Let the Editing Begin

Editor’s Note: Aud’s fantasy novel, Frama-12, was accepted for publication by The Wild Rose Press. This is a record of the ongoing adventures of turning that story into a book.

While I waited for the editor to send my manuscript with her suggested corrections, I focused on the author’s photo. Based on my new bio, and the hybrid horses featured in my upcoming book, I wanted a picture with a horse. My friend, Randy, agreed to be my photographer. A second friend, Mikaela, gave me the okay to visit Thorncroft Equestrian Center to borrow one of their horses as a model. An illness one week and bad weather the next pushed back that particular photoshoot until a date later in November. In the meantime, Randy and I got a couple of non-equine photos at a nearby park. Now, if the horse happens to make a face or blinks at the wrong time, we have a backup.

Moving on …

After about a month’s wait, as promised, the editor’s comments arrived via email on Monday morning, November 8, 2021. I was at work. Sure, I peeked at the first few pages but didn’t seriously look it over until I got home.

With heart thudding simultaneously to the beat of the Quickstep and the Chicken Dance, I scrolled through the suggested changes. At first glance – not so bad. At least the pages didn’t drip blood from multiple stabs by the editor’s virtual red pen. My pulse slowed to a more relaxing tempo, like a Viennese Waltz.

Then I read some of the comments:
Ambiguous subject
Expletive constructions
Filtering
Comma splices

I think the grammar police invented new laws after I graduated with my BA in English/Literature. Who knew you weren’t allowed to start a sentence with the words, “There was….”? I thought as long as I didn’t write, “It was a dark and stormy night” I’d be fine.

Don’t get me wrong. I’m glad to dig into my story and fix my writerly faux pas. This experience has also taught me to stop reading those free eBooks from Amazon. They’re teaching me bad habits! Oh yeah, that’s the other thing I’ve been asked to remove: My Excessive Exclamation Points!!!!!!!!!!!!! Apparently, I’ve never met one that I didn’t like.

My editor also brought up some points that I missed, and so did my beta readers and critiquing group.

For example, readers who’ve read early versions of Frama-12 are familiar with the giant birds called “wiggets.” This isn’t exactly a spoiler, but wiggets are so big, two can transport small riders across the realm by each gripping one of the rider’s shoulders in their talons. Does anybody see a potential problem?

Giant birds have giant wingspans. How can they fly so close together without their wings banging into each other and raining feathers everywhere?

I found a fix but telling how I solved the problem would truly be a spoiler. 🙂

For anyone self-editing a manuscript, here are two gems from my editor to keep in mind:

1. Don’t overuse dialog tags.

As a writer, I’d learned early on that using “said” is invisible and is the tag of choice, rather than using “snarled,” “groaned,” or “declared.” Not all editors agree with that. Some want you to use other means to inform the reader who’s speaking.

2. Don’t mention your character’s name too often. She and he work just as well.

Even though I’ve been given a month to return my corrections to the editor, I initially believed I could whip through the manuscript, make edits, and be done in a week. After six days of trying to race through the process, I know better.

Now, I’m going line-by-line, reviewing and revising. It’ll take longer than I had hoped but that’s okay. I get the bonus of enjoying my story all over again.

I still love Frama-12, still love all the characters, and can’t wait to share both with the world!! Those are two exclamation points I’ll stand by. 🙂