Edits, Round 2- An Emotional Roller Coaster Ride

I started my day feeling a little down. I had no sub job planned and few jobs I could apply for online. I figured I would spend the day working on Coming Home, my 2nd Scottish novella & prepping my lessons for my online class that starts tomorrow. THEN I got my 2nd round of edits for Her Highland Champion from my editor. So I switched modes and focused on the edits. They weren't terribly difficult. For the most part it was just accepting what suggestions she'd given me. But then in her email she also mentioned that I should be super careful because she would not be reading the entire manuscript again and this would be our last time working on it together for a while. After she goes over the changes I make, she'll be sending it up the chain to the Line Editor.

As I finished the revisions, I found myself feeling less competent and confident. Again I thought, "Seriously? Somebody believes in this story enough (besides me) to expect people to pay money for it?" I completed the edits quickly, but then I decided to reread the entire thing to make sure it flowed like I wanted and to catch any other typos or "bad" word choices my editor and I had missed. Of course, she'd already done a fantabulous job so I had little to worry about. But the rereading took a lot longer than I thought. (Granted, part of that might've been because I was watching the Rose Bowl game too. Yay Ducks!!) Well after dinner time I emailed the round back to my editor.

My low confidence continued because I also had to ask her what the heat level of my story is. I've spent so much time writing my full-length romantic suspenses that focused more on the suspense than the romance, and Her Highland Champion is so much more focused on the romance than I'm used to. Again, I was feeling out of my element. It didn't matter that after talking to my editor I realized my 1st guess for heat level was right on target. I still felt somewhat incompetent. I also started examining this whole writing business as a business again, something I'm still getting used to.

I imagine I'll go through roller coaster emotions throughout this process from contract to cyber shelf  and I've decided that's okay. This is ALL new to me. I'm supposed to need guidance. And, smart woman that I am, I'll keep asking questions so I can learn.

So now, at the end of my day, I feel better, more confident. (Of course, getting picked as Teacher of the Month at my part-time job didn't hurt either!) I have no idea what tomorrow will bring, but I can't wait to find out!