Joanna Southcott Quotes

Though an angel should write, still 'tis devils must print.

Even after the text is written, there are a tremendous number of stages along the way to the finished book. If a publisher cares about the finished product, none of them will be omitted.

Creating a book and creating a collection involve a lot of editing.

Making books is hard work. Some books are, of course, more demanding than others.

It generally takes me about nine months from the point the book is conceived to the point my editor sends it off to be typeset.

Making a book is such a big enterprise.

Most of my books have caused distribution and printing problems in the past.

I became a connoisseur of that nasty thud a manuscript makes when it comes through the letter box.

For every issue, I send four pages of finished marginals and they select the ones they need.

When you write a book for publication, you're writing it for other people to read.

The most painstaking phase comes when the manuscript is set in 'type' for the first time and the first proofs of the book are printed. These initial copies are called first-pass proofs or galleys.

I'm hoping to get started on a new novel.

My daughter writes and is the editor of her school magazine.

Most writers want to share their essay or book much too quickly. Those who accept the pain of hard work and revising are those who get published.

Over a four-month period, I sat down and wrote every day. And then there was a novel, and all of a sudden, there were agents and offers.

I'm really happy to have the chance to talk about the editing process. It's something that I think doesn't get the weight it deserves, especially with the rise of self-publishing.

If you want to write, write it. That's the first rule. And send it in, and send it in to someone who can publish it or get it published. Don't send it to me. Don't show it to your spouse, or your significant other, or your parents, or somebody. They're not going to publish it.

Above all, a query letter is a sales pitch and it is the single most important page an unpublished writer will ever write. It's the first impression and will either open the door or close it. It's that important, so don't mess it up. Mine took 17 drafts and two weeks to write.

We print 37 million copies, and we found out about the unfortunate news as we were putting the issue to bed.

Typically, a book takes me about a year to write.

Each new book is a tremendous challenge.

I like being an editor, and I know how to make a magazine.

I don't think anybody submits their first story and sells right away.

It's funny because you know the novel process: you get the drafts, you get the galley, and then you get the galley proofs. You have opportunities to change things all along. But the further along in the process you go, the more careful you have to be in making those changes, and the smaller the changes have to be.

Five people read my work before its ready for publication, and I solicit opinions from all of them: my wife, my agent, my editor, and my parents.