As I work through the edits on the final Rory Choice book in the series I’ve noticed I no longer feel upset at any of the changes the editor wants me to make. Even if she demands I rewrite an entire chapter, I can roll up my sleeves right then and there and get to work. It’s crazy the battle I used to have within myself every time my editor wanted to make changes before. Mind you I never told her—that would be super unprofessional.

I’d get up, go for a walk—do this whole mental pep-talk. “Come on now, Janelle, will it really change the story that much to restructure that chapter? Just get in there and give it a chance.”

And it’s not that I don’t love this last book in the series. It’ll be the icing that makes you want to read the whole series again, but they’re just words. Every novel is full of them. Yet, the best books almost make you forget they are there. How do they do it? Editing the crap out of every overwritten sentence we authors love to make. So bring on the shredder, I’m aiming for seamless people! I want my readers to have the very best work I can produce. Yes, we stubborn types have to be conked over the head a couple of times to finally see reason.