Today is the nineteenth in a series of posts by San-Diego-based writer Thomas Shess who has decided to keep a journal on his journey to find a publisher for his novel.

Gorilla Growl. This column is called the Zoo because as a new novelist seeking a publisher or a literary agent for the first time reminds me of wandering along the various exhibits at the San Diego Zoo (I live a gorilla's scream away from the main entrance.) Each display is a different animal. You pause and study and move on. I have been able to take what I've learned and make adjustments to my manuscript to improve it. My work is so much better today than it was when mediabistro.com kindly agreed to run this column. I am looking forward to weeks ahead when it will be even better.

Tomato or Coconut. I spent most of this week reworking on the synopsis of my novel. For a while, I could not tell the mss. from the synopsis. Yes, it was that long. However, after pouring over every word I was able to bring it in to about 1,500 words. I worked on simply telling the story without being cute or corny. I have sent my new version back to the book editor I am working with currently for review. Hardest assignment I've had in a long, long time because cutting fiction is so much tougher than cutting non-fiction. In non-fiction facts are stacked like poker chips. Lose one and the article survives. In fiction, removing a chip upfront may destroy the ending. Like the difference between slicing a tomato and a coconut. What do you bet that he asks me to cut another 500 words?

Copy Editor Menu. Last week, acting on my prodding, Ray Rhamey, book editor, author and nice guy, kindly send me a description of what a copy editor does to earn his/her living. Ray, who has a freelance editing service says a copy editor should apply the following: Tightening the writing (you may see lots of adjectives and adverbs go away); spell check; sentence structure; story flow and pace (rooting out dead spots); plot flaws and continuity inconsistencies; character development; transitions; use of active voice; proper word usage; clarity and weeding out of weak words; subject and verb agreement; overuse of words or characters; redundancies and some coaching and instruction on writing craft.

Types of Copy Editing. Ray Rhamey goes on to explain the different levels of copy editing: Basic Copy Editing is dealing with a fairly clean mss., as well as with grammar, punctuation, the sense of sentences and continuity. Substantive copy editing is what Ray does and includes the above, plus involves the storytelling craft as well, dealing with characterization, pace, description, point of view, plot, and scene-setting.

What it cost? According to the Editorial Freelancers Association, basic copyediting (3 to 8 pages per hour) is $25 to $35 per hour. Substantive copy editing (2 to 5 pages per hour) is $25 to $50 per hour. Ray charges 1.5 cents per word. If your manuscript is 50,000 words, multiply that times 1.5 cents for his rate.

No Surrender. The Zoo was reviewed by another on-line columnist late last month, who found the long road and lack of success in finding a publisher or an agent for my first novel made for depressing reading. It was a smartass report basically, but there were some kind words tossed my way and my name was spelled right so who is to complain? Yes, it has been five months since I've launched my Quixotic search. The glass is half full because that length of time it has taken is really a flash compared to many. And, for the most part it has been exhilarating. People in publishing can see through a phony and the many generous offers to help me get published reveal this column has a genuine following because we discuss issues that all beginning writers have faced. The other columnist did make a valid point that what is depressing for the majority of novel writers is how difficult it is to be published. That's reality. Giving up, however, is more depressing and not an option.

* Because it's a jungle out there.