What We're Writing Week: Julia is Copyediting

 JULIA SPENCER-FLEMING: I'm occasionally having to pinch myself, because it's been such a long time, but it appears AT MIDNIGHT COMES THE CRY is really, truly happening. I've had meetings about authors who might generously give a blurb, been assigned a publicist, and I recently got the copyedits to work on.

When I started in this business, the copyedits arrived as an actual printed manuscript, the same one I had sent in, with mark-ups in yes, you guessed it, red pencil. The author had to respond in blue pencil, and if you wanted to add anything, like a better turn of phrase or a bit of explanation, you had to handwrite it. Publishing has NEVER been a technology-forward industry (the Gutenberg press exempted.)

I was fine with the old way, but I have to admit, having the designer's and copy editor's notes in comments in Word, and being to make changes without trying to squeeze them in between double-spaced sentences, is a pretty sweet upgrade.

The first thing I did when I got my packet was read the Author Instructions, which carefully lay out how to respond to comments, make changes, etc. There were several places urging me to call or email with questions, leading me to suspect the average publishing company doesn't have a lot of confidence in the ability of writers to follow directions. Fair enough.

Then I read through the notes, to get an idea of how big a job I had in front of me, and what the larger issues needing fixing were. I tackled those first, and afterwards went through page by page,  changing or agreeing or STETting. We don't actually STET anymore, and I have to admit, I did enjoy a large, slashing STET scrawled in the margins, conveying with my penmanship my incredulity that anyone would make this suggestion.

At this point, I've finished all the copy editor and designer's queries, so yay for me! The next task is to insert a few bits and pieces that will better prepare the audience for some events at the end of the book. Finally, I'll do a line edit, looking for places I have an awkward phrase, or use the same word twice in close succession, or just have an unnecessarily over-stuffed sentence. The edits are due back by April 4, and I'm very happy to say I won't have any issue getting them in on time! (That's a first for me...) Then it's on to the next book.

 

And now for something completely different! I'm one of some 250 authors participating in Crime Writers for Trans Rights, an online auction benefiting the Transgender Law Center. You can bid on fun crafts, character names, signed books, audiobook narration, professional research assistance, conference registrations, and in my case, a 30 page manuscript review and an in-person (or in-Zoom) coaching session! I hope you'll check it out and find something fabulous.