May 17, 2008...11:51 am
The Ugly Truth……
about writing.
Before I began this weird and wonderful journey in publishing, I thought writing a book was a glamorous and artistic endeavor filled with coffee shops and poetry readings.
Instead, it’s often as frantic, technical and business oriented as any other profession. Most of the aspects of being a published author are fun for me. Web presence has been fun (though occasionally frustrating). Meeting other authors and publishing professionals is a blast. The creative process of writing a story is a unique and rewarding experience.
It’s the edits.
I’ve been EXTREMELY lucky in the editing department. All of my editors have been wonderful, savvy people who have made every one of my stories they’ve touched better. But it’s work. Especially if the story has issues.
Take, for example, “Edge of the Storm”, the sequel to “Heart of the Storm” that releases in August and is currently in edits. It’s a plot driven book with several tricky places that required a lot of attention. What happened when I wrote the book is that the plot got ALL the attention. My poor characters didn’t have any romance. The smucks.
In edits, some of that has to be changed, moved, addressed, filled in. There’s massive deletions (ugh) and cutting and pasting (double ugh). By the time I’m done, I’m cross-eyed and this is just round one. Round two and three might be lighter but more difficult to deal with.
At least in epublishing, they use Word and track changes so it’s just a matter of point and click. In New York publishing, they send you the entire manuscript marked with weird little symbols and (hopefully) a key to decipher them. On paper. The mind boggles at doing four hundred pages of little red squiggles.
*shudders*
I see my future and it makes me tremble.
When edits for “Edge” are done, I’ll have edits for the sequel to “The Mask She Wears” titled “The Secrets She Keeps” (that may change) which should come in soon as well. Then, I’ve got “Legends” out to a critique partner who will violate it and send it back.
Donny is looking very appealing at the moment.
So, if I’m scarce, or sound insane, don’t worry. I am.
10 Comments
May 17, 2008 at 12:41 pm
But you do it!!!! Amazing, I have yet to finish one. I admire you for working so hard.
May 17, 2008 at 1:13 pm
Get one finished, Kym. You can totally do it.
May 17, 2008 at 7:12 pm
lol, you said *track changes* I hate track changes…
May 17, 2008 at 7:35 pm
Isn’t it hard to have someone edit your original work? Do they tell you to cut things out that you don’t want to? I think it would be an odd feeling to have someone else edit something that I created. I would feel very overprotective of my product. I know it is a necessary evil, but I wonder how hard it is to hear the changes they want made.
May 17, 2008 at 7:37 pm
It is Lothian, but most of the time the changes make the book a hundred times better.
May 18, 2008 at 3:05 pm
Yaay, a sequel to The Mask She Wears! That story’s always going to have a special place in my heart, lol.
And, and, and, you actually wrote a story where the characters didn’t have much romance? I almost can’t believe that, ye pant-worthy writer.
Don’t tremble too much at your future; you won’t be able to type…and wouldn’t THAT be a damn shame.
{{hugs for the insane}}
May 18, 2008 at 9:37 pm
It’s a huge credit to you that you are in this place. Look at how many dabblers there are out there who have the talent to do it, but not the determination. Kudos to you, Jen!
May 18, 2008 at 11:40 pm
Edits always make me a little nervous. I’m much happier creating the initial story. Much happier!
May 19, 2008 at 12:24 am
Scarce and insane - got it, we’ll watch for that . . . seriously, you’re WRITING and GETTING PAID, that seperates you from so many other thousands who just dream of it. Looking forward to the sequel! Cheers, steve
May 19, 2008 at 3:47 am
Awwww come on, Cup. Track changes are so much FUN. “Accept Add Insertion” “Accept deletion” “Accept Format Change”. Isn’t that a party?
Thanks Andi! I forgot about that upcoming arthritis that would keep me from typing. I keep hoping they’re going to come up with technology where I can just think it and it writes for me. Can you imagine what THAT would look like? Scary!
Winter, there are so many talented people who don’t have the time to write the way I do. I’ve been so lucky that way.
Me too, Shelley. Me too.
And Steve, I keep that in mind when I have those “I-suck-so-bad-what-was-I-thinking-writing-this-crap” edits. I am so LUCKY that I’ve had a little success. There are people who enjoy the stories I tell. I’m so glad you’re back and I hope your vacations was awesome.
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