Publication - Manuscript more in depth editing

9 November 2011, Publication - Manuscript more in depth editing

Introduction: I realized that I need to introduce this blog a little.  I wrote the novel Aksinya: Enchantment and the Daemon.  The working title was Daemon, and this was my 21st novel.  Over the last year, I gave you the entire novel in installments that included commentary on the writing.  In the commentary, in addition to other general information on writing, I explained, how the novel was constructed, the metaphors and symbols in it, the writing techniques and tricks I used, and the way I built the scenes.  You can look back through this blog and read the entire novel.

I'm using this novel as an example of how I produce, market, and eventually (we hope) get a novel published.  I'll keep you informed along the way.  At this moment, I'm showing you the marketing material I put together for a novel.

Today's Blog:  To see the steps in the publication process, go to my writing website http://www.ldalford.com/ and select "production schedule," you will be sent to http://www.sisteroflight.com/. 

You have the formatted manuscript in hand from your publisher and now you are going to make the in-depth editing as the final step to publication.

The first point is you know you have a good if not great novel.  You know this because someone is actually willing to take a risk on the publication of your novel.  If it wasn't good, no one would have taken a chance on publishing it.  Good, that's out of the way.

Second, it needs work.  Your publisher wouldn't send it back to you (except for a final check) if there weren't editorial questions.

Third, all novels can be improved.  There isn't a novel around that could not use a better turn of phrase, better description, clearer writing, etc.  You can't fix every problem in you novel, and after the novel is released in print, you will no longer have an opportunity to tweek it.

Fourth, there is every reason to keep changes to a minimum.  If it ain't broke, don't fix it.  On the other hand, you want it to be the best you can.  If you are making the writing less wordy, less long, and less confusing, then you are allowed to make all the changes you wish.  If you are adding clarity without revealing too much--go ahead.  If it sounds better, then make the change.  Just keep the changes to a minimum.

In editing A Season of Honor, I was on a roll from The End of Honor and The Fox's Honor.  The novels are a series that are stand alone works, but editing one after the other allowed me to tune the connections between the novels.  My publisher is very good about edits, so there wasn't any problems, but I did have a few changes.  I tried to keep them to a minimum. 

Your prepublication readers are a chief source of help for editing.
 
Tomorrow, more editing in depth.

I'll repeat my published novel websites so you can see more examples:   http://www.ldalford.com/, and the individual novel websites:  http://www.aegyptnovel.com/, http://www.centurionnovel.com/, http://www.thesecondmission.com/, http://www.theendofhonor.com/, http://www.thefoxshonor.com/, and http://www.aseasonofhonor.com/.