Kimberly PauleyA book is never, ever finished. You simply get to a point where you and your editor are reasonably happy with how it is and you go with that. Left to our own devices, a writer would endlessly fiddle with a book, changing little thing after little thing.
About This Quote
When I was first introduced to the idea of editing, it seemed like a daunting task. However, after reading this quote, I realize that there is so much more to editing than the act of making the final changes. Firstly, it is impossible for me to believe that a writer would not be happy with how their work is. After all, no one wants to see their work reviewed and they certainly do not want to show their work to an editor. Secondly, there is no reason for an editor to change things that are already perfect. They only need to make minor changes to make the book fit the time period it belongs in and make sure everything is correctly spelled.
Lastly, it is never truly finished. An editor will always find something else they can change or fix up because everything they touch will always be better than perfect.
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