Snowman, Lizard, and Copyedit

Back to your routine? I am. The snowman is in, the bells are down; no matter these things are standing in my living room, the neighbors can't see them, so they think I'm all packed up like they are.

I had a bit of a problem bringing the snowman in--I didn't know it, but a lizard had stowed away and clung to the snowman until we got into the house. He waited until I closed the door before he jumped off. Screaming comes naturally to me. Some reactions people verbalize only when others are around, such as laughing at a TV show, but for me, screaming works with or without an audience.

Part of getting back into the routine includes organizing and cleaning. I've done the easy part. I've bought stuff to organize and clean with. That counts, right?

I finished the copyedit for Violet Raines Almost Got Struck by Lightning, and FedEx is taking it up to New York today. This being my first novel, it was also my first copyedit. I knew it wouldn't involve the broad suggestions of the editorial letter or the turning of phrases in the line edit, but I wasn't really sure what to expect. Here's what the copyedit addressed: a few word changes, a few tense changes, mechanical issues (punctuation, italics/Roman, compound or hyphenated words), and some queries to confirm the material. The copyeditor did a great job; I learned a few things and I might have to pass my Danette-the-Dictionary crown (acquired in sixth grade) to her. She also left smiley faces on the manuscript here and there--you can't beat that!

16 comments:

Anonymous said...

Hey that sounds superb. Lemme know when it hits the shelves--I'll have to get a copy. Good on ya and good one!

Stephen Parrish said...

Cover art, cover art!

Danette Haworth said...

Wayne,
Thanks! When it hits the shelves, I probably won't be able to talk about anything else!

Stephen,
YES! Cover art! That's being developed--I can't wait to see what they come up with.

Linda D. (sbk) said...

A lizard? I'd scream too! We don't get lizards in the wild here, so that would be a definite surprise.

Cool about the smilies from the copy editor. You lucky girl.

Danette Haworth said...

Oh, those lizards! They gross me out. And (no good transition here) thanks! I do feel lucky--good editors and wonderful experience so far with Walker Books!

Tena Russ said...

Hi Danette,

Thanks for stopping by my blog.

Congrats on your first novel! I look forward to reading about your journey.

I, too, and writing my first novel. It might be YA but probably not. I'm open to anything...

Best,
Tena

Write2ignite said...

I'm a scream Queen myself. Folks say I should've rented my scream out to horror movies. :)
I stepped on a lizard once -- I had on flip-flops and didnt' see him -- until it was too late. ugh.

Anyway -- I'm so happy for you and your new book! YAYAYAY!! What a way to start the new year!

Thanks for stopping by my blog, too!

Hugs,
Donna

Mary Witzl said...

Good for you, Danette! Working with copy editors used to be something I did a lot of in Tokyo, but it was a whole different ballgame in Japan.

As for screaming without an audience, I can do this too and frequently do. I used to do this a lot when there were large cockroaches that flew residing in our house. Lizards tend to make me smile, but we don't have any here.

Chris Eldin said...

Congrats!!! And I agree with Stephen--can't wait to see the cover art!
:-)

Heather Ayris Burnell said...

Congratulations on doing your first copy edit--and survivng the lizard!

Anonymous said...

WHEN LIZARDS ATTACK!
On Fox. At 9.

CONGRATULATIONS on finishing your copyedits!! I am so excited for you, Danette. Your copy editor sounds awesome!!

Travis Erwin said...

It should be a rule that lizards and snowman to do co-inhabit the same area at the same time.

Cate Gardner said...

CONGRATS on your first copy-edit... I scream at everything and everything. In fact, I'd probably still be screaming now.

Ello - Ellen Oh said...

Very cool, Danette! I too can't wait to see your cover!!

Ok - so you know I like those little cute salamanders. But are you talking small and cute or big and scary? Those would make me scream.

Charles Gramlich said...

Smiley faces are good. Devil horns bad.

Brenda said...

You and Mother Nature do have your moments don't you? grin...

What an exciting process to be going through...

Do you have any say in the cover art? Do you know how long it will take before you get to see the cover art?