Editing Roundtable: The Good, The Bad, & The Downright Scary

So, I happen to be blessed with not only rock star critique partners and a snazzy agent, but I have a freaking fabulous editor, Stacy Cantor Abrams. 

This woman knows her stuff!!! 

For an insight into why Stacy bought My Super Sweet Sixteenth Century (other than the fact that she's brilliant, he he) you can check out her Inside The Acquisition Boardroom post over at Entangled Teen HERE. 

A few of my Entnagled buds decided we'd wax poetic about our fabulous editor, and why we love working with Stacy. It also happens to be an awesome inside look into the editing process for those who are curious (I know I love reading about this kind of stuff!)

Hope you enjoy!

AMY SPALDING: When I was a writer dreaming of having a book published, I had a pretty good idea for what the editorial process was like. But once I actually got my book deal and then…my editorial letter…well, it’s one thing to know what something is. It’s quite another to actually go through it.

I got together with some of my editor Stacy Cantor Abram’s other writers, so we could share what we actually went through!

Ladies, the moment I got my edit letter and marked-up manuscript, I had what felt like twenty-seven anxiety attacks. I began reading the letter, and it was so overwhelming I could only skim it. I paged through the document but it made me so nervous I just had to print it and then pretend it didn’t exist. That night, I kept sneaking peeks at the letter, just a liiiiiiittle more at a time, trying desperately to get comfortable with it. THAT NEVER HAPPENED. 

A few days later, I knew that even if I wasn’t ready, my deadline said I had to be. I want to stress here that it wasn’t that I couldn’t take hearing what was wrong with my book. I was actually freaked out by the potential Stacy saw in my book. I was so worried I’d never get there!

Lisa, did you go through a meltdown too or was I particularly, uh, dramatic?

LISA BURSTEIN:  

I’ve been fortunate enough to get two editorial letters from Stacy, one for PRETTY AMY and one for the upcoming DEAR CASSIE and just like you Amy, when I first got them I skimmed them. They were each 6 pages long- single spaced- far too much to read and absorb in one sitting.  The thing is in both cases is that Stacy has been right on. What she notes as issues in my Mss are usually the things I *think* I can get away with, that when she brings them up, I know I cannot. She also pushes me to go deeper, which is what any good editor should do.

Here is how the edit went for PRETTY AMY:

I skimmed the letter, once, twice and slept on it. Then I printed it and highlighted the areas I knew I needed to attack in my first edit. Character issues mostly. Then I completed another edit for the smaller issues before I sent it back to Stacy. At that point she did a line edit and it came back to me. I did another edit and it went back to her. To tie up loose ends there was one more edit before it went to copy edits. Once I approved copy edits, it went to Liz Pelletier, Publisher of Entangled for a final read through. She had even MORE edits. It was not a short process, but I know both Stacy and Liz helped me make PRETTY AMY the most amazing book it could be.

Rachel, did you have a similar amount of edits and anxiety?

RACHEL HARRIS:

Anxiety over edit letters and revision? Of course not! And if you believe THAT, well, insert incredibly clichéd, sarcastic phrase here (*grin*). Yes, I think every author has a healthy fear of the dreaded editorial letter. I should be getting my second one from Stacy any day now for my sequel, and even after going through this whole process before, I’m still anxious over it.

I remember we were driving home from the salon where my girls got their haircut, and my husband was in the driver’s seat. My phone did that spastic lighting up/vibrating thing, letting me know I had an incoming email, and when I saw it was my edit letter from Stacy, I about had a heart attack right then and there. Obviously, because I’m a neurotic author, I opened my inbox immediately….and was promptly informed by my lovely phone that the email was too big to open.

Imagine my jaw hitting the floor of the car here.

There’s no way that could be good, right??

Well, it turns out that Stacy just rocks and gives tons of great info for you to use to make your book better. The reason it wouldn’t open was that in addition to the edit letter, she had printed out my entire manuscript, made notes old school style in pen on the pages, and then scanned them back in. Hence, an email that was too big for my then pathetic excuse for a phone. But once I got home and dove into all the info Stacy gave me, all the previous fear and anxiety vanished, leaving me strangely…excited.

You should know that I’m a bit obsessive, so I was able to turn my edits back in to Stacy about a week later, after first making all the changes from the scanned pages, and then tackling the bulleted list in her letter (all points I agreed with). Then about a month later, Liz Pelletier gave me her thoughts, along with two main issues to address, which I completed that day because, again, I’m a tad obsessive. Fast forward to the end of April when I got copy edits. These were super fun because they made me sound smarter than I really am. I turned these in two days later. At the end of July, Stacy and I both did a mega two-day final read through of the manuscript to make sure it was how we wanted it before going to the printer, and then it was out of my hands. And into yours at home.

Scary, exciting, crazy, and—weirdly enough—fun.

What about you, Cindi? Am I odd to think the editing process, at least with a super star like Stacy, is actually fun?

Cindi Madsen:

Why, yes, Rachel, you are extremely odd ;) I’m a tad on the obsessive side, too, where once I get feedback, my brain won’t let me think about anything but my WIP, revisions, or whatever process I’m in. Honestly, when I first opened the editing letter, I was overwhelmed. I’d done a couple different revisions with a couple different agents, who I ended up not signing with. Then I set my book aside for a few months and wrote a different book. But my manuscript kept calling to me, telling me it wanted to be a book people read someday. (At this point, you realize I’m also slightly crazy, in addition to being obsessive) So I got it out and did a major revision again, heard about Entangled, and queried. So fast forward the yay, they want it! to the edit letter. I had to do ANOTHER revision. I worried that the book would no longer be mine. I worried I wouldn’t be able to do everything Stacy wanted. But after thinking and obsessing for the weekend, I dug in.

Stacy’s suggestions led me to add things about my book I really love. She had me take out some things I’d added to make other people happy—I was actually glad to lose some of that. She challenged me and pushed me. I turned it in a couple weeks later, happy with how things had turned out. But when I got the second revision back, there were still some things that needed work. I got super overwhelmed and thought that maybe Stacy didn’t want the story I’d written. As an author, I’d been waiting for an editor for so long, I was under the impression you just do everything they say, no questions asked. I was reaching extreme levels of anxiety. So I finally just wrote Stacy an email, addressing my concerns and where I wanted the story arcs to be, and how I felt conflicted on a couple of points. She emailed me back in record time, assuring me she loved the story, and that we could talk about any and all points. The stress that had been building melted. It was such a relief to know that we were on the same team, that I could still be true to my story, and that I could talk to her whenever I needed to. So I worked really hard to get to a point that she and I would both be happy. Later came the read through by Liz and copy edits. By that point, it’d been a few months, so it was easier to read my book again and do some final touch-ups. I changed a couple more things, and when I finally got to read through the galley and see the entire transformation, I was giddy and so, so happy and grateful to Stacy for sticking with me through the entire process. I feel like my book is now the book it was always meant to be. I’m not sure I’d say I’m excited to do it again—I’m just not great at the revision process—but I’m definitely excited to know that in the end, I’ll have a pretty book I love and can be proud of.

So y'all, what do you think. If you are a reader or aspiring author, does the whole editing process seem daunting and impossible? If you're a pubbed author, what were YOUR experiences with all things editorial? I'd love to chat it out in the comments!

Spotlight on: PRETTY AMY by Lisa Burstein

PRETTY AMY, by Lisa Burstein

Paperback 304 pages

Expected Publication: May 15th, 2012, Entangled Teen

Amy is fine living in the shadows of beautiful Lila and uber-cool Cassie, because at least she’s somewhat beautiful and uber-cool by association. But when their dates stand them up for prom, and the girls take matters into their own hands—earning them a night in jail outfitted in satin, stilettos, and Spanx—Amy discovers even a prom spent in handcuffs might be better than the humiliating “rehabilitation techniques” now filling up her summer. Worse, with Lila and Cassie parentally banned, Amy feels like she has nothing—like she is nothing.

Navigating unlikely alliances with her new coworker, two very different boys, and possibly even her parents, Amy struggles to decide if it’s worth being a best friend when it makes you a public enemy. Bringing readers along on an often hilarious and heartwarming journey, Amy finds that maybe getting a life only happens once you think your life is over.

PRETTY AMY brought me back to the chaotic halls of my own high school. I too had a friend like Lila, who always had to be the prettiest one in the room. I too was a middle-class white girl who was as exotic as a blueberry muffin (oh how I love that line!). And, most importantly, I too had a tendency to define who I was by how others saw me, by how easily I fit in, and how well I was liked.

Truth be told, I’m still a little like Amy.

Lisa Burstein knows how to capture adolescence and the turbulent teen years with perfection, and she does it with an amazing blend of laughter, seriousness, cringe-worthy moments, silliness, and a whole lot of heart. She populates her world with so many fresh and varied characters that completely leap from the page, sucking you even further into the story and Amy’s life. Lisa doesn’t hold back. She tells an authentic, realistic, sometimes shocking young adult story, with a voice that is creepy in how spot on it is. It actually kinda makes me wonder how old Ms. Burstein really is…

Amy is endearing and wonderfully flawed. Her best friends, Lila and Cassie, perfectly illustrate the kind of girls I knew in high school, and they serve as the perfect catalysts for Amy’s journey of discovery. And let me not forget the hottie boys. PRETTY AMY has two excellent specimens –Aaron, the mysterious bad boy, and Joe, the adorable boy next door—and they are both quite scrumptious. As this will remain a spoilerific free review, let me just say that I picked my team early, cheered my man on throughout the novel, and in the end, totally won. (*raucous cheer*)

Yes, I love my main man. And I’m totally in awe of Amy, and how beautifully crafted her and her friends are. But actually, the minor characters are what completely wow me. From Amy’s bird, AJ, to the hippie counselor Daniel. From Connor, the surprisingly well-rounded (and well-meaning) co-worker, to Dick, the corny-joke telling lawyer. And finally, Amy’s hilarious parents…and particularly crazy mother. They make the story real. They are what bring the funny, and their presence is what helps Amy achieve her own psychedelic Wizard of Oz reenactment. PRETTY AMY ends up going so much deeper than I expected, and it is through scenes with these richly drawn characters that real growth occurs. Along with an exceptionally hilarious, shockingly unique, church bathroom scene, that had me wiping my eyes from laughing so hard. I will never look at a chocolate milkshake in quite the same way again.

Bottom line? PRETTY AMY is young adult Contemporary at its finest. It speaks to the teenage experience, provides valuable insight, and does it all through a thoroughly entertaining ride. It has definitely earned its place on my shelf of favorites, and I hope it will be on yours, too.

Cover Reveal and Excerpt: Pretty Amy by Lisa Burstein

So much gorgeousness lately with the cover reveals, and today's selection is no exception. It's also coolness personified. From the tagline at the bottom, to the font of the title, to the tulle-rific dress, to the location said dress is in . . . yeah, the cover for PRETTY AMY pretty much kills.

Amy is fine living in the shadows of beautiful Lila and uber-cool Cassie, because at least she's somewhat beautiful and uber-cool by association. But when their dates stand them up for prom, and the girls take matters into their own hands--earning them a night in jail outfitted in satin, stilettos, and Spanx--Amy discovers even a prom spent in handcuffs might be better than the humiliating "rehabilitation techniques" now filling up her summer. Worse, with Lila and Cassie parentally banned, Amy feels like she has nothing--like she is nothing.

Navigating unlikely alliances with her new coworker, two very different boys, and possibly even her parents, Amy struggles to decide if it's worth being a best friend when it makes you a public enemy. Bringing readers along on an often hilarious and heartwarming journey, Amy finds that maybe getting a life only happens once you think your life is over.

PRETTY AMY is available for pre-order at AMAZON and BARNES AND NOBLE, and I already secured mine...even though I have an advanced ARC (yeah, I'm stoked, too). I needed to have my own copy to put on my shelves and hold...PRETTY AMY is everything I love about YA Contemporary. And it is freaking hilarious.

Want me to prove it?

Here's an awesome excerpt to hold you over to the release, May 15th:

I was just about to put out my cigarette and go back inside when I heard a skateboard coming down the street. It sounded like waves, like a conch shell against your ear. That full, empty sound.

Maybe it was Aaron. I conjured up my stupid daydream, the one I used to fill my head when I couldn’t deal with any of the other stuff in there—that he would find me, that he would apologize, that he would tell me that prom night hadn’t been his fault.

The difference this time was that when I looked toward the sound, he really was there.

It was him.

Aaron.

He was skateboarding down the sidewalk like it was made of water, wearing the same loose, worn jeans from his Facebook picture. He carried a backpack, like he might have been coming from the library, but I doubted he ever went to the library.

I lit another cigarette with the end of my last one; any excuse to stay put. Then I remembered I was wearing a suit.

“You got another one of those?” he asked. His eyes were blue. I hadn’t noticed that in his picture.

My hands shook as I gave him a cigarette. He brought a silver-and-black Zippo to his mouth, flipped it open with one hand, lit his cigarette, and slapped it shut. The whole thing took seconds, but it felt like he was doing it in slow motion. “Thanks,” he said.

Maybe he had just stopped to get a cigarette. Maybe it had nothing to do with me.

It probably had nothing to do with me.

“I know you,” he said. “Where do I know you from?”

I couldn’t tell him. Telling him that he’d stood me up for my own prom would have been way too embarrassing. It would tell him that I still cared enough to remember.

“I’m friends with Lila and Cassie,” I said, wishing that my hair wasn’t pulled back in a headband like I was a nun.

“What are you all dressed up for?” he asked.

Of course he didn’t know me. If he had, he would have known that I’d just come from court and that I was trying to do everything I could to forget it.

“I work here,” I said, thinking fast. “I’m supposed to be a librarian.”

“You don’t have to lie,” he said, laughing. “I’m Aaron.”

“Amy,” I said, waving hello with the cigarette in my hand.

He smiled. “Though you do make a cute librarian.”

I tried to keep myself from coughing. “This suit sucks,” I said. It seemed cooler than saying thank you. It seemed cooler than getting all squishy over what he said, even though that was how I felt.

I looked at his skateboard. “You wanna try it out?” he asked.

The deck had a mural of blue sky and white-capped mountains hand-painted on it. The wheels were covered with stop-motion birds, so that when they spun it must have looked like the birds were flying.

There was more to this boy. More that I wanted to know.

“I guess I could,” I said, but then I remembered my mother. She would come looking for me soon.

I shook my head. “I should go.”

“You got a cell phone?” he asked.

“Not that I’m allowed to use anymore.”

“Parents,” he said. He pulled a sketchbook from his backpack. Maybe he had painted that beautiful mural. He ripped out a piece of paper, wrote something down, and handed it to me.

It was his phone number.

I tried not to act surprised, tried to act like boys gave me their numbers all the time, especially when I hadn’t asked for them.

“See you around, Amy,” he said. He dropped the skateboard next to him. It landed perfectly on its wheels like a cat would on its legs.

As he skated away, I looked at his number; the paper was as soft as fabric. I folded it smaller and smaller and hid it in my bra. Maybe he hadn’t said what I wanted him to say, but he had found me.

He had found me.

YAY!! =)  See, I told you it was good. Be sure to add PRETTY AMY to your Goodreads to-read shelf and friend Lisa...she's a sweetheart. <3

So, what do you guys think?? Awesome, right?