Eeking Out My Edits

Nine months ago the unheard of happened in my life.  I, Leah Starr Baker wife, mother and struggling novelist received a book contract for my novel "The Bunko Babes" from Emerald Point Books.  I know, I know, you're probably thinking, "That's nice but unless you are absolutely awful I don't see what the big surprise is?"  Well, I got the deal with only a brief synopsis and the first fifty pages of my novel completed.  This just doesn't happen in the publishing industry.  Sure, maybe it's a little more common practice in the non-fiction realm but fiction?  No stinkin' way. 

I was thrilled to say the least.  I walked around (actually sat around, since at this time I was pretty much bedridden with systemic lupus) with the corners of my mouth permanently pasted to my hairline.  It'd been years since I'd been this happy and forever since I'd actually had something to look forward to doing.  As the weeks and months passed, contracts were signed, deadlines were set and I was officially a working novelist.  Wow!  My dream was coming true.

My deadline for the manuscript was December 1, 2006 less than six months from the contract offering.  No problem for me I assured them with all the confidence of a niave' first timer but as summer sun gave way to fall fashions and costumes melded into cooking that deadline hung like spoiled meat at an outdoor market.  The pressure to perform was overwhelming and that mixed with the harrassment of the holidays about did me in.  But the process of completing the book was nothing in comparison to the pressure and difficulty of altering the book.

Now, looking back, it all seems so silly... how instinctually defensive I was at first getting my feelings hurt, my panties in a wad and over what?  A silly fact?  A brief phrase?  But it is so hard to step back, to view your story objectively.  After all, this book is my baby and the birthing process was almost as difficult and painful as my own children's birth.  My editing took nearly two weeks to complete with the final four days having only afforded me time to sleep a total of sixteen hours.  By the end, I was exhausted, overwraught and wrung out but also satisfied.  The final project having turned out even better than the original.

Through the editing process, I learned a great deal.  I learned to let go of the little things and how to fight for the big ones.  I came to understand how to listen, process information, then how to make the decision that I feel is right for me and my life.  So, for all you dreamers out there that keep having doors slammed in your face, don't give up the dream because you never know what's going to happen from one day to the next.  I'm living proof.