The Editor or the Egg: My Journey to Publishing Without Light and the Importance of Investing in Yourself

Let me start by saying, if you had asked me a few years ago what comes first—the editor or the egg—I would have probably said, "Wait, aren't they the same thing?" You see, I always thought that once you secured a literary agent, they’d be the ones to point you to an editor. I envisioned the process as a sort of magical hand-off, where the agent would swoop in and guide me to a professional editor who would then help polish my work. It never occurred to me that it was actually the writer’s responsibility to find a qualified editor to refine their manuscript before querying agents endlessly. I was blissfully unaware that the egg—the manuscript—needed to be in pretty fantastic shape before it was presented to the world. In hindsight, this is a bit like trying to sell a house without bothering to clean it first. (Note to self: my next post should be an apology letter to all the literary agents I queried with my crap work.)

Back in 2010 and 2011, when I wrote those two manuscripts (that I'd prefer to not talk too much about), I thought I was doing pretty well. I mean, who needs an editor when you’ve got spell check and a decent command of the English language, right?

Wrong.

Those manuscripts never experienced the professional cleanup process, and let’s just say they remain comfortably tucked away in a drawer where they can’t haunt me. Looking back, it’s clear that I missed a crucial part of the journey—investing in myself and my work.

Fast forward to today, and I’m finally working with an editor on Without Light. It’s an experience I didn’t fully appreciate until now. Think of it like this: would a chef open a restaurant without first refining their recipes? Would a builder skip the blueprint stage and hope for the best? Of course not. Whether you're in the culinary arts, construction, or the ever-mysterious world of novel writing, upfront investment is key. You have to be willing to put in the time, the effort, and yes, the money, to make sure your final product is the best it can be.

I’ll be honest—acknowledging that I skipped this step with my earlier work feels a bit like admitting I’ve been walking around with underwear on inside out for years. But you know what? It’s okay. We all have our missteps, our learning curves, our “what was I thinking?” moments. The important thing is that we learn from them. Those manuscripts were part of my journey, and even though they didn’t make it to the finish line, they taught me valuable lessons. They were stepping stones that led me to where I am today—working with an editor who is helping me refine Without Light into something I’m truly proud of.

Investing in yourself isn’t just about financial commitment; it’s about believing in your own potential and being willing to do what it takes to bring that potential to life. Whether you're launching a business, starting a new career, or, like me, finally getting serious about that novel, the journey requires a certain level of upfront investment. It’s the foundation upon which success is built, and let’s be real—if it were easy, everyone would be doing it.

So here I am, on this wild ride of editing and polishing, grateful for every red mark, every suggestion, and every “let’s rethink this part.” It’s all part of the process, and I’m excited to see where it leads.

For those of you following along, thank you for your support and encouragement. I can’t wait to share Without Light with you when it’s ready. In the meantime, don’t forget to follow me on Facebook and Instagram, and sign up for my newsletter to stay in the loop. After all, this journey is just getting started, and I’d love to have you along for the ride!

— Megan A. Rockwell