Coffee from Stepheye
That’s how I perceive my Editor, as I sit with a coffee at my laptop. However, working with an Editor is harder than I imagined. He scrutinises ever word and detail, and then asks me to re-word, re-write or remove it completely.
I always wondered how it would feel when an Editor would put lines through my work. Now I’m at that junction I find that it’s not as bad as I imagined. Yes, he may discard some prose I’m proud of, but I can view it from a reader’s point of view and see that it’s surplus to requirement. It doesn’t move the story along.
I don’t know whether this is normal, but after reading my novel six times so far, I’m almost tiring of it. I push through this and then I find something I’d forgotten about allowing it to carry me along like a feather in a storm. I’m suddenly revitalised.
Working with a Editor means I’m getting an honest view of my work. He makes me criticise and amend my words until it flows more readily for the reader. But he also energises me. His enthusiasm is like a cold hand on a fevered brow, and I welcome his emails with only a soupcon on trepidation.
Everyone has talent. What is rare is the courage to follow that talent to the dark place where it leads.
Erica Jong
Happy Word Flow One & All, and welcome to the new followers.
Hemmie Martin 