I’m steadily working through the printed out version of
Penny Royal I: Isobel, but it is a bit of a grind. Certainly I’m finding
mistakes but after just reading a few pages I start to lose concentration and
find myself just reading instead of looking for errors. I can claim that this
is due to various distractions in my life just lately, like my mother dying a
week or so ago and Caroline having undergone a major operation and now slowly
recovering here, but I have reached this stage in every book I’ve written. When
does one send a book in to the publisher? It would be nice to say it is when
you have ironed out every error, when it is perfect and polished and clear and
exact. However, in my case, the reality is that it goes off to the publisher
when the thought of further editing makes me feel a little ill, and when, while
doing that further editing I find myself making alterations not so much to
correct mistakes, but out of boredom.
After I've emailed this book to Macmillan I think it will be time for me to take a break. Maybe I should just sit and read books for a week or two (when not spending some time clearing out my mother's house) maybe just watch some TV ... or, more likely, the work-ethic monkey on my back will start pinching my ear and I'll probably turn to editing the next book.
9 comments:
well i'd definitely have some time off whilst caroline is recovering if you can, plus that means you'll be fresher editing the next one.
besides doesn't peter still have a red pen?
It's not a red pen, Daniel, it's a SCARY pencil.
You remind me of a remark attributed
to Truman Capote; to paraphrase it
from memory:
"A writer never finishes a book.
One day he just takes it out into
his yard and shoots it."
My sympathies for the loss of your
mother.
Ian
Crikey, you're being put through the mill lately.
I think you could afford some time off with all that going on.
Looking forward to reading your new book tomorrow. Thursday is a funny day for a book launch, isn't it?
Love that, Ian. I'll have to see if I can find the exact quote.
Andrew, not as much of a mill as Caroline is going through at the moment, believe me.
Well, I did mean both of you.
I hope she gets well soon.
Give yourself a break man. You keep pushing you to one side and you'll be in the sh1t as well.
Sorry for your loss.
Post a Comment