The Waiting Game

Publishing, like many businesses, is a hurry-up-and-wait experience. Submit a manuscript and wait to hear a response. Get an acceptance and wait for the contract. Sign the contract and wait for edits. Get editorial notes, and often a short deadline. Turn in the edited manuscript and wait for more edits. Rinse and repeated as needed. Get copy edits and work on those to meet the next deadline.
 
This week I went through a second round of copy edits. The number of mistakes still remaining is humbling. Obviously, I’m not so good at seeing errors as I thought. Thanks for making this book better, copy editors!
 
Now I’m on another “wait” square on the playing board. I don’t know what the next move will be.
 
A preview of the cover? That would be fun. Since my ebook is slated to be out this summer, someone must be working on the face of the book, right? I hope so. What will it look like? Will I be pleased or merely satisfied with the images, layout, and design? (I’m not expecting a bad cover as I like the publishing house’s covers!)
 
A third round of copy edits?
 
Or will there be something I haven’t even thought of?
 
I know I’m fortunate. A print book would have even a longer waiting time. So while I wait, I’ll stifle impatience and apply what I’ve learned on other manuscripts. (And try not to watch my email inbox as these cats are watching the clock.)

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