Photo by Octavio Heredia
For those who’ve purchased a copy of the first (or second) edition of “Under the Same Moon,” you’ve quietly and politely noticed many editing errors. Here’s the thing — I’m not perfect. I’m far from it. So far that I quite obviously jumped the gun (even after 8 years) and published a novel with a lot of hoopla and not enough copy editing. My friends did an excellent job of catching so many other errors before it went to print. I’d read my worn computer paper copy about 10 gazillion times. When I received my first bound copy back as a proof, the type was too small to read thoroughly.
I should have read more thoroughly.
Should have, could have, would have. These are words burdened with regret that simply will not ruin publishing my first novel. Even a novel with errors.
Reading a bad review a couple weeks ago resulted in more than a few tears. I was filled with regret for sharing such a tender and vulnerable piece of my happiness — of who I am — with someone who couldn’t relate. I am so wildly embarrassed.
Reading the good reviews fills my sails; my ego is quickly convinced the next call will be Oprah’s scheduling producer. It’s a bell curve of emotion, with sincere rage and unhappiness at one end and Prom Queen Pulitzer Prize Winner at the other. I wouldn’t have it be any different — even the sucky part of the wave that holds you under just long enough to sting your brain with salt water before throwing you back on to the hard beach.
I should have paid a professional editor to look at the copy. I could have asked another publisher to take a look at it before going at it alone with self-publishing. I would have loved to have had professional help at any point in this process.
So, that wave has spit me back on the beach — a place where I continue to write, read and research. I’m wearing sunscreen to protect my thin skin, shades to keep the good reviews from over-saturating the ego, and flip flops as a reminder this is all supposed to be fun.
~K