Comments on: Proposal to Publication – Part 3 of 5

By: Colleen Coble

Colleen Coble — Mon, 03 Aug 2009 15:34:09 +0000

>I looove getting the editorial letter! It's my favorite part of the process. I'm suddenly no longer pulling a very heavy wagon by myself, but another pair of oxen are pulling with me. This is where the whole writing process gets exciting. I can see new possibilities and new direction. And yes it's work but oh it's so worth it!

By: Rachelle

Rachelle — Thu, 23 Jul 2009 17:27:06 +0000

>If you’re a writer, you MUST be completely comfortable working in MS Word and using Track Changes and Comments. If you don’t know how to use those functions, team up with a writing buddy, pass manuscripts back and forth via email, and LEARN.

By: Beth

Beth — Thu, 23 Jul 2009 15:12:06 +0000

>I echo everyone’s comments. I just finished my women’s fiction MS and am working with a professional editor in Sept. Hopefully, it will be in great shape before I send it to agents (you’re on my list, of course). Good to know about that loooong editorial memo. That would have scared me, too. Deep breath.On the electronic tracking, for those of us who aren’t familiar with that, is there a how-to anywhere on the web so we can get up to speed beforehand?Thanks for all the great info!

By: Heidi Willis

Heidi Willis — Wed, 22 Jul 2009 19:54:14 +0000

>This is so timely… it is exactly where I am in the process, so I am soaking all this up!Thanks for rerunning this for those of us who weren’t around – or weren’t at this stage – when you wrote it the first time!

By: Jody Hedlund

Jody Hedlund — Wed, 22 Jul 2009 18:26:00 +0000

>Thanks for running this series again, Rachelle. I’m learning so much!

By: Dara

Dara — Wed, 22 Jul 2009 17:29:22 +0000

>Just reading about the editorial memo or editor’s letter is enough to freak me out! 😛 But it’s a part of the process, so it’s just something I’m going to have to work through when I get there 🙂

By: thespectacleblog

thespectacleblog — Wed, 22 Jul 2009 15:56:16 +0000

>I’ve also never heard of the “welcome packet.” Sounds nice!I think you forgot to mention the best part of signing with a publisher: free books! I’ll take a “welcome box of books” over a “welcome packet” any day.Parker P

By: Jenni Saake (a.k.a. InfertilityMom)

Jenni Saake (a.k.a. InfertilityMom) — Wed, 22 Jul 2009 15:35:17 +0000

>I was one who freaked out over the editorial memo! LOL But it is such a needed step! I think just knowing what to expect is valuable. Loving your advice to “feel the pain” then move on to the work. 🙂

By: Nicola Morgan

Nicola Morgan — Wed, 22 Jul 2009 14:20:18 +0000

>Very clear and helpful as always – and I’m just adding my comment because though I’m in the UK, (like Bookmaven), I DO recognise every bit of the process you described – including the “welcome package”! When my editor and I are going through the electronic editing stage, we tend to use different colours, and the idea is that when we’re both happy with a bit it get s to go back to black, but meanwhile every colour in the rainbow is used as we argue about things!Word verification: coloric!

By: Eric

Eric — Wed, 22 Jul 2009 13:02:38 +0000

>Another interesting aspect you’ve uncovered for us. I’m glad you told us about the length of editorial memos, since I’m probably one of those ones who would have freaked out. This series is really well written, and I’m glad you’re putting it out there for us to go through. Thanks alot.

By: Angie Ledbetter

Angie Ledbetter — Wed, 22 Jul 2009 12:49:08 +0000

>Hope your time off is wonderful and relaxing!

By: Book Maven

Book Maven — Wed, 22 Jul 2009 09:53:15 +0000

>I have had over ninety books published with a wide variety of houses and have NEVER received any kind of “welcome packet”! Is this some kind of US procedure? (Though I’m published there too).I think new writers would really benefit from learning something about the editing methods preferred by their editor. I was at a writers’ retreat last week and there was a wide variety, from oral discussion only to mauscripts covered in red pen, of editing styles.Again maybe this is a UK thing but we agreed that every time you have a new editor you should have a discussion with them about how to make this often fraught relationship work best for the two of you.