agt_spooky | New ebook - still rolling right along!

Gosh, I just realized I haven't posted in the last few days. Work has been so stressful since I came back from DragonCon last week. My backup didn't do one single thing for me, so I spent last Wed-Fri trying just to get caught up on my backlog and this week just trying to keep my head above water with new orders, etc. I'm going to be taking at least 4 days off next month when lausbub0402 comes to visit me and if my backup screws me over again I don't know what I'll do.

Adding to my stress level is that my new ebook, Memory's Prisoner, continues to move forward at Dreamspinner. The cover is being designed, I've just completed the paperwork for the official "blurb" and yesterday I received notice that it begins the editing process next Wednesday.

Why this stresses me out is that I belong to a Yahoogroup for authors at Dreamspinner and the topic of conversation lately has been on their editors. Some people have had horrible experiences where their book was just ripped apart and I just have this sinking feeling that I'm going to get one of those editors. [sigh] I was told that once I receive the first set of edits I have seven days to make the corrections (or refute them) and return the manuscript. Seven days?? That's it? I'm sorry, but I have a life and work and a family as well and if they expect me to rewrite whole sections in that short of a time frame (when they've had my book since April and have made me wait) I'm not sure what I'm going to do.

I'm worried now that I've gotten in over my head with this and it's going to end in disaster. I mean, I'm good with constructive criticism and grammar stuff, etc. But I'm not okay with someone telling me to rewrite it because they don't like it. I don't believe that's an editor's job, to interject their own personal feelings on a story. I walked away from having one of my stories published in a zine because the editor wanted the ending rewritten the way she wanted it. Sorry, that's not how it works with me. If there are questions on plot points or suggestions, I'm definitely open to that. But if you don't personally care for a story doesn't make it bad. The next person might love it.

So yeah, I'm going to be a nervous wreck until I get that first set of edits. [sigh]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

((HUGS))
I have my fingers crossed for you.

Aww, thanks, sweetie! I’ll keep you guys updated.

I've thought about going for publication with some of my own stuff and have had similar misgivings. Seriously, if they don't like major elements of the story, they shouldn't have accepted it for publication. I hope that everything works out well for you and you just have minor changes requested. Let us know how things go.

And that’s what I’m hoping - someone there (supposedly) read the entire story and not just my query letter with the summary, so why bring me on board if they’re going to have any major issues with it?

I’ll definitely keep you guys updated!

I hope that you get a great editor and your fears are put to rest. Besides you I have 2 friends on my f-list that are published by Dreamspinner. The first just seems to put it out there that she never has a problem and really why would ANYBODY change anything about their story. 😳

The second is much more honest and says that she really like her editor and although it is stressful she feels it does make her stories better. I don't know if that helps at all but lets keep a positive attitude that you'll get a really great one. **hugs**

Wow, interesting! Thank you for that information. What are the chances that you’d know two people already published by Dreamspinner?

I’m glad to know that at least the edits the second person talks about are actually beneficial, which is what I’m hoping for with my story.

I’ll let you guys know how it goes!

Hmm that is interesting. A lot of the books I read, from various publishers have lots of simple errors in them. It makes it look like no one even bothered to edit it including the author and I'm sure some of them were from Dreamspinner. I've been thinking about publishing some stuff so this makes me pause as well. Keep us updated.

I, too, have run across my fair share of errors in various books published by smaller firms. It makes me wonder how they escape the eye of more than one person reading/editing the story. But I’ll give them the benefit of the doubt as we’re all human and not perfect. But at the same time I hope it doesn’t happen to me! I’m going to have to be diligent in my own proofreading.

I’ll definitely let all of you know how it goes!

Helloooohooo worry head ;-) You sound as if it already happened to you. There is this concept of a reflecting universe, giving back what has been sent. And there is the concept of a reality, created by each and every one of us out of just our thoughts and expectations. So better start thinking of the nicest and most helpful editor you can imagine, right?!!! Yes :-))

Everyone’s telling me not to worry! LOL! But you’re right, I shouldn’t stress myself out about this. At least right now. :-)

Oooh, what you’re talking about reminds me of Supernatural! Remember “Hell House” with everyone thinking about the same thing and creating the tulpa? I can create my own awesome editor! LOL!

Oh no, don't worry!!, ( ok I know that if we tell you don't worry still you are going to be worried),

but try to not worry a lot, I mean it hasn't happen any of that yet,, so please try to not stress yourself, maybe the other people didn't write a good story, or who knows? If by any reason they try to change a crucial part of the story, (that I don't think that is going to happen to you, cause your writing is TERRIFIC!!) just tell them you don't want to change it, tell them that you want to be true to your story.

And about the date of the corrections, maybe you can negotiate the deadline date, probably they say 7 days so the people don't take a lot of time to revise the edits, you know how some people is..

Please don't stress yourself, that hasn't happened yet, besides You are a great writer, I know you are going to do a wonderful job. Be positive, *big hug*

Everyone’s telling me not to worry! LOL! But you’re right, I shouldn’t stress myself out about this. At least right now. :-)

I do know that they’re open to the author saying they don’t agree with the edits, so I can fight it if need be, but I really don’t want to have to argue with my new publisher right off the bat!

I’ll let you guys know what happens!

*gets fists ready in case I need to punch an editor in the nose*

MY CHAMPION! {{HUGS}}

I've never had substantive edits (major re-writes) from an epublisher, but then I've never published with Dreamspinner. I've only ever heard good things about them and know people who've published with them for years.

They'll use track changes and embedded comments and you'll go through, read them, resent them. Close the document. Think about them. Re-open the document a day or so later, then just click "Accept" for those you like, and add your own comment for those you don't want to make explaining why not. It's really rather painless. Usually my edits take me a single evening and it's not because I'm such a great writer.

After I get over my initial resentment (yes, every time) I usually just his "Accept all" then read through and see if anything strikes me as out of place after that. I think I'm the only person who does that, though.

OTOH, if they do ask you for a re-write, I suspect you will get more time if you choose to go forward with it. Or pull your story.

I turned out to be pretty unhappy with my recent publishing experience so I'm going to try self-publishing next. You certainly could, too!

Ok, Gina, I think you jinxed me or something. No sooner had I read your comment here than my edits showed up! LOL!

I really laughed when I read “and you'll go through, read them, resent them” - so I was preparing myself for when I opened my document. :-)

Thankfully, if you saw my post this morning, my edits turned out to be a breeze. The majority was all grammatical stuff and she only wanted me to rewrite four sentences. Seriously. I didn’t disagree with anything she said, so I should be able to get everything done in one evening and send it back. Made me feel good as an author that my writing is strong enough not to be picked apart. ‘Cause man, some of the people on my discussion list have had real problems!

Self-publishing - I’ve thought about it more than once and have talked to Laura Waskey about it since she’s done it once. Hardest part seems to be formatting the book correctly for Smashwords, etc. She had to finally hire someone to do that for her. But other than that it sounds feasible to do. I’m keeping my options open!

You hire someone to format your books. Costs >$100.

I'm so glad you were pleased with you edits. I've been asked huge things from S&S, and not all of them for the better.

I love your icon, btw!

Ooh, less than $100, eh? That’s definitely doable. And would save a lot of headaches. I definitely might go that route next. While I haven’t had any problems with Dreamspinner (so far) it’s been hard waiting so long. I submitted in April and won’t be published until probably late November/early December. Self publishing is much quicker!

I love your icon, btw!

Feel free to appropriate for yourself! It’s looking for another good home. :-)

New ebook - still rolling right along!

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