I received an email at the end of June telling me what my editor would be working on and a time line for all changes needed for her department. This is basically what the email said:
July 1-16 - I will edit the entire manuscript, watching for things such as plot formation, story arc, and character consistency. You won't hear much from me these first few weeks. But don't worry, I will be working hard molding and fine- tuning your manuscript.
July 16 - I will send you the edited manuscript, which will have problem areas and my suggestions highlighted. You will review these areas and approve, disapprove, or rewrite in a different font. You will need to return the manuscript to me (your editor) on July 30th and I will combine your edits.
That brings us to now. I received an email from my editor a few days ago with my edited manuscript attached. She read over my book and then only had a few suggestions for changes. Here is what she said about my book so far.
Hello Judi,
Here are my notes for your manuscript! What a cleaver take on -----------! (keeping that part a secret.) I think your children's book is adorable and can't wait to see it with illustrations. I only have a couple of suggestions for you.
Then she went on to tell me her suggestions. I saved the manuscript to my desktop with her suggestions added in a different color. My story had only 4 strikethroughs (which are words she suggests to be taken out), 3 areas of words she suggested should be added written in blue and one area that I needed to add a consequence. So I worked on my changes, making sure to highlight what I added in turquoise. I decided I will send it back to her in a day or two. I want to wait and reread it with fresh eyes tomorrow to see if I still like what I wrote.
Here is the remainder of my timeline with the editing department.
August 13 - I (your editor) will return the clean manuscript to you with the content approval form. You will look over the manuscript thoroughly and sign the form if you are content.
August 23- You will return the manuscript and content approval form to me and I will implement any changes and then move your manuscript on to our audio and design department.
I am getting excited again. There was a long period of waiting but now there are actual deadlines for me to meet. The first edit is the beginning of my deadlines. I think the changes will improve my story.
