Here
I stand, a week into the editing process, and I must say that I feel cautiously
optimistic. I’ve done lots of reading on the things to keep in mind when
working through the editing process, including dozens of Top Ten lists and
advice columns. My biggest fear in the process of writing was that I might be
too proud to cut work that needed to be cut, and to change characters that
needed to be changed.
I’m
optimistic because I’ve already been able to see material that needs to be
added and material that needs to be removed altogether. I’m realizing that some
of my characters are too flat, and that others are too inconsistent to come
across as believable. Motivations need to be altered to bring characters into
line with their own culture, rather than my own. Gradually I’m working through
the content and trying to create a more seamless transition as the story progresses.
With
all that said, I’m trying to remain cautious to the fact that some things are
going to escape my notice. I’m still too close to the project to catch
everything that needs to be altered or changed, so I’m trying to remember that
criticisms will come from other readers and potential agents/editors down the
line. When these come, I want to be able to view them objectively as to how
they negatively affect the overall storyline.
I’m
excited to see the story coming together, and I look forward to the challenge
of the query process!
