Have you ever read something so many times that you’re immune to the words? That’s how I feel right now about my manuscript. I’ve read it so much that I think I can recite parts of it in my sleep. I can no longer tell if it’s good, bad, or what!
The publisher bought it, so at least they think it’s decent. My hubby was asking me if this is it? After I submitted on the 16th, would I be done. I told him no, I’d still have to go through the manuscript once the copy editor is finished with it. That’s when I’ll have to do line edits.
It’s no wonder that by the time my book is released, I don’t read it. I never do. Once it’s in print, I just can’t read it another time.
There are times that I look at my own work and I am so critical that I think everything is wrong. When that happens, I have to put it aside or commit myself to leaving everything alone except for spelling and word usage errors. I don’t know if it will be true of my current work in progress, but with Searching for Mom I know there will be a day when I will sit down and reread it. It is just too good of a story for me to never read it again.
Oh how true it is! And after the copy edits and line edits and all the revisions, you still have proof reading. My book, The Other Daughter, is releasing in two weeks. I can’t wait to hold it in my hands and SEE it, but I have no plans at this point to read it again. Maybe someday, like Timothy said, but not when it arrives. I’m too excited about the marketing phase anyway, and getting book #2 finished, to take time to read!
Blessings on your revisions and edits!! Miralee
http://www.miraleeferrell.com
I think all writers, published or not, go through this. Because we’re so invested and immersed in what we’re writing. That’s one reason I’ve decided to institute “Breaks” from my story. Sometimes just for an hour or two, sometimes for a couple of days. I get completely away from writing and do something else. Walk. Play with the dogs. Bake. Go to a playground and watch the kids. Drive up into the mountains and take pix of God’s creative genius. Anything that isn’t about writing, but still refreshes.
It’s also another reason I think we need to include time in our schedules for setting the finished manuscript aside for at LEAST a couple of weeks. Better: a month or more. I guarantee when you go back to it, you’ll read with new eyes. And you’ll find yourself better able to spot the problem areas, as well as those heart-tingling moments when you read something and know–just KNOW–that God had his fingers over yours because you couldn’t write something so powerful on your own.
Peace to you today.
Karen Ball
http://www.karenballbooks.com