After completing the manuscript for Sit and Wait, the challenge arose of organizing twenty-seven stories, which was a collaborative effort with my Uncle Terry. The stories span forty years, featuring different characters of various ages and points of view (not all of whom are human).
The central theme is a fictional community in North Central Florida between the 1940s and the 1980s, and what life was like during this era. Writing the stories my uncle and I personally experienced, knew of, or heard about was the easy part; however, the editing process is a lot more work, and for good reason.
It mattered to establish the next step in the editing process. Editing these stories began between the two of us, with a focus on the correct usage of terms and descriptions for specific items, as well as minor details that bring the stories to life.
Phase two of the editing process involved hiring a professional editor, MK, to suggest further editing tips that would help build these stories into a cohesive collection with stronger unity.
I sent MK six stories at a time over four months for her critique. I wanted more than just the aspects of proofreading for grammar and punctuation, especially when it came to character dialogue. I needed MK to help refine any flow, historical context, or confusion in the writing to improve readability and understanding.
The fact that MK is part of the younger generation was extremely helpful. She identified a lapse in consistency and was able to ask questions about word usage, such as unfamiliar terms, historical context, and minor details (items no longer in use), and suggested that the writing include explanations of how different things were done (in a short time ago). Her perspective was invaluable.
My challenge was to keep track of her comments and our progress during the editing process. I created a chart, see the photograph, which illustrates this blog. I listed the stories as I worked on them— not in chronological order. I recorded the dates when I did my edit before sending them to MK, when she returned her edits to me, and then the final edits I made based on her critique and suggestions.
This chart kept me accountable and motivated me to achieve my goal. The editing process also helped to knit the stories into a concise collection. Each short story is complete unto itself, unlike writing chapters to create a flow in a novel until the end. Yet the stories need to work together to establish a central theme that they share. The editing process helped to achieve this objective.
There are still some wrinkles I need to smooth out regarding a preface to explain the time frame and add more historical context to strengthen the stories' connection to one another.
Currently, I am presenting some of this work in a critique group through the Wisconsin Writers Association. This opportunity will help me tie up loose ends and hopefully overcome any self-doubt, as well as fine-tune any questionable aspects for new readers.
As a reader of any fictional book, what benefits do you derive from the editing process when you read a book or story? I would love to read your comments.
