I knew this day was approaching. It had been hinted at for weeks, though the original timeline had The Day happening in early June. I’m talking about receiving my copy edits on Hung Out to Die.
For those of you not familiar, copyediting is what happens after you’ve done all your story editing with your editor. The manuscript then is giving to a person whose job it is to go over the entire book word-by-word, line-by-line. They look for typos, inconsistencies, misuses of language, and God knows what else.
I’ve been both looking forward to, and a bit nervous about this stage. But in a few short hours the package with my marked up pages will be in my hands, and I’ll need to put my nerves and excitement to the side. It’ll be get down to work time.
They’ve given me about three weeks to go over everything, approving or STETing suggestions, answering questions they have, and generally tightening the manuscript. Then it’ll be on to printing bound galleys and ARCs.
I can feel things starting to pick up speed. I just hope I don’t forget to strap myself in!
13 comments:
I can't wait to hear more about this process. I'm assuming it will be reletively painless for you, but that's just insider knowledge.
I am so excited for you. You're right about the momentum swing -- before you know it, you're going to be out selling that sucker and wowing audiences all over the country. Just remember us little folks when you become a shiny star!
Wow, it seems like your book is pretty far along for something that's not going to be published for another year. Maybe they'll step up the pub date.
On a completely different note, can I make a comment that relates to your last post, or is that really Bad Blog Etiquette?? Anyway, tonight the same thing is happening with American Idol and Lost. Both have 2-hour finales and overlapping time schedules, which is so stupid!! Although maybe I'm the only one who watches both shows...Go Taylor!
I'm looking forward to Lost, too, Tammy. But, em, American Idol?
I think we can safely say you are the only one on the planet that watches both shows. (Yes, yes, I know I'm wrong, but it sure sounds good to say.)
Brett, this is so awesome. I know it'll be work, but it is also exciting to be getting to this stage of the game, isn't it?! Congrats! You'll do a fantastic job, I'm sure.
One more stop on the publication express, good luck with it!
As for Tammy's post, publishers generally schedule books in a certain month for a reason. Either that month is particularly friendly to a certain type of book (i.e. May is big for graduation gifts, January is good for health and fitness), or the publisher has competing books in that genre in other months and doesn't want to divide the audience.
Pushing up a book's pub date usually only happens if something in the news makes the book particularly timely, or if the sales and marketing reps find out they can get better placement/promotion by slotting it earlier.
Scheduling has nothing to do with how fast an author goes through their copyedits, but everything to do with how many copies the publishers thinks they can sell.
You're absolutely right, Jason. In fact, I had been scheduled for a January release, but because of competing books that Bantam Dell is releasing, they pushed me back to (probably) May. It's a bit maddening as I can't wait until it comes out, but the reasoning is good. My editor tells me they wanted to move me up "the list" of priorities, but could only do this by pushing back the date. Sounded like a good reason to me.
Tammy, I appreciate your enthusiasm and your desire to see this come out. I'm there with you. (And by the way, there are very few things I'd consider bad blog etiquette...)
I'm sitting here working on the copy edited manuscript now, Sergio Mendes' Timeless in the background. It's fun and kind of surreal.
A big ol' box of cyber bon bons for Brett and Sandra. That's what I say.
BTW, I'm sure I speak for others when I say that I feel like an expectant father--pacing the floor, wondering how you guys are doing, wringing my hands even though I'm not doing any of the work.
Brett, Sandra, just know that I've got your back! (I know this last statement qualifies as both a misplaced metaphor and a vacuous comment, but I like saying it because, well, it makes me feel macho!)
Macho macho man...
The great thing is having so many serious writers support you, want to see you succeed.
You guys are awesome! Even if you do make me take the 'u' out of some of my words.
Vacuous comments always welcome.
So, like, I was shopping yesterday? And, like, I saw the cutest pair of sandals? Espadrilles, with jute soles and green and pink ribbons? They were so me.
Almost all vacuous comments welcome....
And, like, JT like totally like missed my like comments on words going choppity-chop-chop yesterday!
Holy can you like say valley girl?!
Sorry, just testing the waters...
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