Longtime readers know I have a new book coming out next year. Happy and Solo at Church – Light Your Fire and Worship with Joy will be available through Elk Lake Publishing in the spring. I’m looking forward to helping those who attend church alone and the people who love them.
This is my first book to be traditionally published, which means it’s gone through multiple editing sessions. When some friends asked me last summer how the process was going, my response was … oh … let’s say, less than enthusiastic.
I thought I’d been through the editing process before with my other self and hybrid-published books. Oh, no. That was more like Baby Editing.
When I first opened the book in Microsoft Word after Editor Extraordinaire Carol McClain put in her comments and changes, my jaw dropped. Carol pointed out my overuse of the words “that” and “just.” She didn’t like all my exclamation points and said they made me look a bit crazy. (Well, those aren’t the only things in my life that make me look that way … but I digress.)
Elk Lake in general also wanted me to change my title, which was originally How to Thrive, Not Just Survive, Attending Church Solo. Now, I can write a 40,000-page book. When it comes to 10-word titles, however, I freeze. My mind empties. I can almost hear the crickets chirping in my head.
I did what any mature, intelligent adult writer would do in this situation. I pouted and complained. Then I finally rolled up my sleeves and got to work.
As I went through the draft, I began to realize Carol and her team were absolutely, positively … right. They were right on the first round of edits, and the second, and the third. And with their suggestions and encouragement, I discovered they helped me not only improve my book, but my columns and grant proposals as well.
I truly did overuse “that” and “just” – and I still catch myself falling into the trap at times. I may have edited those words out of this very column. I do overuse exclamation points, which my grant team members have mentioned, too.
And Elk Lake had a valid point on my title. I see the phrase “Don’t just survive but thrive” – or something close to it – everywhere these days. Thanks to some prayer, I literally woke up one day with the new title in my head, which I like much better.
We’ve now had over four rounds of edits for the book, with Managing Editor Judy Hagey assisting me recently. Both Carol and Judy have pushed me to be my best, and I am incredibly grateful.
Is anyone pushing you to be your best? It’s not easy at first when someone does this. But you must remember, if someone truly cares about you and approaches you in a loving and caring manner, the push may be exactly what you need.
Amy Shankland is an empty-nester, writer, and fundraising professional living in Noblesville with her husband John and two dogs. You can reach her via email at amys@greenavenue.info.