Ever wonder what that editor-author relationship is like?
Ever wonder what she really means when she's saying that other thing?
Then you might benefit from this

Vocabulary for Authors and Illustrators
by Ruth McNally Barshaw
written & sent to my editor and agent Oct. 3, 2006

kinderspeak - that tone the editor or AD takes when you've done something wrong
but they don't want you to feel bad about it, obsess and trip over the next deadline.

observational calm - when the publicity director takes you out to dinner and quietly
watches how you interact with others, while mentally calculating what will be needed
to make this new diamond shine.

friendly firm - when the editor reinforces a point she is not willing to budge on, but
is so nice about it that you can't help but agree that her point is entirely reasonable
(of course, in retrospect, it IS entirely reasonable).

calculated lag time - when the editor builds a little time into the interval between
receiving a package and letting the author know the package was received and
reviewed and approved.
This prevents the editor from having to backtrack: "Yes, I know we said we loved
the work, but there are a few little things that we'd like changed..."

generous babblet - the patient, smiling pause the editor gives, allowing you to
babble about [whatever] for a minute or so until you babble yourself into agreement
on whatever's being discussed.

focus firm - that tone the editor takes when directing you to put all of your energy
into revisions rather than thinking about marketing, school visits and award speeches.

lagspeed babble - the talk you can hear your mouth creating while your brain is
processing the revelation that the listeners understand where your point is going and
you don't really need to say it out loud because you're all in agreement anyway.

futurism leak - when the editor deliberately uses futuristic language to ease the
present moment's tension. Example: "He's a great character as he is, but if he can be
her brother instead of her cousin, he can appear in future books." Author is so elated
at the leak of "future books" that she's willing to kill off all the other characters,
if directed by the editor.

kill-darlings remorse - brief remorse experienced when an editor suggests omitting
a character from the story, and the author is smart enough to recognize a good
suggestion, but first holds a pretend funeral in her heart for that soon-to-be-gone
character.

chat volume uncertainty - a disconnect in the brain that causes you to speak in
varying levels of volume during the same conference call, where there are two on
speaker phone on the other end, while you're on the handset on your end.
Manifested in varying ways even during a 10-minute call, it can result in loud guffaws
and immediate embarrassed silence.

creative backlash - that unfortunate yet irresistable spark of creativity that comes
when you're supposed to be being creative about something else. (Like, making this list
instead of doing the final art. I know, I know, I'm going back to the drawing board now...)

book bliss - the certain knowledge that your editor, art director, publicity director, agent
and you make a great team that will do wonderful things together.

----   a 2007 addition:

the ugly stage - a point in any creative endeavor where the work looks awful and you
can't possibly imagine a happy outcome. Keep working, and ignore the ugliness.
Eventually you'll have a beautiful swan on your hands.
Or, you'll have an ugly thing you have to kill. Either way, keep moving.
© Ruth McNally Barshaw 2009