FRIDAY FUN VIDEO --REVISON LETTER KARAOKE

Although we're all individuals, telling our stories in our own voices and our own way, there is one thing every writer has in common. And that's waiting for the dreaded editorial revision letter. (Which is hardly ever as bad as feared, but, given that we also have vivid imaginations, no matter how much we love our story when we finish it, the instant we send the manuscript off to our editor, we usually begin expecting the worst.)

A personal admission. . . Several years ago, Birgit Davis-Todd, my editor's boss, called to talk about a manuscript I'd submitted. My mind immediately started spinning into high gear, trying to figure out all the things that could have gone wrong and how I could assure her I could fix it as she went on and on about how much she loved everything about the story. The hero. Heroine. Plot. Setting. But that was all a distant buzz in my ear because all I could think about was that the book must be so horrendously, impossibly bad that my editor -- who'd also become a personal friend -- couldn't bear to tell me, so, as senior editor of the Temptation line, Birgit had taken on the heavy burden of telling me my book sucked.

Finally, at the end of this very long recitation, still waiting for the sword to drop, I asked, with great trepidation, "So, what do you need changed?"

"Nothing," Birgit responded with what appeared to be surprise. "I told you, I love it just the way it is."

Which was when I blurted out all of what I'd been thinking.

There was a very long pause. Then she finally said, "Actually, I was only calling because Malle's a bit backed up, so I volunteered to edit one of her manuscripts. Since you and I worked together on so many books over the years, I chose yours because I wanted to enjoy reading it."

Another, longer pause.

Then she tacked on, "You know, sometimes I forget that you authors can actually be very insecure." (Which I believe was her polite way of saying "very strange.") LOL

Anyway, passed on to me by writer pal Katherine Allred, here's another author's take on revison letter anxiety. Enjoy:

/