Editorial Letters
June 19th, 2008 by --KALEB NATION--
Today was the day I received my first Editorial Letter for Bran Hambric: The Farfield Curse, and I realize that since loads of the people who read this site are writers as well, some of you might find this interesting.
An Editorial Letter is the first professional edits that an author receives from their publisher for the manuscript. Its purpose is to take my writing and make it the best it possibly can. Authors have a tendency to love their own work and ignore its apparent flaws (we have to love it, otherwise there’d be no point in writing it). Editors, however, have trained eyes for how to make things better, and work their hardest to make newbie writers like me sound professional. It is of great importance, as demonstrated by the below illustration:
This editorial letter is the first step in getting the book ready to be published. Editorial letters do not go into punctuation or spelling mistakes (which happens later with a copyeditor) but rather overall plot and concepts and larger parts of the book which need tightening up.
I shan’t show you my editorial letter, but this might be what part of someone else’s could look like:
- Sherman P should know that Granny’s Magic Box will destroy the universe 100 pages earlier than you have it. Otherwise, he would have tossed it down Mrs. Lovett’s Corpse Chute.
- There is a certain monkey in every chapter until chapter 23, when he unexpectedly jumps off Mount Slowmore. I am curious as to the point of wasting words on him if he does nothing.
- Change Edlardo Chullens’s name to something more palatable. Like…Edward something.
- There is already a famous frog named Kermit. He will always be more famous than your frog named Kermit. Change his name. Or turn him into a mutant turtle.
- Chapters 13-17 become slow when Protagonist tells the Long Saga of Grandmother’s Achy Breaky Bones. Fix that, unless this is intended as an intermission time. I realize some people might enjoy taking naps through books here and there. If intentional, good idea.
- Your major villain happens to share my name. I’m hoping this is a recurring typo.
(all snarkiness courtesy of me and bearing no resemblance to my editor’s own polite notes)
The changes are more so a broad overview of tiny tweaks to be made to make it better.
Mine are thankfully very merciful, well-directed, and I can already imagine the wonders they will work. I have heard horror stories from other authors who received 3-ring binders filled with post-its, blue ink, Sharpie markings, and chocolate to alleviate the murderous rage subsequently directed towards their editor. I got the impression that the aforementioned 3-ring-binder was immediately tossed into here:
Mount Doom
I, on the other hand, have been looking forward with great anticipation to get to these edits. It is not every day, obviously, that a professional spends enormous amounts of time to make Your Book the best it can. Which makes editing this a labor of love 
. I shall keep you all updated on future progress.
Posted in Bran Hambric, Writing
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June 19th, 2008 at 8:09 pm
Haha. Glad you didn’t receive a whole 3-ring binder’s worth of edits.
Man, then you’d be *really* busy.
June 19th, 2008 at 11:16 pm
Funny. As a writer, it’s often hard to look at the big picture of the story and find your own mistakes over a broad area. A 3-ring binder just would’ve meant your story made no sense at all. Good thing it was mostly readable.
(haha, Edlardo Chullen….Edward Cullen)
June 20th, 2008 at 12:53 am
[...] to receiving the editorial letter for my novel and having to do some intense thinking on it, there will be no (real) post today, Friday, June 20. [...]
June 20th, 2008 at 1:09 am
That was a funny post. Really glad that you didn’t get a huge amount of notes, and that your story is actually understandable!
June 20th, 2008 at 1:23 am
This makes me happy to know how the editing process starts. I’ve heard the same ghastly horror stories but I’m glad to hear yours is going well thus far.
June 20th, 2008 at 1:25 am
Oh, and I loved your example editorial letter. I cracked up laughing, which isn’t that great of an idea since it’s 1:30 in the morning and my irritable brother is in the next room sleeping =)
June 20th, 2008 at 2:05 am
I’d be so excited to get an editorial letter! Go ninja, go ninja go!
June 20th, 2008 at 7:55 am
Editorial letter? I wish… Very jealous. ^.^
June 20th, 2008 at 8:45 am
..Im scared…
I dont think I want to get published…
June 20th, 2008 at 9:36 am
lol. i can’t wait to read your book.
And i just love the name Edlardo Chullen. lol
June 20th, 2008 at 8:50 pm
Wow! I’m siked about getting one, too now! Those edits would be interesting and fun (in a way) to read.
I’m happy that you got yours! That means that the process of getting your book published is moving right along!
Hope all turns out well,
Abby
June 20th, 2008 at 9:54 pm
omg…so that’s what it takes to be a writer…omg…3 ring binder with post it’s and so?! :O
I guess i’ll be an editor instead of a writer in the future..bahahahahaha..
June 20th, 2008 at 9:54 pm
i appreciate your snarkiness. snarkiness is fun.. as long as its not directed at me, ya know?i’m glad your book is on its way though! i really can’t wait to read it. seriously.
Corinne!
[ha, dont you love how i'm spamming the comments on this site too?]
June 20th, 2008 at 9:55 pm
post-it
I guess i’ll suck as an editor too..oh well..
June 20th, 2008 at 11:29 pm
HOW EXCITING! Gah, if I ever get to the day when the first draft of my book is done I’ll be overjoyed. But an Editor’s Letter! That is something to be revered. I worship thee, O Finisher Of Manuscripts!
June 21st, 2008 at 5:00 pm
Wow, that must’ve been really exciting!! I am so happy fo ryou even though I don’t know you but still. There was one part that stuck out to me though: - Change Edlardo Chullens’s name to something more palatable. Like…Edward something.
That just cracked me up. Edlardo Chullen, that name made me smile.
I can’t wait till it gets published so I could go to the book store and buy it!
June 21st, 2008 at 7:10 pm
Thanks Kaleb, I like knowing what is going on with a “Newbie” writer. I think its awesome that your getting the book published. GOOD LUCK!!
June 21st, 2008 at 7:21 pm
Yeah, congratulations on the book. I absolutely love your sites, probably the Twilight site more, but that stands to reason.
A few random words for you - tremendous, contextual, piddling, scansion, altruistic, and hypotenuse. Doesn’t random things just fill you with such joy?
June 22nd, 2008 at 11:26 am
hey..K!
I’m seeing on your sidebar that you’re reading Looking for Alaska I’ve heard it’s good. Do you recommend it?
June 22nd, 2008 at 10:53 pm
Haha I like the Twilight reference! It made me giggle :0)
June 23rd, 2008 at 12:09 am
[...] and then I will be much free-er to get back with everyone’s emails. However, I just received the editorial letter for my novel. Thus, following June 27, my email-answering speed will fall again while I work on that. But I will [...]
June 23rd, 2008 at 1:38 am
Aw…I was writing a couple notes of my own after reading your first chapters (very fun, btw), but now I fear they would pale in comparison to the all-mighty editor’s notes. Congrats on the progress of the process!
June 23rd, 2008 at 9:50 am
Mmm, good stuff!
July 3rd, 2008 at 7:11 pm
[...] to receiving the editorial letter for my novel and having to do some intense thinking on it, there will be no (real) post today, Friday, June 20. [...]
July 19th, 2008 at 4:03 pm
Oink — that snark is all yours? Mine really do come that snarky! In a funny way, of course — but still, with the snarky.