Friday, October 03, 2014

Is it Finally Time to Query?

In one of my earlier posts, I mentioned my golden rule of writing is to wait until your work is totally ready to send out. That's not always easy. I don't always follow my own rule. I should.

Early yesterday morning, my freelance editor sent me my edits for my current WIP which is a book about a woman being stalked by a co-worker.

Once again, I was blown away by the suggestions given and the mistakes found in my work. She mentioned WEED words--we all use them. I must particularly like Again, Just, Really, Pretty, Over and Over, and Pile. Funny thing, I usually do a search for Just and Really but somehow missed them. Yup. All 190 of them.

Add a couple of floating body parts, spelling anyway with an s, and using too much information that didn't move the story forward and that was the beginning of my edits. There was more but all workable and helpful.

But here's what I learned again. Yes, I'll use that word--AGAIN. Why did I query a few places before waiting? I sat back in horror as I noticed a major error on my first page. That error probably made me look like a rooky writer.

Ooops.

Our brains can't always catch our mistakes in writing. Most of us aren't trained editors who take the time to read our words the way they do. My editor told me she read each page four times. Her dedication impresses me. She's in this process to help me succeed.

For that I'm grateful. I need to step out of my own way and learn the next golden rule in life--be patient.

Are you ready to query? Really ready?

6 comments:

Cynthia Herron said...

Terri, I love your cyber home! I want to jump in that photo with you!

Blessings on your writing.

Stacy Henrie said...

"Just" is my pet word, too! :)

Lillian Robinson said...

I think we miss them when we read through for the same reason we put them in there! It just flows... Thank goodness for editors! Can't wait to see this one snatched up! I loved it.

Carol Riggs said...

Wow, good thing you have a great editor, but argh on the queries you've already sent! I've done the same thing--thinking something was perfect or close to it, then a year later (or when a CP read it) discovering that wasn't so! Good luck! (with the query as well as being patient!)

Karen Lange said...

Good question! It's so helpful to have an editor and critique partners to help us on the journey. :)

Sharon K. Mayhew said...

It sounds like you have found a wonderful editor. I think finding some who loves your voice and wants to make it better is great.