Nephew #1 and I are going to see "District 9" this afternoon because I really need a break from editing. I have to get it as perfect as I can before I send it to an agent. I thought about this a little, and one way I came up with to describe the process of proofreading a 32,000 word manuscript that you've already read through at least three times in the past two weeks is like this: Imagine you have a big date coming up with someone you really like, and you really want them to like you. Then someone says you have a gray hair somewhere on your body -- maybe your head, your arms, your ears, feet... use your imagination. It's a small hair and it would go unnoticed by just about everyone, but the person you're going out with is absolutely going to see it, and when they do they are going get up and walk out on you without a second thought.
This isn't revision I'm doing -- revision is changing ideas, changing tone, changing characters and storyline. That part is pretty much done. This is editing. Periods. Spelling. Grammar. Editing really sucks. And I'm royally tired of it. But I want that first date to go well, so....
I've started getting e-mails from my principal. Seventeen more days.
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