It was only hours after Friday’s blog that The Letter was delivered. Exactly how many hours later, I don’t know. I came home after driving 120 miles, dodging semis and their rainspray on I-70 (we’d been at my nephew’s college graduation), to a thick, bubble-pack envelope with my marked-up manuscript and the accompanying editorial comments.
As editorial letters go, it’s rather short in comparison to many. It’s 10 paragraphs on 3 pages – really, 2 pages if it weren’t on letterhead – with the first and last paragraphs reminding me that they still love The Seventh Level. Paragraph number 3 is simply there to set up the next 5 paragraphs, each addressing issues they have with 5 plot points. That’s 9 paragraphs. And while I expected paragraph #2, the terror still struck when I saw it ... or, more accurately, this phrase:
“ ... aim to cut 50 pages.”
I’m sure my editor does not count the solitary line on page 6 at the end of Chapter 1 as a page. She means I need to cut 20% of the words. Bring this baby in from 62,500 to 50,000 ... and, at the same time retain the energy and the nuances and the immediacy and everything they love about the book.
I had a busy weekend so I haven’t yet looked at her guidance on the manuscript itself, pencil scratches that should pull me through this and help me write a better book. But I will look at them ... later ... after I’ve absorbed some of the pow of The Letter, and I’ve moved my indicator needle from panic to determination.
- Mood:
AHHHHH!!!
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jodyfeldman- Jody Feldman
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But I eventually did it, as I know you will do it, and I couldn't then really put my finger on what went missing (well, there were interesting minor characters who became more truly minor, but putting the focus more on where it belonged...)
You'll get there in good time. But. Ouch.
It's always great to hear battle stories from others, so thanks for that!
I hope they've given you plenty of time. Good luck! You can do it, but give yourself enough time to get into the right mindset. You were just celebrating....
No problem, though.
-Amy
For me, cutting this is sort of like the puzzles I put in the book ... challenging, but solvable.