Don't Make Me Read My Book Again
My journey to publishing: This month -- Copy Edits
You know how it is at the start of a relationship when you're getting to know someone? You hear all their stories for the first time and you get to tell yours. Like the time in college marching band when I crashed my cymbals too close to my chest and smashed one of my you-know-whats. When I told that story, it got a great reaction. The first time. But after 35+ years of marriage, my hubby has heard it so many times, it's safe to say he'd just as soon have a root canal.
That’s what it feels like to reread MONSTER DOWN DEEP. Again. This is hard to admit, but at this point in the process, I'm sick of my own book. I've read the manuscript around 40 times over the past two years. The contract is signed, everything is official. Why do I have to read it again?
Copy edits.
This is the next step in the process--a close reading of the manuscript to fix anything awkward or confusing. That means I've got to read the 55,433 words again (who's counting). But I'm not the only one. A copy editor is hired to also read the manuscript. One of the perks of traditional publishing is the publisher provides the copy editor.
My copy editor is Heather, and she gets back to me in June of 2024. She's marked up my manuscript with about 80 comments/questions and another 100-or-so grammar fixes. Because this is a UK publisher, there are spelling and word changes. Miles are now kilometers. Favorite is now favourite. Leaned is leant. (As a side note, I don't like the sound of 'leant' so I choose a different word to replace it through the book. Author power.) :)
What types of things does a copy editor catch? Here's one example:
You wrote that the character uses the word ‘treat’ in chapter 7, but she doesn’t.
Whoops.
At the same time I'm doing what I call a Fact Check and a Reality Check. I'm writing fiction so what happens in my book doesn’t have to be probable, but it does have to be possible.
The sorts of errors I find: I list a 555 phone number because those aren’t
assigned. But when I check google, it turns out only 555-0100
through 555-0199 are available for fictional use. Who knew? (Who cares,
you might be thinking. But a reader out there will catch it, I promise.)
I also reach out to my expert, Drew.
Drew is a marine biologist. I met him on a research visit to OdySea Aquarium in Scottsdale, AZ. He spent an hour with me and when I asked if I could follow up with some questions, he said yes.
I followed up for a year.
In the book, the 'monster down deep' is a fish named Blue unlike any fish ever discovered. My experience with fish barely extends beyond the ones you find in tacos. Drew became my sounding board for Blue as well as life in an aquarium.
Drew caught other mistakes: Turns out, a metal ladder would rust in an aquarium. Manta rays would be too big for a community tank, but Eagle rays would work. Yes, turtles might have a favorite lettuce.
It’s overwhelming when I think about how many details go into a book. That's why I do reread all 55,433 words. I hope, between the whole team, we've caught everything. We'll find out in February 2026. (Release date in the UK!)
By the end of July, all the corrections have been made and I’ve turned in the manuscript. The publisher takes my type-written pages and turns them into what looks like a book with the typeface they'll use, the chapter headings and any decorative art.
But it's still not finished.
There’s one more read-through: Final Copy Edits. A last chance to fix any typos or other errors that were missed.
Oh joy. Guess who gets to read this manuscript one more time? :)
Want the next update in your inbox? Sign up for my monthly newsletter at amydominy.com/newsletter. Along with updates, you’ll get recommendations, giveaways and inspiration.