Edits

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!