As many of you know, I’m in the midst of copyedits on my first Avon Romance, NINE RULES TO BREAK WHEN ROMANCING A RAKE.
Now, those of you who were with me during copyedits on THE SEASON remember that I don’t much like copyedits. Actually, I kind of loathe them. I know there are authors who love every second of CEs, lovingly removing commas or adding hyphens or calmly steting things that they think should be steted. I simply do not understand these authors.
Because I obsess. I have a whole process of obsession, a 12-step program of copyediting neurosis that one day, when I am less of a paranoid author, I will share, and we’ll all have a good laugh over the whole thing. But, right now, the wound is too raw, so let’s just drop it, shall we?
Now, I should say, my current copyeditor seems lovely. I say this because she has left me darling little notes in the margins that indicate that she does not hate me for using discrete when i mean discreet. Or, at least, if hatred did flare when she saw that, it waned once she read the scene in the modiste’s shop. (I like to think she secretly didn’t care a whit about discretion and just wanted the hero and heroine to make out, already.)
But she’s in a tough spot. Because, lovely as she is, she’s the smarty-pants who casually mentions that words and phrases to which I am quite wedded didn’t actually exist in the English language in 1823. Which is no fun at all. In fact, it’s rather maddening.
Here are three words that I really REALLY wish existed in 1823. Really.
Neckline. 1904.
Fantasize. 1926.
Addictive. 1939.
These are good words. GOOD ONES. I want them back, dammit.
But no, I shall rise to the challenge and persevere, in honor of the good and patient woman who so painstakingly read and reread my dirty manuscript, and I shall find other words that wield similar power.
And I take this moment to publicly acknowledge the awesome that is the copyeditor–the all-too-often unsung heroine of the modern novel. And, to make up for any name-in-vain-taking I have done over the course of these copy edits, I’m going to sponsor a word in my copyeditor’s honor in the Online Etymology Dictionary.
August 18th, 2009 at 3:16 pm
Wow. I somehow thought those words existed before the 20th century. Especially "addictive."
August 18th, 2009 at 8:09 pm
Awww you're doing great! I was watching you work on twitter and yeah, neckline surprised me at first, but then the idea of not mention "limbs" might be carried that far *sigh*
Good luck!!!
bria
August 19th, 2009 at 4:58 pm
This is so interesting – I've never really thought about this side of copy editing, and it's so cool that you're getting this detailed with your work. Did you deal with words you couldn't use for The Season also? Anyway, can't wait to read this, even if the entire book is neckline-less.
August 20th, 2009 at 3:17 pm
i can emphathize, I am in line edits for Alyssa now before we sub. *sigh* so tedious right?