On Editing: A Summary

I think it's safe to say the editing process is complete, at least from my side of the keyboard.  I came up with an idea for an epilogue a couple of days ago, and I wrote the first version of it this morning.  So it's time for a (mostly) final accounting.

Over the past thirty-six days I've:

• cut 29,000 words and 111 pages (remember, 20 pages of that was endnotes)
• got rid of the whole "found manuscript" premise, the confession format, and everything to do with Marie-Agnès at the convent
• went through and streamlined the narrative.  What DID I have against contractions??
• replaced the confessional letters with longer chapters
• wrote a prologue and an epilogue
• restructured the first chapter
• minimized the role of certain minor characters
• chopped an entire chapter because it didn't advance Isabelle's story (at least 20 pages in one fell swoop)
• came up with a new title

all in an effort to bring Isabelle's story to the forefront.  The epilogue still needs some work.  It doesn't do exactly what I want it to do, but it's getting there.  I'm going to let it cool off for a bit, then I'll look at it again.

I think I've done good work here.  I want the story to be the best that it can, and it's very nearly there, which is good, because I'm back to work tomorrow.  There are a few publishers who said they'd be willing to look at the manuscript again.  Let's hope they like it!