Final Edit - Rewrite

After making necessary changes to the first edit I uploaded the file and waited for round two, which would take three weeks.

Upon receiving the second edit I reviewed the changes and agreed with most. However, before I uploaded the changes, I submitted a copy of the manuscript to a friend of my wife's who taught advance writing.

I waited for her analysis of my work, which was like waiting for your English teacher to grade and return your research paper. This conjured up nightmares from papers past that looked as though they bled to death with all the red ink flowing from every sentence.

Actually the results was better than expected. She went a little crazy removing commas and consolidating sentences. The most important comment was to position the chapter describing the promise closer to the beginning of the book. Since two other readers made the same suggestion, I took it to hart.

So I had a book that had gone through two edits, thus should be ready for the next step towards publishing, and in this final hour needed to be rewritten!! I WAS NOT A HAPPY CAMPER.

Deep down inside I knew it had to be done, but I was so close to the finish line after three years, I had to have a frank discussion with myself about the importance of doing what needed to be done.

My concern was that I had used up the two edits that were part of my package, so who could I get to edit the rewrite? My wife! Thank God she is an excellent writer and well read. Together we moved sections of the book around and after a couple of months we both agreed that the story flowed better.

In order to improve my confidence level regarding the changes, I searched for a couple of new readers. One was my previous supervisor from the company I worked for. From past experience I knew she would give me an honest evaluation of my work. I arranged a lunch meeting with her and asked that she read my manuscript and give me her reaction.

After giving her the manuscript, the next day I received her email stating that she thought that the book was compelling and that she couldn't put it down until she finished reading it.

The second selected reader was my art mentor. Frank was well read and bluntly honest. I gave him the manuscript and left town for a few days - there isn't a connection between giving him the manuscript and leaving town!

When I returned, I stopped by his art studio only to find he wasn't there but he would return shortly. I paced the floor waiting for his judgement. Frank walked into the studio looking somewhat remorseful while shaking his head slowly from side to side.

I could have kicked my heart across the floor. The smile on my face when he walked in had melted into a pool of despair. Then he started his first sentence that emphasized that it wasn't what he expected. After a long pause he added that it far exceeded his expectations and that he was disappointed that it ended!

The book changes were two for two! NEXT