Thursday, April 14, 2011

Learning to Let Go

There comes a time in the editing phase when we have to let go and say, ‘It is done’. This is often one of the more difficult things to do. Many of us writers believe we can’t truly finish a piece because we are always learning, always evolving, always improving. It takes practise to learn, patience to keep editing, and then it takes courage to let go and send the work out into the big, wide, scary world.

So, how do we know when a piece is ready? Potential is there if:
  • We’ve slaved over the manuscript for more than a mere three drafts.
  • We’ve line edited and copy edited and gone slightly insane through the yearning for perfection.
  • We’ve had the manuscript critiqued by fellow writers who know more than a smattering about the industry.
  • We’ve considered the opinions of beta readers. Note: at least one of your readers should reflect the market you’ve aimed your novel toward. For example, if you write for young adults, then you should get a young adult to read it.
  • And, if we have the money, then our manuscript has a greater chance of reaching its full potential if we pay for a professional edit.

Do you have trouble letting go? Are there any stages you’re tempted to leave out?


Note: This post is part of the A-Z Challenge. To learn more about the challenge click the image on my sidebar.

30 comments:

Nas said...

Oh, if only we had money to pay for the full, professional edits before sending it out!

Nice post and all so true!

Carol Riggs said...

Good point about having teens read YA manuscripts. I probably should more than I do/have, but hey, agents and editors aren't children, and THEY are the ones who decide if the book should fly.

Years ago, I used to have my niece read my stuff, and she'd share them with her friends. I had a little "fan club" for a while. Very satisfying. :) But my niece has grown up and so the last 2 years I've been lacking a teen audience. So now I rely on my lovely critters!

DEZMOND said...

you've chosen a very profound, charming and suggestive pic for this post, Lyndylove!

Sarah said...

Yes--I love my teen beta reader. She doesn't give me a huge amount of feedback, but whenever she says something, it's always completely on point and useful. I don't really have trouble letting go of my mss because I edit pretty obsessively as I go.

Unknown said...

Yes, I'd leave out the whole process if I could! I'm almost satisfied when it has been edited by someone else, but can always find faults, even then...

Luanne G. Smith said...

I nearly wrote about this for K - knowing when it's done. I have a tough time with this because I love to revise. I've let go of my ms before only to pick it up again and tinker with it some more. This is the last revision, though, and I mean it. Done. I think.

Lynda R Young as Elle Cardy said...

Nas, I do think professional edits are worth the money.

Carol, nice to have a fan club ;) And also nice to have awesome critters (which I do)

Dez, I'm glad someone noticed because it took me AGES to find it. I went through so many of my pics and yet none were right...until I stumbled on that one. It was taken in Mudgee during another driving holiday. The cow toy is from Bega (a cheese making region).

Lynda R Young as Elle Cardy said...

Sarah, yep, it doesn't have to be a lot. Even one useful tip is golden.

Carole, hahaha you made me laugh. Yep same. I always let my stories/novels rest and I'm always fixing them.

L G Smith, hehe I hear ya!

Alex J. Cavanaugh said...

I'm a perfectionist, so it's tough sometimes.

Jai Joshi said...

I tell myself that the revision process is over when I've said everything I wanted to say in the best way I could have said it. That's when it's over. Otherwise I slave and slave and slave.

Jai

Emily Rose said...

These are great tips, thank you!

Unknown said...

I still have to learn how to let go. It's just so hard to know when it's time.

Natascha said...

I have no problems letting go. I see it as a checklist where I feel SOOOO much better when it's done!

Tuneroll said...

Haha agree with above!

Unknown said...

I am SOOO not ready to send out my manuscript! (I can't actually tick off anything on that list yet!)

Lynda R Young as Elle Cardy said...

Alex, yep, but it's worth it in the end

Jai, and slave

Emily, you're welcome

Anne, that's why a second opinion helps

Las Vegas, checklisting is good. BTW I love your new photo. Very swish :)

Discovery, cool

Rachel, but the time will come...

Trisha said...

I can't wait till I get to that point - when I can say, "Okay, ENOUGH with the editing!"

Amie Kaufman said...

It's difficult to know when to send something on its way! There's always a comma to be shifted!

Tony Payne said...

It's very true, no matter how good you think a piece of writing is, it can always be tweaked and improved upon. At some point you have to draw the line and hit the publish button.

Old Kitty said...

I find it easier to let go of a short story after it has been read and re-read by CPs. I'm yet to let go of my current wip though! :-) Take care
x

Robyn Campbell said...

All great advice, Lynda. I am thinking of paying for a professional edit. I'd rather win one though. *wink*

I especially love #four. So important.

Summer Ross said...

stages tempting to leave out- yup- editing...lol

Anonymous said...

I stumbled upon you via the A-Z Challenge, and am now a follower! Enjoyed reading all of your posts, and looking forward to the remainder.

And yes, I have a hard time letting go. Even on excerpts of released books, I still want to revise. :(

Unknown said...

I'm tempted to leave out all the editing phases but I think my editor would kill me. I've edited my current project so many times, I'm sick of it. But, I'm hoping the readers will be happy with all the effort I'm putting in.

M Pax said...

I'm sick of revisions at this point, too. I've revised my first novel so many times, I have no idea what's in it any more.

Started a new project. So, after this I get to revise / edit novel#2 and the new project.

Wish I had the money for pro editing, too.

Lynda R Young as Elle Cardy said...

Trisha, same here

Amie, yep, I have that problem too

Poddys, exactly

Old Kitty, good luck with the letting go process

Robyn, winning a professional edit would be awesome

Summer, hehe

Anne, welcome! The challenge has been fantastic for meeting new people hasn't it :)

Clarissa, lol yep, I think editors have their own persoanl hell and don't need us adding to it ;)

M Pax, hahaha that's when a break is important too

Stratoz said...

have discovered many a writer through the a-z and it often makes me think of my stained glass work. I can keep tweaking a design I am drawing, but sooner or later I need to make the piece. In my case, if I don't like the result I can tweak the design again. Have a great day and may the wisdom of knowing when to let go be with you.

Lynda R Young as Elle Cardy said...

Stratoz, it's great to hear it from an artist's point of view. Same principle. Thanks.

Suzanne said...

This is such a complete list. I hope this was helpful to many readers of your blog. You've put so much together in this one post.

Lynda R Young as Elle Cardy said...

Suzanne, thanks, I hope so too.