Writing Advice: The Last 10 Pages
There is something about the final stages of the editing process that zaps me of energy and if I had to guess which part, I’d blame the analytical part of my brain. As a result, when I’m close to the end I just want to be done already and go back to the fun part of my job. Making up stuff for a living. 😉
Here’s how I define the stages of writing & editing a book:
Draft: the first finished copy of the manuscript
Revisions: the letter from the editor describing the big changes I need to make to the manuscript, basically a macro edit. Sometimes these accompany a manuscript, other times not.
Round 1 edits: the editor’s track changes within the manuscript pointing out areas that could be strengthened, and if you are lucky to have such an editor, plenty of “LOL!” and heart emoji comments.
Round 2 edits: Like revisions, I don’t always receive round 2’s, but I certainly have. Think of this as the last chance to tidy up before it’s off to…
Copyedits: usually an editor outside of the publishing house, this round of edits is about the necessary, seemingly persnickety, changes such as adding a comma here or correcting the proper use of the word “lay” there. Also essential for catching the moments you inadvertently changed your hero’s eye color or called him by the wrong name. Oops!
Galleys: for print books only, this round arrives on actual paper. Yes, from trees. This is your chance to view it in the exact format as the physical book. Big changes are not recommended here as it throws off the formatting for each and every page after, so tread lightly.
Which brings us back to today and my own burning desire to finish my Round 1 edits. This book has already been through revisions, and my method of attack worked so well, I’m planning a blog post “how-to” style for those of you who find yourself in the same “What the hell do I do now?!” pickle. With this particular editor, I know what to expect once I turn these edits in: Copyedits, and then we will be done.
I can taste the finish line.
I’m an achiever by nature, so having 12 pages left only serves to spur me on! My DO IT nature made me hunker down and dive in…and then I realized I’m really brain-tired today.
In the 7+ years I’ve been writing and editing books, I’ve learned a few things about myself. Today I did my scheduled four chapters (I always have a schedule—always!), and then blew by that goal by editing two more chapters. I noticed my focus wasn’t where it needed to be. I caught myself checking social media and getting easily distracted. That analytical part of my brain has been worn to the point of overuse. By mid-afternoon, I’m well and truly out of steam.
That leaves me with two options:
Finish it and pour myself a cocktail
Wait until I’m fresh tomorrow morning and finish it then
But here’s the truth behind sneaky option number one… If I’m tired and distracted but want to get ‘er done, isn’t it possible that my editors were, too? If so, maybe we’d all miss clunky sentence structure or the misuse of “lain.” (Always sounds wrong.) Despite no book ever being “perfect” and knowing that I’d have a chance to that last copyedit should have set me at ease.
My instinct told me to wait.
There have been times I’ve tackled those last 10-12 pages fresh, only to uncover some crucial part of the story I can pepper in at the end. I’ve added to the happily every after, I’ve added to an epilogue. Heck, I’ve added an epilogue! I can’t help but wonder where those stories would be if I hadn’t given myself the extra creative room to add something special when I could. Deadlines are tight sometimes, and you can’t. But this book is due end of day tomorrow and that leaves me just enough room to dally.
For that reason, I backed up my file (Pro tip: back up your file!) and shut down until tomorrow morning. When I’m properly caffeinated and settled into my chair, then I’ll give those final pages the respect they deserve. My hero and heroine have come a long, long way. I’m not bailing on them now.
Plus, I can still pour that cocktail. 🥂
xo, Jessica