IWSG #17 - Editing Hell

Happy October. I honestly am having a hard time with the fact the year is almost over. With a new month rolling in, it means it's time for another IWSG post.

Last month I lamented on the woes of marketing. An undertaking I now had to face since I'd actually managed to complete my second book. As I thought about the new month, and the post I needed to make, I wasn't sure at first what to write about. Then it hit me, shortly after my post last month I got my manuscript returned from my editor. Every since I've been in what I like to call editing hell.

Editing, like marketing, is a necessity. There's no getting around doing it if I want to put out the best possible product, which I do. But it's tedious work. I have have an issue with commas. I either don't use them enough, or use them incorrectly. A serious love/hate thing there. Then there's the problem of the over used word. It's something you don't notice until it's pointed out at you.

I have a handful that Chrys pointed out to me, but the funniest one is "just." I "just" use it all the time. They say it, they think it, they love it. And by they, I mean me, since ultimately I'm the controller of their world (or so I like to pretend). Seriously my use of "just" is bad, and every time I see that red strike-through in my doc I now laugh. I did a search, 468 times I used that word.

Photo source: http://wordwranglers.blogspot.com

The humor I try and find aside, editing is not part of the process I enjoy. There are some that do. They look forward to polishing their novels and making the "crappy" first draft words shine. I'm not a writer that gets the words down first and worry about the editing later. I'm slow. I overthink on those words. I let myself be damn near paralyzed with indecision. By the time I hit those final two little words, I'm sick of all the ones that came before.

But now I have a deadline. That means I can't procrastinate on getting the edits done. I can't look at my doc and say I'll do it tomorrow. Like people would say butt in chair to write, I have to tell myself butt in chair and edit. I limit how much I do a day to keep from going completely bonkers. Three chapters a day, that's what I do. It's a manageable amount for me to handle since I'm just as slow with the editing process as I am with the writing.

It's a pain now, but I know in the end me and my story will be better for it. I'm already picking up on things and noticing patterns. Like my characters like to start a lot of dialogue with "so." I've started removing some of those as well because I don't want everyone sounding the same. It's the little things that matter. Same with removing "was" from certain things to make my voice move from passive to active.

Editing is hell for me. I don't enjoy it, but since my name is literally on the finished product, I need it to be the best it can be. Therefore, I willingly walk through the fiery depths on a daily basis to make my book as shiny as humanly possible.

As for the book I'm editing. I did the cover reveal for it a few weeks ago.

Thanks for stopping by
~Meka

The Insecure Writer's Support Group's purpose is to share and encourage. Writers can express doubts and concerns without fear of appearing foolish or weak. Those who have been through the fire can offer assistance and guidance. It’s a safe haven for insecure writers of all kinds!

Thank you to this week's co-hosts:

Olga Godim, Chemist Ken, Jennifer Hawes, and Tamara Narayan!