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Disclaimer: I know that hiring an editor would make my book perfect and solve this problem. The hitch is that I first have to write more books to make enough money to hire an editor. This problem happens in the meantime. Plus, it's slowing me down in writing new stuff, which means I'll take even longer to make enough money to hire an editor.
I edited my first book for almost a year. And I put it down only after forcing myself to stop. I told myself that it was a snapshot, the best I could do at that moment.
Now, the more I learn about writing and editing, all I can see are mistakes. I skimmed through it to try a print layout, and they just leaped out to clobber me in the face. Everywhere. The worst mistake, too. The one that On Writing says only horrible hacks use - using speaking verbs other than "said" (whispered, shouted etc.). Yeah. I didn't even realize it. I'm so ashamed of myself. I want to burn every copy of my book, but you can't burn ebooks.
Before I realized this, I had set up a couple of small promos. I was excited. Now I feel trapped. Should I hurry and fix everything I can before time runs out? Should I leave it? I don't feel right leaving it in the world with flaws. I feel like a charlatan, selling people defective merchandise.
But if I replace it, where does it end? The more I learn, the more mistakes I'll find. Do I just keep fixing and fixing until I earn enough money to hire an editor and make it perfect once and for all? That process is a distraction from working on anything new. And everything else in my life. I want to work on something new; I just can't stop thinking about this.
I could quit and delete the book, but I don't want to. I just want the next one to be better. Maybe it can't be (On Writing also says that talentless hacks can never become competent), but I want to try.
The other option is to write so many newer, superior books that I don't have time to think about them once they're shoved out the door. But that will take time, and in the meantime this will gnaw at me.
If I ignore it and leave it as a snapshot of how terrible I am, and I try to get better next time - how do I stop stressing out about it? I don't know how to stop caring or think about something else.
I have a giant rock on my back labeled "said", and I don't know how to a) set it down or b) become strong enough that it doesn't crush me.
I need advice. Thank you for your time.
I edited my first book for almost a year. And I put it down only after forcing myself to stop. I told myself that it was a snapshot, the best I could do at that moment.
Now, the more I learn about writing and editing, all I can see are mistakes. I skimmed through it to try a print layout, and they just leaped out to clobber me in the face. Everywhere. The worst mistake, too. The one that On Writing says only horrible hacks use - using speaking verbs other than "said" (whispered, shouted etc.). Yeah. I didn't even realize it. I'm so ashamed of myself. I want to burn every copy of my book, but you can't burn ebooks.
Before I realized this, I had set up a couple of small promos. I was excited. Now I feel trapped. Should I hurry and fix everything I can before time runs out? Should I leave it? I don't feel right leaving it in the world with flaws. I feel like a charlatan, selling people defective merchandise.
But if I replace it, where does it end? The more I learn, the more mistakes I'll find. Do I just keep fixing and fixing until I earn enough money to hire an editor and make it perfect once and for all? That process is a distraction from working on anything new. And everything else in my life. I want to work on something new; I just can't stop thinking about this.
I could quit and delete the book, but I don't want to. I just want the next one to be better. Maybe it can't be (On Writing also says that talentless hacks can never become competent), but I want to try.
The other option is to write so many newer, superior books that I don't have time to think about them once they're shoved out the door. But that will take time, and in the meantime this will gnaw at me.
If I ignore it and leave it as a snapshot of how terrible I am, and I try to get better next time - how do I stop stressing out about it? I don't know how to stop caring or think about something else.
I have a giant rock on my back labeled "said", and I don't know how to a) set it down or b) become strong enough that it doesn't crush me.
I need advice. Thank you for your time.