I have the most amazing editor. Really, I do.
I started working with Chris (Christine Gordon Manley from Manley Mann Media) back in 2015. This was back when I didn't even have the first draft of my manuscript finished. I had about eleven or so chapters at the time when we started working together. Although I didn't have the whole thing finished, having an editor really gets your creative juices flowing and I finished my first draft in what I consider record time. I mean, nothing motivates you like having an editor. Especially if you want said editor to remember what was going on with your story while you worked on the unfinished bits.
I admit, I probably should have waited to send in the manuscript when it was fully completed. But that is one of the reasons why Chris is such an amazing editor. And sending her the first few chapters and then getting feedback while still writing the rest did help me eliminate a lot of the plot holes and tighten up my writing. So, I guess it all worked out in the end!
Seriously, though. I was looking at my first (completed) draft that Christ had looked over, and then again, I looked over the second draft, and I'm impressed with how far I've come, how much I've improved. Chris would suggest some edits and I would expand on them, make them my own. My story evolved and sometimes when I read some of the lines from my third draft, I cannot belie I wrote them. No, seriously. It's like someone took over me and wrote them, even though I remember writing them myself. They're the kind of quotes I’d find online and think "damn, that's good. I should save that for inspiration." But I didn't save them off FaceBook or twitter. I thought of them myself and sometimes with the help of Chris.
This brings me to today. Chris just handed me back my third draft of my novel and again I am blown away by the awesomeness of her work. Chris has a way of telling you the hard truth of what works and what doesn't and doesn't make you feel bad about it. She tells me all the things this wrong, filling up my manuscript with all that glorious red ink. But even though it's criticism, it isn't harsh. It's as though a good friend is saying that hat doesn't go well with your outfit. Okay, so I'm not doing a very good job at explaining it but trust me. It's a pleasure to work with her.
According to Chris, this may be my final draft, after I finish the edits. And I agree. I'm at a point where I really feel confident about my novel and its message that I'm trying to bring to the world. A message that it's okay to love anyone, regardless of gender. It's okay to struggle in life. It's okay to be different. It's okay to take time to discover yourself and find out who you really are. There are so many messages in this novel of self-discovery that I know other people can relate to, because I was there myself.
With Chris helping me along the way -- as good editors do -- I know SOUTH will both entertain and help people in all walks of life, regardless of age.
Here's to more laughter and amazing teamwork. Thank you Chris!~
