Since I got home on Sunday, the only thing on my mind has been how to edit and revise my manuscript to make it as perfect as possible before sending it off to the requesting editors. Now, this isn't the first time I've edited or revised my MS.
I finished Ruby: Uncut and on the Loose on July 4th (cool, huh?) and put it down for about two weeks. I began editing on the computer, but after hearing someone say the best way to edit is to print your MS and read it out loud, I did just that. At that point, the editing process took on a life of its own. I had post-its and red ink all over my beautiful manuscript's pages. I took things out here, moved things around there, and when I turned the final page, I had a grin from ear-to-ear. I was finished! Right? Wrong. Oh, so wrong.
I'd been asked for a partial from an agent and was all set to send it out when a published author offered to look over my partial to make sure it was sparkling. Excited by this chance, I sent it to her and she had some suggestions for more revisions. Oh boy. So my baby still wasn't ready for its big debut? Eek! I revised everything she suggested and sent it off last week. That's one submission down.
But I still wasn't finished. When the editors requested fulls, I knew I had to apply all the techniques this lovely author recommended for the first 50 pages of the MS. I've read and edited and revised my MS at least four times since then. Do I think it's ready to go? Probably not. This puppy is getting the look over with a fine tooth comb. I hope *crosses her fingers* to have it ready to go on Tuesday. I don't want to wait any longer than that.
Is that too long between a request and submitting? I don't know. Part of me is also hoping the agent will get back to me and request the full before I send it to the editors, but I'm not holding my breath. Here's to hard work and bloody manuscripts!
Sweepstakes Featuring Primal Mirror
1 day ago
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I shoot for two weeks to get all material to agents/editors. I figure that's their attention span, since they recieve so much material. Good luck with the partial and Congrats!
ReplyDeleteSayde
I have revisions coming up for my first wip within the next few weeks. On one hand I'm looking forward to it, but on the other hand I'm sooo not.
ReplyDeleteI've discovered that revising a hard copy is actually the best way to go when I am polishing (as I have had to polish up bits and pieces of the wip for contests and such).
I'll still do my 1st round of revisions on the computer because I have lots of scenes and chapters to move around, but I will be printing this sucker out when I start the polishing process--again sooo not looking forward to that(lol).
Good luck with your submission, congrats on the request.
I totally recommend the AutoCrit Editing Wizard for polishing your manuscript. It really makes a difference -- and speeds up that final editing round, too!
ReplyDeleteAnd don't worry about how long you take to get your requested ms to the editors. I've always heard editors say they'd rather see your best effort than your fastest effort :-)