I have been awake for nearly 48 hours, and I wish I was sleepy instead of just wired, headachy, and exhausted. BUT. The book edit assignment is finished (*except for the glossary, which I’ll wrap up by Saturday night/Sunday morning). I feel very accomplished – this book was a long one. I’m all kinds of nervous now that I’ll have done something wrong and piss someone off. That happened before when I edited Ecstasia – I edited the entire book but didn’t make any suggestions for beefing up the content or elaborating on anything (because I didn’t know I was supposed to), and the book was taken away from me and my work was for nothing. I constantly feel on the verge of being fired, because I’m rather learning this by fucking up and getting in trouble, and then fucking up in a whole new way… It’s nervewracking!
In fact, when the author saw my edits of Chapter 1 a few months ago, she was very upset. Evidently I tend to do all the edits at once and most editors do several passes, editing for one thing each pass – I don’t know how to do that, and looking at everything at once is pretty overwhelming, I guess. I hope she doesn’t get upset again. I’m gonna give myself an ulcer tonight worrying. 
Once the glossary is done, I can tear myself away from this computer for like, entire days without fear of getting behind. Yay! But: fear. Fear sucks. 
About Sheta Kaey
Wow, lack of training. I still don’t understand how people can automatically expect you to grasp something when you haven’t been trained at it. It is very much like my job, a lot of miscommunication and a huge dose of ‘no training, you can do it!’ I’m sorry to hear you are nervous about it. I hope it all goes well for you. Brightest blessings to you! Good luck!! Let us know how it all goes.
Thanks. I haven’t heard a word, and I’m closer to terror now.
heh
Try to not worry yourself to death about it. I don’t think they would have submitted that book to you for editing if they had no faith in your ability.
Well, no, it’s not that. I was the first editor Taylor hired other than his wife, and since I was already editing Rending the Veil and he had no experience training anyone who didn’t live with him (lol), he didn’t train me and I started to learn by making mistakes. Then he hired a bunch of other editors, so I sort of grew concerned that I was too slow or more trouble than I was worth.
I am editing this book under Lupa’s supervision (Taylor’s wife); she did write me back the other night after I wrote that I was terrified, lol, and assured me she wasn’t the least worried about it. She knows I’m a good editor. I’m just not necessarily going to be what a first-time author expects — and the author of this book is a first-time author. I still haven’t heard from her, but maybe she’s busy.
I’ll get the glossary done tonight, I hope. I had an “emergency” Photoshop assignment for my daughter and a long distance phone call that pulled me away from finishing tonight. Or last night, that is. I haven’t been to bed yet.
I’m not horribly familiar with the world of professional writing, but I imagine a first time author would be a bit nervous about that. Still, you do edit well, and I hope that soon both your fears will be eased on it.
I’m very glad for you that you got it done. I’m sure it will all turn out fine.
What did they expect you to do? Go over the same document for whatever changes were needed twenty eight times? Damn.
It’s called being efficient and getting it all done in one shot.
Then let the author go over it. Then you get to go over it again.
Then whatever is left is what gets discussed.
Don’t be terrified. You are obviously literate and have grammar and spelling skills.
Use common sense to comment or question about whatever plot holes you may find on top of that and if they can’t appreciate that, then maybe they shouldn’t expect you to actually do this as a job because you are clearly competent. =)
It’s not as bad as all that, at least I hope not.
I feel better since I heard back from the supervisor overseeing this project. We’ll see how it goes.
Thank you for the compliment.
The book is non-fiction — I doubt I would be nearly as skilled with fiction, but I guess we’ll see, since I have a friend’s book to edit if I ever find the time.
Good luck with everything and keep your head up.
Thanks for viewing my blog earlier.
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Thanks for the comment!
Do I have you on my list for the Dare to be Different group or did you just add it? I can add you if you’re not on there yet. 
I’ve had the button on my blog for about a week, but I don’t think you’ve added me.
sniff, sniff. Ha, ha, ha. Only joking. Add away.
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