I’ve been ill, slugging away at the “final” draft of The Next Novel in bed.
Yes: slugging. I find this final stage of taking a comma out and putting it back in (and more, I admit) somewhat tedious. I’m simply transferring my scribbled edits to a computer file, and I never (ever!) do this without thinking: could I contract this out?
The answer is: no. There are always mysteries that only I can solve. And, in truth, it is a pleasure to be so far along in the writing process to be obsessing about commas.
But I didn’t come here to complain, rather to share was looks like an inspiring blog: Brain Pickings, sent to me by a friend. Here’s a New York Times article on it. Cool. Tell me what you think.
And just so you know: I’m fully recovered. Every time I’m in the final stages of a novel I become convinced that I will die before it’s finished. Now, when that end-of-life conviction comes over me (and I wasn’t all that sick!), I think: Ah, almost there.
How do you respond in the final stages?
[Illustration: “Cork,” from the wonderful blog BibliOdyssey. Chosen for its many layers, so much like the process of building a novel.]
So glad to hear that you’re nearly done. I’ve had thoughts like that from time to time too
Thank you, Lilian! I’m not surprised. It’s tough!
As The Debut Novelist (me) does the final tweaks getting “the damned thing” ready for The Really Big Publisher, I know what you mean about separation anxiety, Sandra. I do proofread my own work. This time, however, I’ll get the ms proofread by my sister before sending it off. She’s a great proofreader, the best we’ve found so far. She doesn’t change anything, unless it’s super obvious – just makes comments, and then I can review yet again.
Hi Sheryl! You are fortunate to have a good proofreader-sister. I find that even when a file has been combed over a dozen times, there are still errors. It’s amazing! Good luck with The Really Big Publisher!
That looks fabulous! Thanks for sharing the link. And, yes, as frustrating as the comma-obsession stage can be, it’s reassuring in knowing you are at that stage. Absolutely.
Thank you, Jessica. I think part of the trauma is separation anxiety!