Thread by @jenichappelle, Okay, who's up for a #RevPit #10Queries later today? I'm thinking noon [...]

Okay, who's up for a #RevPit #10Queries later today? I'm thinking noon EDT.

In the meantime, I want to give you a peek behind the curtain into my #RevPit process (which is very similar to most of the other editors) and how it's different from my normal editing process.

Let's start with my usual process. A potential client emails me, we chat to determine what kind of editing they need, and I look at an excerpt of their ms to determine how in-depth the editing will be based on a number of factors. #RevPit

Some of these factors: basic grasp of writing and storytelling techniques like show not tell, voice, etc; how "rough" the draft is; if the pages show a market awareness for age category and genre; and then whether the story has elements I don't have experience with #RevPit

If someone doesn't grasp the fundamentals yet, I suggest they hold off on a full edit to work with craft books and/or feedback from other sources. Then I make some personalized recommendations. I don't want someone paying me if they're not going to get much out of it #RevPit

Sometimes that turns into more of a coaching situation, and sometimes they come back once they're more confident with those basics. Either way, it's important to meet an author where they are. There's no one-size-fits-all when it comes to editing. #RevPit

So once the author is ready to work with an editor--and I'm sure I'm a good fit for their story--I make suggestions about what kind of edit will best suit them and why, and we set up the details. Once I start work, I usually go radio-silent while I read and make notes. #RevPit

I'll take my time reading in depth and making notes. Because of my ADHD, this might look like reading on my computer, my phone, or my text-to-speech app to turn your ms into an audiobook, depending on where my brain is on any given day (and what kind of edit it is) #RevPit

Once I finish reading and taking notes, I have to let everything simmer for a while. Actually, I think of it as "percolating" because it feels like I get little drips of thoughts that slowly build into something someone else might be able to digest. #RevPit

I usually do the edit letter first because it helps me put my thoughts into words, and then if it's a dev edit, I go back through the ms to enter all my notes (which I write in my handy dandy notebook as I go). I'll include more personalized recommendations here. #RevPit

Then I schedule a chat with the author after they've had time to process everything. This is so we can discuss everything and I can help set you up for a successful revision. Then you do your thing, knowing you can email me if you come up with more questions after. #RevPit

For #RevPit, it's a little different. Normally I don't have to choose between amazing mss. If I were to receive two or three stories I love all on the same day, I could schedule them all. I am not used to having to turn authors away! My brain and my heart do not like this!

Also--this might also be an ADHD thing--choosing just one anything is SUPER hard for me. Whenever someone asks my favorite book/movie/food/color, part of me panics haha Like, how do people choose just one?? I don't get it #RevPit

All this to say: I'm kinda terrible at the narrowing process. While I'm trying to figure out how to choose just one, my brain is like BUT WHAT IF YOU JUST CHOOSE THEM ALL??? The. Whole. Time. So helpful. #RevPit

So how DO I pick? I start by looking at the premise. Is this something that makes me feel excited to read about it? This is the biggest difference with #RevPit because it's a different mindset than I'm used to in my usual editing.

I'm used to looking at client work objectively from the beginning, and so putting myself more into the position of likes and dislikes is strange for me in this context.

Also it doesn't help as much as I wish it did. But I am able to narrow some based on premise alone. #RevPit

Once I've done that, I look at the writing more objectively, like I would with any client. I look for those same fundamentals, and so some of you will be getting recommendations from me re: next steps because you're not quite where you need to be yet for #RevPit

Try not to to take this as a rejection. Here's why: I did not receive a single sub I would turn away if it came through my normal editing inbox. The competition is fierce. Many #RevPit authors have been honing their craft for years (yes, we remember you year to year).

But we all start at different places and have different strengths and areas we need to improve. So needing to improve on something that's more foundational isn't necessarily to say that you're "behind" others--it just means you need a different focus. #RevPit

Some things I do not consider:
- if your query isn't in great shape. NBD. I really only look at it for the premise.
- if your story starts in the right place. Doesn't matter it terms of the potential of your story.
#RevPit

- if the first chapter is imperfect. I only read maybe 5 with first chapters that are totally ready to go. This is a super common problem in mss I edit
- minor SPAG errors. I expect them in unpublished mss
- if you misspelled my name. Trust me, no one ever gets is right. #RevPit

I know we keep saying this, but we are really looking for a combination of a premise we love, a story that we feel engaged with, and writing that's almost where you need to be to query--but not quite there yet. #RevPit

So those are the ones I request (plus the ones I think might be query ready). There were a few I thought might be query ready, but when I got the materials, I found problems. That happens. In my subs, there is 1 that is ready to go as is. And yes, I'll tell the author. #RevPit

When I get your materials, I start with the synopsis. You'd be surprised what we can learn, even from a poorly written synopsis. Because I promise, we do know how hard it is to condense your whole story into 1000 words! Even just focusing on the main plot is hard asf #RevPit

So several of my requests didn't make it to my shortlist because of the synopsis. HOWEVER I do still read some additional pages to make sure I'm not wrong about the synopsis (I rarely am, just sayin). I normally read the first 25, the end, and then skip around the middle #RevPit

This is also because if I requested materials, you will be getting some feedback from me and I don't think it's fair to request your full and then not give you feedback on the pages. Again, this will also include recommendations for next steps. #RevPit

Once I've read all of that and taken notes, I do a lot of whining to the other editors, my friends, my assistant, my family, and my pets about how hard this is and how many of the stories I love and how I wish there were more of me so I could do more than one. #RevPit

They try to help, but it always comes down to nit-picky differences. This is the point at which the answers to all the questions come into play.
I go back over all the materials what feels like a hundred times, taking more notes.
I percolate.
I make this face

a lot.
#RevPit

Eventually the winner is the one I can't stop thinking about and that I'm able to come up with a clear revision plan based on what I can read of your ms (which is why I skip around--I don't want to pass just because the beginning has been edited more than the rest) #RevPit

It's the second part there that's really the most important. There are SO MANY of these stories that would make excellent choices. It really comes down to if I have a clear idea of how we will make this story work, based on limited info. #RevPit

Because as much as I hate it, I'd need months to read all of these mss, and even though I really want to read them all, it just isn't feasible. So please know, it also breaks my heart that I can't work with all of you. You're all so amazing and creative and courageous. #RevPit

Before I go get my second cup of coffee--after my #10Queries today, I will send my last round of requests. if you made it this far into the thread, I hope it gave you an idea of how impossible this choice is and how much love and thought goes into it. #RevPit

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