The Copyediting of Shannara
I just finished going over the copy edits for The World of Shannara reissue that will be released later this fall. Since Terry is on vacation at the moment, Random House offered to pay me to go over the copy edits and make any changes that I deem pertinent. Pay me? Are you kidding me? Of course I'd do it for free! Since I continuity edit for Terry anyway, it wasn't a stretch.
It was great fun. They sent me the manuscript with copy edits from two different copy editors, and I got to see an aspect of the editorial process that Del Rey goes through. I went over it, checking to make sure the integrity of the continuity survived the copy edits, and I'm pleased to say they did a great job. I only found two major things that needed to be fixed throughout, and I had to rewrite a two page portion of the book that dealt with the Forbidding.
If it makes it through the next round of edits, it's conceivable my first published writing will be in The World of Shannara, in a two-page spread where I won't even be credited. But that's all right. I can say I wrote in a bestselling series!
For fun, I am reading the manuscript for Greg Bear's forthcoming book, City at the End of Time. It is fantastic so far, the best thing he's written since his Nebula-winning Darwin's Radio. I highly recommend that book, as well as this forthcoming one!
It was great fun. They sent me the manuscript with copy edits from two different copy editors, and I got to see an aspect of the editorial process that Del Rey goes through. I went over it, checking to make sure the integrity of the continuity survived the copy edits, and I'm pleased to say they did a great job. I only found two major things that needed to be fixed throughout, and I had to rewrite a two page portion of the book that dealt with the Forbidding.
If it makes it through the next round of edits, it's conceivable my first published writing will be in The World of Shannara, in a two-page spread where I won't even be credited. But that's all right. I can say I wrote in a bestselling series!
For fun, I am reading the manuscript for Greg Bear's forthcoming book, City at the End of Time. It is fantastic so far, the best thing he's written since his Nebula-winning Darwin's Radio. I highly recommend that book, as well as this forthcoming one!
Labels: Craft
posted by Shawn C. Speakman | 10:35 PM
7 Comments:
That's really cool Shawn!
Hey, I wanted to thank you for the recommendation on your blog here for "The Name of the Wind" by Pat Rothfuss.
I ordered it on a whim after reading about it here and on A Dribble of Ink, and man, what a great book! I'm having a freaking awesome time reading it.
I also ordered "The Blade Itself" by Joe Abercrombie... that one seems very interesting to me.
I only mention it because I've been trying a whole lot of new authors since visiting your site regularly (and Aidan's) and it's really expanded my readings, so thanks!
And again, the Shannara edits, very cool! If I pick up a copy I'll have you ink on your spread the next time we see each other (inevitably at a Terry event).
See you on the 25th!
Mark
Mark,
Glad to see you're enjoying The Name of the Wind! One of my goals when I first created A Dribble of Ink was to spread the word about novels/authors I love and I'm glad to know I've had some small success in that!
You'll also really love The Blade Itself. It's very different than The Name of the Wind, but terrific nonetheless. I'm currently finishing up the third novel in the trilogy, Last Argument of Kings, and it's the best of the trilogy! Joe really knows how to bring a story together!
Shawn,
I hope Del Rey paid you enough!
~Aidan
Mightier than the Sword
Incubus: Thanks for the kind words over at Pat's blog and I am looking forward to the 25th as well! Should be fun to see what everyone's reactions are to the graphic novel.
Aidan: It was a days worth of work, and Random House paid me more than I've ever made in a day -- except for maybe yesterday when Kushiel's Mercy went live on The Signed Page and more than 100 people ordered in an hour's worth of time. Sheesh! Nuts, eh?
Shawn: No prob man, just giving props where they're deserved.
Congrats on the pre-orders!
Aidan:
Thanks for the Recommendation of Joe Abercrombie; I'm really looking forward to starting the book when it arrives (assuming I finish The Name of the Wind, it's almost a shame to read it too fast!
Anyway, I really enjoy A Dribble of Ink and Mightier Than the Sword! Keep up the good work!
Incubus: Looks like Aidan might try to come down. That should be fun if we can all get together for dinner or an after event drink!
For sure, let me know the details, I'm in.
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