Writer phobias -- Fear of edits
I have had this fear...that even if I get an editor...I won't be able to fix what they want me to fix, that their expectations will be something I could never meet. I would love to see what editors actually expect and how you go about giving them what you want. Maybe then my fear of failing the editor will leave my mind...Has anyone else ever experienced this?
Oh yeah. Just every time I turn in a book. I don't know of an author who doesn't cringe when they see an incoming email from their editor with the subject line "Editorial notes on (insert name of book here)." I usually call it my "Oh Shit Email" because that's what I always think when get it. Even though Anne has always loved my books, and her suggestions are always right on target, and even though I've never had any problems doing the edits -- I still say "Oh shit." I think it must be some kind of writer reflex. That fear of rejection coming back (BTW -- a fear we never lose). As humans, but especially as writers, we fear rejection. It's human nature. Most writers fear rejection (even if they won't admit it) from their fans, editor, agent, publicist, publisher's production person's second assistant twice removed. You get the picture; we're a bundle of neuroses.
I'm on my fourth book now and I still wince when I get edits. Did Anne like it? Did Anne only kinda like it? Did Anne think it sucked and never wants to sign me to a book contract ever again? Then I open the email and everything is fine. Yes, she loved the book, but she has some suggestions to make the book even stronger. And those suggestions are always things I missed when writing it. Yes, I do get too close to my work and can't see a pair of conflicting plot lines if it wapped me between the eyes.
Since Anne has been my only editor (and she's fabulous, and I want her to be my editor for life), I can only speak to my experiences with her edits. They're always on target, they need to be done, and I have yet to have any problems making them. And if there are some that I disagree with, I tell Anne why, and she's cool with that. Or we get on the phone, talk about it, and come up with a solution that's best for the book. That's the most important thing: what's best for the book. The ideal working relationship between an author and editor is a partnership; you work together, not in conflict. I'm blessed to have that with my editor, and every author I know personally has the same working relationship with their editor.
So Victoria, there's nothing to worry about. Look forward to getting an editor.
Lisa
posted by Lisa Shearin at
6:39 AM
9 Comments:
Hi Lisa!
That's nice to hear about editors, because I had it in my head that only lucky authors get editors like that.
Good luck with the cuts, even though it would be nice if it could be longer (no matter what, I'm happy if it is longer.) I read your books in a day, and I wait for them for ages, but I really am only wishing for it to be longer, not liking the book less. It's your choice, and it's your book.
I think I'm walking in circles. I'm just saying I wish you didn't have to cut part of it, but I undersatnd why you do.
Besides cuts, do you have many other edits?
You vacation sounds wonderful : )
Good luck again : )
Lisa's right, there's nothing to fear from an editor once you sell the book. Their job is to make the book salable. The editors on my two Pelican biographies and my first novel were very helpful.
Getting the comments does deflate your ego. After all, you sold it, so it must be too good to edit? Nope. Once you tell yourself that, the process isn't painful at all.
Hey, Lisa, here's my cutting story: I had to cut my second biography manuscript from 150k to under 110k. Luckily, I found I had lots of extra stuff that I could cut. Still wasn't fun, tho'.
Kim, most (if not all) publishers have word count limits. B&B definitely went WAY over. I knew I was going to have to trim the book, but wanted Anne's opinion on the best places to slice.
Robert, since I'm an editor in my day job, the slicing & dicing is actually kinda fun. Yep, I'm a sick woman.
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That was such an interesting post. Whenever I've wrote anything in the past, I've always felt... odd about letting ANYONE see it, even if it was for a uni assignment. In one of my classes, Writing for Children (which included writing for teenagers, which I felt better at), we all had to read our work out to the class, and everyone had to critique it. It was horrible! However, no-one, not even the author-teacher, had a single bad word to say about one of stories I wrote. Best. Feeling. Ever. Especially as everyone in the class was taking a Creative Writing degree, and I was taking Journalism, so knew less. It was a good day!
Not exactly the same thing, but the closest I've come to having an "editor" look at my work.
One of the things I learned from my critique partners is how to answer a few completely unusable suggestions without losing a friend. That was scary. Editors I'd expect to be in a working relationship with shouldn't be worse than that! {half-smile}
Anne Elizabeth Baldwin
So... the fear of rejection doesn't go away? I'm totally disillusioned.
Seriously, I am glad BW&B is coming along so well. As a reader, it's nice to know the next book exists, even if I can't read it yet. Rather cozy, like setting in front of a big picture window after a snowstorm and drinking hot chocolate.
Thank you so much Lisa! That made me breathe so much easier.
I was also worried about something you mentioned in your post. You said that if Anne wants you to change something you don't agree with you talk to her about it. Well, what would you do if you guys couldn't agree and she wanted to cut something that you knew needed to stay? I mean, what if you couldn't compromise or anything? I've heard some horror stories of writers losing contracts because of stuff like this. That is why I am asking.
Victoria, I'm glad my blog helped. As to Anne & I not agreeing on something, and each being adamant about it. . . well, that hasn't happened. But Anne is the very picture of diplomacy. : ) Her opinion is that I'm the author, therefore I have final say. But we've never disagreed on anything that big. Like I said, I'm blessed to have her as my editor.
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