Stages of Editing a Book

I feel like I've been editing THESE WICKED WATERS for as long as the sirens in the book have been alive. (*hint*: it's centuries)
As I've been slogging through paragraph after paragraph, making some tweaks or huge overhauls, things have been interesting. There have been high points (where I'm moving through with lightning speed) and low points (where I flop on top of my sister who's trying to study and demand for her to pay attention to me).
Which is why I'm devoting this post to my editing adventure--in fun gif-form. Prepare yourself!
Finding typos you can't believe you missed.

Reading a scene where you didn't have to make any changes (so, so rare).

Stumbling upon a plot device that makes absolutely no sense.

Realizing halfway through that you tried to query this book.

When laziness strikes and all the words blur together into, "Blah, blah, blah..."

When you're convinced that this book stinks, and there's nothing you can do to salvage it. In fact, you're never going to be published. EVER. 

But then you remember that you love the characters.

And that this book is worth it.

Happy editing!

ELEMENTALS, Chapter One

Editing Reaction, LOTR Style

Last week I finished editing one of my books, Wishes, Maybe. Also last week I binge-watched the entire LOTR series (not The Hobbit, sorry. I'm pretending that was never filmed). Now the two activities will be forever merged in my mind. The last seven days went sort of like this:

1. Opening up Wishes, Maybe to start editing.

I really missed my characters. It was a wonderful reunion

2. Reading the first few paragraphs.

Reading/editing makes me hungry. Don't ask why.

3. Finding that first awkward phrase/typo.

Bring. It. On.

4. Realizing my writing sucks.

I've wasted my life writing this book!!

5. Admitting that my book isn't that bad.

I'm so over-dramatic. This is actually pretty good!

6. Reading that scene I don't remember writing.

Where did you come from?

7. Finishing my edits, at long last.

Let's do it again!

And this gif, just because.