I have just finished going through the initial copy of ‘The Long Staff’ prior to the print for our official launch next month.

The process has been a real roller coaster ride. While it was great fun getting to read my book after a long break, and also getting to read it from a reader’s perspective. It was emotional noticing the errors which had slipped through the net.

Luckily, the initial response I have had from readers of the book, is that they got so lost in the story, that they didn’t notice the mistakes. I suppose as writers, we are always over critical.

The main thing this exercise has taught me, is that authors CAN NOT edit their own work. We get too engrossed in what we are writing, and see what ‘we think’ is on the page, rather than what is actually there… Possibly an argument against the new wave of self published online authors? Who knows…

I am a writer with a small press, and so with less resources than a larger publishing house, these things are ironed out in a slightly different fashion, however I’m sure that all authors feel the same pressure and upset, no matter when they have to go through their work, looking for flaws.

I am lucky, that I now have my ever patient ‘retired teacher’ mother, who is kindly being my first set of eyes for my second book. She is extremely attentive, and I’m sure that when this book gets to an editor, it will already be in great shape.

For now, I’m just grateful I can get back to writing again…. I would love to hear if anyone else has had similar experiences, how they felt throughout…

Thanks again guys, and keep wielding!

Clare Wilson