The day came. My edits for the novel arrived. And I promptly left for a two-day vacation. 
We went to the beach to stay with old friends, our daughter and the Most Adorable Baby in the World in tow. I had visions of myself on the deck, feet propped up, laptop in lap, working away on the edits. Or sitting in a corner of the beach house, happily revisiting my old friend, the novel.
Ha!
Because it was way too sunny on the deck for me to see the laptop screen. And every corner of the beach house was filled–gloriously so–with people. Most importantly, I wanted to be present in the vacation world and hang with my living friends, not hobnob with my fictional pals. And so I sat at the kitchen table and answered a few emails and replied to some blog comments (thank you, I love your comments). And then I called it a day and went for a walk on the beach.
Turns out I'm not really slacking. Before I left I emailed my editor, asking her for a deadline, thinking she'd probably mention a date in mid-August. But, no, she said I could get it in right after Labor Day. So I've got plenty of time.
I'm eager to get to this. As already noted, it's not a huge job, at least it doesn't look like it from a quick scan of the file. I'm always a little wonky in the Track Changes feature on Word until I get into it, so there's that. And I did see one comment about an important character reappearing at the end that my editor thinks is unnecessary. That will require some thought in how to fix. I'm sure there's more stuff like that throughout.
But I can't wait to get started on it–opening the file was like visiting old friends. Which, come to think of it was the theme of the week, both in my real world and my fictional world. How about that?
What about you? How do you feel about the editing process? Do you have experience working with an editor? I'd love to hear!
**If you want to write a novel of your very own, I've got a novel-writing class beginning August 14th. We'll cover the basics of the process and all the things you need to know to have at it. Read more here and join us!
(I found the photo on the interwebs, and I think it comes from Tripadvisor.)
Beverly
My first job out of college was in public relations at a college. My boss had been an editor of a nursing trade publication, and I learned more about writing from her edits to my work than I had in four years of undergraduate classes. When my dissertation committee returned my novella and short story collection to me with their edits, I had another such experience. So much that I “knew” but hadn’t been able to articulate became clear. A good editor is worth more than a treasure chest filled with gold! Hope you have a blast returning to your novel.
Patrick Ross
Have fun with the rewrites, Charlotte; so exciting!
GED Online
This article is really worth reading, it has too much details in it and yet it is so simple to understand, Thanks for sharing the picture it has great detail in it and i really appreciate your true artistic work!
Charlotte Dixon
Thanks, Beverly, I'm really looking forward to plunging in. When I've worked with editors in the past, I've marveled at how they improve my work with such subtlety. A good editor is a treasure and I freely admit its not my forte. I'm hoping to learn more about writing novels through this process.
Charlotte Dixon
Thanks so much, Patrick!
Sandra / Always Well Within
That darn sun can really get in the way of editing, can’t it! I’m so delighted you gave yourself over to your immediate family, friends, and fun in the sun. Emma Jean patiently awaits. I’m glad the edits are few, but sounds like it will take some skillful thinking.
I haven’t worked with a fiction editor, just clients who have requested changes. A bit of a different story. But I’m happily serving as a temporary editor for my own writing and can be quite demanding at times!
Charlotte Dixon
Ah, indeed, being one's own editor can be quite demanding! Thanks for reading, Sandra!
Don
For me, anyway, editing is a pain in the you-know-what, at least when I start it, but boy-oh-boy, is it ever a glorious thrill to finish! Yuppers, that just about sums it up form me.
Charlotte Dixon
I agree with you completely! And I'm stealing the word yuppers.
Fear of Writing
It’s a great feeling to look forward to editing something after you’ve had a break from it. I bet you’ll easily figure out solutions for everything your editor suggested, just because you have a longer view on it now.
Glad you got to relax and enjoy your short vacation, knowing that you had a longer deadline than you thought.
Charlotte Dixon
Thanks for the vote of confidence, Milli! I'll keep everyone posted on how it goes as I progress through the edits.