Talk About Edits!

Wow, Penumbra Publishing is full steam ahead about edits! Now this is what I'm talking about when it comes to editing. Yes, I received my edited version of The Vase back yesterday, but it wasn't just one pass through. It was three. You can tell by the comments. You know, in the margin of the document, you see the initials of the editor on every comment? There are three different sets of comments. So three different passes by three different editors.

One of the things I've read and heard a few times from various places about writing and publishing is that you are best served when a publisher, or more specifically, an editor "owns" your manuscript. That is to say, an editor loves your novel as much as you do, wants the best for it as you do, and puts in the extra mile to make it as best as it can be, just as you would do. Well, Grayson Little is all about that. From the start, even before I signed the contract, I believe he was fully dedicated to making The Vase the best manuscript it could possibly be.

So why didn't he offer a contract right away? Because of the  nature of writers, that's why. A lot of writers are very sensitive. You know, they have a thin skin. And constructive criticism is not received well by a lot of writers. And then there is the reworking of the manuscript. It's a lot of work to rewrite a book that you have already written. A lot of writers don't want to do that. And it seems as though, through his experiences, he knows that he doesn't want to go through that again with a writer who's been contracted.

So I proved myself to him. And I have the contract. And he is "owning" my manuscript. And we are on the same page, pardon the pun. And as a result, The Vase is becoming a spectacular book with the most thorough editing I've ever received. And make no mistake. The Vase had already been edited twice before by two different publishers. And I've nothing negative to say about those other edits, but it's true that Penumbra has very strict guidelines, and they are sticking to them when it comes to how they want the books that they publish to be written.

So, yes, I am very happy to be scrutinized to this degree for The Vase. And I'm very happy to be with Penumbra. Look for The Vase soon, from Penumbra Publishing. Stay tuned.