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Production Diary – The Decay Within, Part 3 – Conceptual Editing

We’re a little ways into the month, but with the Fourth of July holiday, I think things got a little behind Tate’s original schedule. I am excited to share with you that I’ve just received official word that The Decay Within has moved from Copy Editing over to Conceptual Editing.

So what is Conceptual editing? Well, copy editing dealt with grammar issues. Now, my conceptual editor is going to really go through the book and review it for the content. Does what I said on page 15 mesh with what I said on page 93. Would a particular statement be better in another spot? That sentence doesn’t make sense there and is confusing. All these are issues that will be address as we move through Conceptual Editing.

Lindsey Marcus has been assigned as my conceptual editor. I haven’t found out much about her yet, but I’m confident that I can expect great things! At this point, she’s reading through the book as we speak. On July 31st I receive her first review of the book. If things are the same as the last time with Without Regrets, I’ll get a color-coded Word document to go through, decipher and correct. Once I get that, I’ll have two weeks to go through those and figure out what I meant to say. For me, it will be the first time I’ve really looked at the manuscript since I sent it in. I think having a bit of a break will make it that much more fresh when I review it with Lindsey’s comments.

I also have a couple of other things to get down this month. For one, I am compiling “endorsements” for the book. Those are the wonderful blurbs at the beginning of books (or on the back cover) where other people have reviewed and offered an opinion on the book. I have received a couple already, but I need to get them typed up and submitted. I am also waiting on one more, that I hope to get in the very near future. I need to have these submitted by July 26th.

Another project is getting the “Backmatter” and “Author Bio” completed. Those are typically found on the back cover and are what so many of use to decide whether or not the book piques our interest. I need to get those in by the end of the month.

So now, I need your help! I’ve pasted in my rough draft for the Backmatter. Give me your thoughts and feedback on it in the comments section. Does it entice you to want to read the book? Too much? Not enough? Thanks for your help and I’ll be back once I get my first round of edits from Lindsey!

BACKMATTER

“Picture perfect outside, rot and decay inside. Too often people spend huge amounts of time and resources perfecting the parts of their life that others can easily see, while neglecting the very foundation their life is built on. As a result, we may look like we have everything together to others, yet we’re rotting away like bones inside of a beautifully decorated tomb.

During the Biblical time of the prophet Amos, the people of Israel were living comfortable and prosperous lives. Yet, God sent Amos to give them a message of judgment and destruction. Why? The people of Israel had neglected their true foundation and instead focused on the outward things of this life. As a result, even though they couldn’t see it yet, their lives were decaying from the inside out.

In this Bible study, the reader will work through the words of Amos as he pleads with the people of Israel to replace their decaying foundation with one that is living, fresh, and whole. Are you decaying from the inside out? Join author Kristi Burchfiel as she guides you through what it takes to cast off the decay and experience Life throughout.

6 Comments

  • Carolyn Findlay Davis

    I would reword to say the following:
    Too often people spend huge amounts of time and resources perfecting the parts of their lives that others can easily see, while neglecting the very foundations on which their lives are built.

  • Mukkove

    How exciting to be moving through publishing another work! I would recommend shortening your back matter. Enjoy the process and the development of patience in your life :)(That’s what publishing did for me!)

  • Kristi Burchfiel

    I have been thinking along the same lines. I was thinking about taking out the second paragraph completely to shorten things. I’m not sure though.

    I am learning patience and I’m doing much better with this book since I know what to expect this time around.  I know what you mean Mukkove!

  • Lisa Suggs

    Kristi, my suggestion for your back matter is to start off with a question prior to the statement “Picture perfect…” Then I would follow w/ Carolyn’s rewording and a little rewording of my own for the ending of the paragraph. For example:

    “Does this statement describe your life? (use italics for the word “your” to emphasize) Picture perfect outside, rot and decay inside. Too often people spend huge amounts of time and resources perfecting the parts of their lives that others can easily see, while neglecting the very foundations on which their lives are built. As a result, we may look like we have it all together on the outside, but on the inside, we’re rotting away like bones inside a beautifully decorated tomb.”

    I have mixed feelings about shortening the backmatter. The second paragraph is good. But, I think it may work without it as well. That’s my 2 cents worth! I hope these suggestions help! 🙂

  • Kristi Burchfiel

    I know what you’re saying Lisa. I was talking with someone else today who mentioned concerns about the beginning part as well; it needs to jump off the page and grab you. I like your suggestion, it gives me some more to think about for that part.