Confessions of a Non Editor
Confession: I was truly ignorant in regards to the process of writing/preparing a novel for publication. Having just finished the developmental editing phase of publication, I can say without a doubt: I was right. Enter: My Editor. Btw, my editor is fabulous. I was finally given a little direction on major edits. And I loved it! the developmental editing experience was not just essential to get Diamonds in Auschwitz ready for true book form, but it was an amazing lesson.
The Courage to be Naked
After I finished my first draft of Diamonds in Auschwitz, I wanted to hide my manuscript in a box, under my bed, never to see the light of day again. Why would I want to hide my pages? A book is not a book without readers? Showing them to the world, letting others judge them – it’s like walking around naked. Handing over my story to other people was a tremendously terrifying thing for me. I had to close my eyes, take a deep breath and tap the key.
Confidence is not ‘They will like me.’ Confidence is ‘I’ll be fine if they don’t.’
Sending a manuscript to publishers is a fresh new hell, especially for those who suffer from low confidence and/or crippling imposter syndrome. In all my classes during undergrad, which I took ALL the creative writing ones, never was it mentioned the fortitude of spirit that would be needed to be a writer. Not everyone will like what I wrote, and I will be fine even if they don’t.