Revision!
Today is my last day to make changes to my next novel before it goes to copy editing. For those who don't know, here is how a book comes to be:
1. Writer tears hair out of head while writing novel.
2. Writer goes wig shopping.
3. Writer sends novel to editor, who pulls out a blue pencil, (I don't know why, it's just the color they use.) Editor gently shreds novel with said pencil, sends back to writer.
4. Writer tears hair out of wig revising novel.
5. Novel goes to a copy editor who not only shreds the novel, but also pulverizes, masticates, and composts it. Copy editor sends novel to editor, who sends it to writer with a soothing note like, "We're almost ready to create the galleys!"
6. Writer has nervous breakdown upon seeing editor's note because she knows that she cannot make any real changes to the galleys. Writer buys second wig, and grinds teeth while approving or rejecting the copy editors changes, a process that resembles sweating thumb tacks.
7. Manuscript goes back to editor, who has some poor schmo decipher the garbled notes of the editor, the copy editor, and the bedraggled writer while converting it into sophisticated publishing software.
8. A book designer is given the inglorious task of setting the text into very large pages to create what will become the insides of the book. These galleys are sent to writer, who realizes that she made a horrible mistake in the third chapter and must fight to the death defending a change that will make tons of work for everyone. Editor kindly refrains from asking, "Why didn't you make this change before the galleys," and valiantly defends the writer's request because that's what editors do, because they're heroes.
9. Galleys go to the printer.
10. Jacket design goes to writer, who usually jumps for joy because it's so cool, but who sometimes feels bummed out and is then put in the awkward position of writing to the editor, a.k.a. her BOSS, and asking her to change the beautiful cover that a whole team of experts worked so hard on.
11. The whole mess, including galleys, jacket, and specs on book design get sent off to China, where practically all books in the world are printed now.
12. Author copies are sent to writer, who, upon opening the book, finds TEN OTHER mistakes about which she can do absolutely nothing.
And it's a shame, too, because the writer's hair was just starting to grow back.
1. Writer tears hair out of head while writing novel.
2. Writer goes wig shopping.
3. Writer sends novel to editor, who pulls out a blue pencil, (I don't know why, it's just the color they use.) Editor gently shreds novel with said pencil, sends back to writer.
4. Writer tears hair out of wig revising novel.
5. Novel goes to a copy editor who not only shreds the novel, but also pulverizes, masticates, and composts it. Copy editor sends novel to editor, who sends it to writer with a soothing note like, "We're almost ready to create the galleys!"
6. Writer has nervous breakdown upon seeing editor's note because she knows that she cannot make any real changes to the galleys. Writer buys second wig, and grinds teeth while approving or rejecting the copy editors changes, a process that resembles sweating thumb tacks.
7. Manuscript goes back to editor, who has some poor schmo decipher the garbled notes of the editor, the copy editor, and the bedraggled writer while converting it into sophisticated publishing software.
8. A book designer is given the inglorious task of setting the text into very large pages to create what will become the insides of the book. These galleys are sent to writer, who realizes that she made a horrible mistake in the third chapter and must fight to the death defending a change that will make tons of work for everyone. Editor kindly refrains from asking, "Why didn't you make this change before the galleys," and valiantly defends the writer's request because that's what editors do, because they're heroes.
9. Galleys go to the printer.
10. Jacket design goes to writer, who usually jumps for joy because it's so cool, but who sometimes feels bummed out and is then put in the awkward position of writing to the editor, a.k.a. her BOSS, and asking her to change the beautiful cover that a whole team of experts worked so hard on.
11. The whole mess, including galleys, jacket, and specs on book design get sent off to China, where practically all books in the world are printed now.
12. Author copies are sent to writer, who, upon opening the book, finds TEN OTHER mistakes about which she can do absolutely nothing.
And it's a shame, too, because the writer's hair was just starting to grow back.
posted by Amy at 8:19 AM
2 Comments:
O.O Wow...um...Good job?
Amy, great post...made me smile. I thought your hair looked different...
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