREEN means GO. GREEN is growth. GREEN is also my favorite color, but I swear that had little to do with it. GREEN is going to help my authors be better.

I'll let you in on a little secret. You aren't expected to be perfect the first time. Not even the second, or the third. Your job is to tell the story. It's my job to polish it up, to help work out the pacing or flow issues. It's my job to know whether you need a comma or a semi colon, not yours.

GREEN is going to change the editing part of the writing process from a negative, hated thing to a positive learning experience.

GREEN is going to help you, the author, start your next book as a better writer than you were when you started your last book.

GREEN is going to give you your best story yet.

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How do I know if I'm successful?

1/1/2014

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Editing a book is a strictly behind-the-scenes gig.

No name on the spine.
No stylized script on the front cover.
No "About the Editor" bio and picture on the back cover.
No promotional lead up to publishing on social media.
And definitely no name in lights.

But, honestly, I'm totally o.k. with that. Now, don't get me wrong, seeing my name next to "Edited by" on the copyright page is a pretty amazing feeling, but I didn't decide to edit books for the fame and glory. I'm not sure there's a book editor around that could be considered famous. It's just not what the job is about. And I'm not an editor because I'm good at grammar and stuff, but bad at writing. It's not a "Those who can't write, Edit" situation. Actually, I'm a really good writer. But. I'm not a storyteller. And, to me, that's what makes a writer an author. But more on that in another post.

So, if I'm not all about the (ahem) Fame and Fortune, how do I even know I'm good at what I do? How can I tell if this adventure is successful?

Well, I could judge it by my editing calendar, or the number of clients I have, or the fact that my very first client is constantly referring other authors to me. But all these examples are just numbers. And since my target client base is the Independent/Self-Publish Community, there aren't really any baseline numbers to compare mine to, so they really are just numbers.

As an editor, I believe my job is more than just correcting the grammar and spelling in a manuscript. I believe it's my job, and responsibility, to help my author tell the absolute best story she can, the absolute best way it can be told. The author's job is to tell a story; to mine the gem from the depths of her imagination. It's my job, as the editor, to polish, and hone, and shape that gem until it simply gleams.

So, when I see A Blue Tale by Sarah Dosher - one of my authors - not even 3 full days after the release, rank in the top 50 on two Amazon Best Sellers lists, and the top 100 on a third, I know I did my job. That gem is shine-ing!

When I check out the reviews for my authors' books and read phrases such as:

"I felt every emotion possible while reading it. One minute I was happy, the next I was mad."

or "My heart felt their pain, love, suffering, longing, and confusion."

or"The writer captured her feelings, her sadness especially perfectly.....the author wrote with her heart and soul..."

or"I felt the emotions right from page 1 until the very last word!!"

I know I did my job well.

In short, I'm successful when the readers enjoy the book. When a reader lives the story right along with the characters, I've done my job well. I can set aside my polishing cloth to reach for the next newly mined gem and begin the process all over again.

For me, it's less about the mechanics of grammar and writing, and more about the experience of helping a storyteller share her unique story with the world.

Quotes taken from Amazon.com Customer Reviews for A Blue Tale by Sarah Dosher and Heartstrings by Heather Gunter, both clients of word·play by 77peaches. Visit the Services page for information on using word·play for your next book.

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If you miss it, you know you've found it.

Why I'm changing from RED to GREEN

How do I know if I'm successful?

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