Despite it being dreary weather outside, I'm hot and bothered. I'm feeling the heat from my ever pressing deadlines.Believe it or not, I'm in the throes of getting the 2011 edition of the Writers' & Artists' Yearbook ready for press. There are new articles to edit, listings to update, pages to make up, the jacket to finalise and the index to compile.
This will be the eighth time I've put the Yearbook together and I have to say I have a love/hate relationship with the last-minute drama. There is usually some sort of crisis to deal with, whether it's a frantic attempt to make everything fit into the page extent, a typo on the cover, or an upsidedown illustration. But there's nothing like the sense of satisfaction and relief when the book is finally ready to go to printers, and all the sweat has been worth it.
All editors feel that way when a book comes together. All the stresses, the negotiations, the tensions, the slog are worth it for the end product - and we didn't even write the books. We get a little taste of how it must feel to have actually finished your own book, your own masterpiece, your very own creation.
So, I'll carry on in my corner and you in yours. Keep going. Between us we make the book world go round.
Warm wishes,
Jo
(Editor, Writers' & Artists' Yearbook)
Jo Herbert will be joining editorial consultant Cressida Downing to co-host Submitting Your Manuscript - a new two-part evening masterclass for writers, focusing on the all-important covering letter and synopsis. Places are strictly limited and early booking is recommended. Read the course outline here »
She is also speaking at the June How to Get Published conference for writers. Book your ticket now »
DavidWard on June 1, 2010
Ah Jo, the work of the editor is so underated that I thought I'd let you know how much I've enjoyed the fruits of your last years labour. As a newbie I think the book & the site set an incredibly high standard & I for one can't imagine how you'll improve it - perhaps a little something on the role of editors? Dream on eh? That's what I'll be doing in the queue, waiting to buy the next edition.
Fran on June 1, 2010
I know it's nowhere near as 'big' but am just trying to put the school magazine together. I feel your pain.
Shankut Somaiya on June 1, 2010
Jo I was thinking of you when I edited my own manuscript from 150,000 words to acceptable length of 90,000. You have been doing it on a larger scale and that is for nearly a decade, hats off to you madam!
You have set a high standard and it has reflected well in 2010 edition so like DavidWard, I also, eagerly, will be looking forward to see how you will improve on already high standard.
Shankut
DavidWard on June 1, 2010
Hey Fran - good luck with the magazine. We editors should start our own club - The Invisible Menders! As a student I edited the newspaper for 2 years & it was a nightmare & joy, hope you learn as much from doing it as I did.
Hey Jo - will there be anything in W & A about editing?
Tea Maljkovic on June 5, 2010
Dear Jo,
I hope you don't mind the first name basis thing...
Congrats for the success of finally putting everything in order, wish I was there myself. I hope you don't mind me asking something.
Lately I've been thinking about ordering the yearbook 2010 but I am not quite sure that I need it yet. I'm still writing, I've only just begun in comparison to some other people, but I'm going to stick with it until the end. With that in mind, (here comes the question, finally) should I buy it now or in a year or two when I've written a bit more and gained a bit clearer view of what's ahead of me? It doesn't make sense to buy it every year (who could afford it?).
I already have the "How NOT to write a novel" so is it too soon to be thinking about buying a yearbook as well?
I can't shake off JK Rowling's "full of useful stuff, answered my every question".
I hope I'm not fully out of place by asking this...
All best.