I’ve just finished the final, final read through of my novel, Between Now and Forever. Again. But at least this read through only took seven hours, a record, since the last one took ten, spread out over two visits to Starbucks instead of one.
Final Read Through
And now I’m done. Really.
When I tell my critique partners this, they smile. They know me, and therefore know I’ll never be done revising, at least not until I get a book contract.
And you know what?
Even then there will be revisions. With an agent and with an editor. Two, three, ten?
Is the revision process ever over?
At some point, I’m sure I’ll have to say, “Yes! This is it.”
And then, knowing me, I’ll never be able to read my book once in print. Because I’ll want to make changes.
Another read through?
Guess the only cure will be to start a new project and take it from there.
As always, thanks for stopping by,
Once your manuscript has gone through it's final editor with your book editor, then you'll be a happy girl. But, in between here and there, do start another project. This may help you in the end with this manuscript. Of course, you already know this. It's just tearing yourself away from this baby to move to the next which is a difficult step, right? Does this mean, you're ready to hit publishers and agencies with your novel? =D
Congrats! Isn't that a wonderful feeling? You can send it out into the big cyber world and have the excitment of starting something new.
Hi Cathy. Yes. I'm ready to hit agencies with this novel. A scary step, but one I can't put off any longer. Wish me luck!
Hi Tonya. Something new will actually be more revisions. Of another novel about ready to send off, and then another and another. I do have another idea though for novel five. You know how that is, I'm sure.
Congratulations, Margaret! That's always such an awesome feeling. I do think that we have to decide on a stopping point. I mean, honestly, we could rewrite sentences, switch words, and make small editing changes forever!
I so agree, Darcia. Maybe if we spend a lifetime revising one book, we can get it near perfect, but then no other books will be written and much of life left unlived. I think it might be time to let the experts decide where I go from here.
It is so awesome that you finished it. Put the manuscript to bed, send in the queries and start something new. It's time. You'll have plenty of time to edit when your editor sends those revision letters, if you get one. You've worked so hard on this I doubt the revisions will be very big, or much…
Thanks, Lee. I will certainly try to put the manuscript away (sooo hard). And I've sent out the query package, so that's a start.
Well, Margaret once a book was in print, I never looked at it, but right before, I still did changes, and after that, I did the publishers changes, and after that, I did blurbs and one liner blurbs. This is for Enchanted Hunt that will be coming out. "fiery lava, a mythical goddess, and a wild boar led Catamount 'Cat' James into an action packed adventure."
I can't wait until it's time to make changes for a publisher. That means I'll almost be there. Let me know when the Enchanted Hunt comes out, so I can buy it. "Fiery lava, a mythical goddess, and a wild boar," yes!