Copyedits

Nothing makes me feel more like a stupid writer than reviewing what my copyeditor has done to my manuscript.

And--honestly--I mean that in the most positive and grateful way.

There are commas removed from places I was certain commas were required, and commas inserted in places I was certain didn't need them.  There are "delete this silly word or phrase" curls all over the place.  There are clear notes about awkward constructions and unassigned pronouns that are polite versions of WTF?  I've found myself getting almost giddy when she lets me keep a word in italics (I'm guessing I get one for every ten I originally used).  And I had no idea I was so damned obsessed with "then." 

There are stylistic choices I'm having to abandon--am opting to abandon--because I must balance my choices against reader assumptions.  The fact I'm self-publishing makes a huge difference.  The more "rules" I break, the more likely it is readers will assume I don't know the basics of writing, and I'd rather the story stand on its own merits.  Someday, perhaps, it won't matter, and I can let the stories flow the way I wish them to.  But that day isn't today.

Really, it's bad enough I've chosen the omni viewpoint.  I suspect to see plenty accusations of head-hopping.

So I'm down to my last fifty pages of copyedits.  I may get them done before I must teach this evening, but it's more likely to be finished tomorrow.