I’ve spent the past 24 hours setting up my Facebook page and Twitter account, and tweaking my website a bit more. I feel like I’m cleaning house in preparation for this new novel. Currently, my husband is taking the first read-through of it, viewing it from a reader’s perspective so that I know where to go from here. I’m both nervous and excited about this, knowing its far from perfect, but anxious to finally be able to talk about key points in the story that take my own breath away.
Side note – he’s already come to me in tears over the very first twist. 😀
The editing process is going to take awhile. After my husband reads it, I will start dissecting the story piece by piece. I will take out the parts that don’t work and expand on the parts that do. I will focus on the details that stand out vividly in my mind but still aren’t translating well on the page. And when I feel I couldn’t possibly change another word, I hand it off to my mother (an avid reader and meticulous editor) to start the process all over again.
Only after that will it go to the professional editor.
I think it’s important to have people you trust do the first read throughs. They’re going to be much kinder to you in those first delicate days of newborn bookhood. I chose two people I know who will give me an honest opinion without totally putting me to shame, who understand almost as much as I do how much this story is a part of me.
There’s so much work to be done before this book emerges into the public eye. And it’s hard not to be impatient. I’ve slated the soft launch for spring of 2013, though I think it will be more like very late spring. I don’t want to give you anything less than perfect.
In the meantime, follow me on Facebook and Twitter (@crissilangwell) to keep up on how the novel is coming along, and to be the first to know when it’s ready for you to read. I can’t even begin to tell you how I excited I am for when you can finally hold this book in your hands!