So yesterday I posted a plan of doing nothing. It was going to be great. Fortunately or unfortunately life happened instead.
I intended to sit in my pajamas all day. This part became true, but I was working on my computer.
My edits for Mything the Throne came back. I found a lot of typos. At least it wasn’t story editing anymore. I didn’t have to rewrite. But I read things like ‘me’ and said ‘what was supposed to be here as that’s not right. Then I realized it’s supposed to say ‘men.’ I forgot an n.
This type of editing I think most people think of as edits. It’s not. The big edits are storyline. I rewrite my stories so many times. I can do it again and again. But I’m so not good with copyediting. I can be critical of others but with my own, my eyes have blinders.
I sent Mything the Throne back last night at 10 PM.
So today I want a bowl of ice cream and to do nothing.
We shall see if I get my wish to do nothing again. Yesterday didn’t play out as planned. This is life though. It’s a roller coaster and all we can do is ride and have a good time.
I’m so happy I have sent it in. I can’t wait to see the cover that’s done and to share the release date. I wrote the original and sold the manuscript in 2012 or 2013. It’s not 2016 when the manuscript is ready. I have grown a lot as a writer and the drafts are so different now. I hope you enjoy the story.
Frequently Asked Questions
How is copyediting different from story editing?
Copyediting focuses on catching surface-level errors like typos, missing words, and punctuation mistakes. Story editing, by contrast, involves reviewing and rewriting the actual plot, structure, and narrative. Authors typically go through many rounds of story editing before a manuscript is ready, while copyediting is the final polish — catching small errors like a missing letter that changes ‘me’ to ‘men.’
What is Mything the Throne and when was it written?
Mything the Throne is a manuscript originally written and sold in 2012 or 2013. By 2016, the manuscript had gone through significant rewrites and edits, with the author noting major growth in their writing between the original draft and the final version. The book had a completed cover design ahead of its release date announcement.
Why do authors struggle to copyedit their own work compared to editing someone else’s?
Authors often struggle to copyedit their own writing because their eyes develop ‘blinders’ — the brain automatically fills in what it expects to see rather than what is actually on the page. The same author may easily spot errors in another person’s work but miss identical mistakes in their own, simply because familiarity with the text reduces objective reading.
