Hi everyone! Just popping in to let you know that I'll be taking one more week off. I've had an eventful August so far, and I have line edits (first time) due next week on The Promise of Rain. I do have a blog post up today at The Heartwarming Authors Blog. It's on teen drivers and you can check it out HERE.
I'll be back soon!
Showing posts with label Editing. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Editing. Show all posts
Thursday, August 22, 2013
Monday, July 23, 2012
Blue Otter Editing
I'm back, refreshed and psyched for Nationals this week! I'll do my best to post pics next Monday. I also promised more interviews and I have three fantastic authors lined up in August: Kathy Altman, Robin Covington and Kaily Hart.
I know. I know. None of them are otters...or blue otters for that matter :) So what gives with the post title? Whether you're self-publishing and looking to hire a great copy editor, or simply looking to bring your traditional proposal to a polish before submitting, Blue Otter Editing is a resource worth keeping on your go-to list. I personally know its founder, Amy Knupp. Not only does she have journalism and editing experience, she's also an exceptional writer. She knows the business from all angles. Like I said, check it out!
And I'm off! See you after Nationals!
I know. I know. None of them are otters...or blue otters for that matter :) So what gives with the post title? Whether you're self-publishing and looking to hire a great copy editor, or simply looking to bring your traditional proposal to a polish before submitting, Blue Otter Editing is a resource worth keeping on your go-to list. I personally know its founder, Amy Knupp. Not only does she have journalism and editing experience, she's also an exceptional writer. She knows the business from all angles. Like I said, check it out!
And I'm off! See you after Nationals!
Monday, February 28, 2011
Revision Reads
Can you believe it's the last day of February? Time flies when you're writing!
I'm up for a hectic week so I'm leaving you with a short but valuable post. I recently came across a couple of must-read links for anyone polishing a manuscript or dealing with revisions. Actually, they're great reads at any stage of writing.
Check out Kristen Lamb's blog post on novel diagnostics: The Doctor Is In The House.
Also visit Harlequin author Wendy Marcus's post on revisions at Romance University.
And for anyone interested in strengthening their plotting and character development skills, pick up a copy of Plot & Structure by James Scott Bell. I just finished reading it a few days ago and it's fantastic. In fact, I'm adding it to my list of favorite craft books. Not only does he write with a sense of humor, his style is also very straightforward and he makes concepts click. You close the book feeling ready to apply what he has explained. I rank it up there with Debra Dixon's GMC as a writing staple.
Happy writing!
I'm up for a hectic week so I'm leaving you with a short but valuable post. I recently came across a couple of must-read links for anyone polishing a manuscript or dealing with revisions. Actually, they're great reads at any stage of writing.
Check out Kristen Lamb's blog post on novel diagnostics: The Doctor Is In The House.
Also visit Harlequin author Wendy Marcus's post on revisions at Romance University.
And for anyone interested in strengthening their plotting and character development skills, pick up a copy of Plot & Structure by James Scott Bell. I just finished reading it a few days ago and it's fantastic. In fact, I'm adding it to my list of favorite craft books. Not only does he write with a sense of humor, his style is also very straightforward and he makes concepts click. You close the book feeling ready to apply what he has explained. I rank it up there with Debra Dixon's GMC as a writing staple.
Happy writing!
Monday, November 22, 2010
The Dangers of Search and Replace
This Thanksgiving, I'm giving thanks to Word's wonderful Search and Replace tool (amongst other things of course). Better yet, Replace All. Gotta love'em.
BUT you'd better read every, single word of your manuscript after you use said tool.
WARNING: After using Search and Replace, perform a SEARCH AND RESCUE!
While doing final edits on my manuscript yesterday, I decided to change one of the character's names from Josh to Dixon. He's a not-so-likeable guy and the name seemed to work better, plus I had another character with a 'J' name and it was confusing. Easy enough. Replace All.
Ha! I continued reading through and came across a passage where the hero is getting teased and slapped on the back by some friends. I'd used the word 'joshing'. Don't laugh. It's a small town and it fit the secondary character (I hope). Catching on yet? Imagine my double take when I read that the hero's friend was 'Dixoning' him.
Now, that just sounds wrong.
It even took me a minute to figure out how the hell the word got there. It's not even in Webster's (I checked out of curiosity because I'm weird). Can you imagine the look on an editor or agent's face? Be warned, my friends. Check. Every. Single. Word.
Does anyone else have Search and Replace rescue stories?
Happy Thanksgiving!
BUT you'd better read every, single word of your manuscript after you use said tool.
WARNING: After using Search and Replace, perform a SEARCH AND RESCUE!
While doing final edits on my manuscript yesterday, I decided to change one of the character's names from Josh to Dixon. He's a not-so-likeable guy and the name seemed to work better, plus I had another character with a 'J' name and it was confusing. Easy enough. Replace All.
Ha! I continued reading through and came across a passage where the hero is getting teased and slapped on the back by some friends. I'd used the word 'joshing'. Don't laugh. It's a small town and it fit the secondary character (I hope). Catching on yet? Imagine my double take when I read that the hero's friend was 'Dixoning' him.
Now, that just sounds wrong.
It even took me a minute to figure out how the hell the word got there. It's not even in Webster's (I checked out of curiosity because I'm weird). Can you imagine the look on an editor or agent's face? Be warned, my friends. Check. Every. Single. Word.
Does anyone else have Search and Replace rescue stories?
Happy Thanksgiving!
Monday, October 18, 2010
Chop for the best deal
I just chopped three inches off my hair.
Just. Like. That.
No hairdresser, mind you. Nope. I stood in front of the mirror with sharp sissors and thought about how much I love having long hair. Then I looked more closely and saw the thinning, the split ends, and the lifelessness. What's the point in loving long hair if it's in crappy shape? I cut it without a second thought.
Now, you know you're a writer when you're chopping your hair off and all you can think of is manuscript editing. I kid you not. I stood there comparing cutting my hair to manuscript editing. No matter how much you love your words (or hair), if they're unhealthy for the manuscript, if they're not doing anything to give it life or to propel the scene, they need to be chopped.
Just. Like. That.
I know it'll feel like you're getting rid of a part of yourself, but it's for the better. My hair will grow back...just like new, healthier, more powerful passages can be added back into the story. It's a great deal - a little chop with huge returns. What makes it a tad easier is that your words don't have to go into the trash can. I cut and paste them into a 'scraps' file where I can use ideas, sentences, or words at a later time. I know many writers who use programs like Scrivener or OneNote, where all those cuts can be kept just a click away (I have yet to try a writing program).
What's harder for you...chopping off your hair or chopping out sections of your manuscript?
Just. Like. That.
No hairdresser, mind you. Nope. I stood in front of the mirror with sharp sissors and thought about how much I love having long hair. Then I looked more closely and saw the thinning, the split ends, and the lifelessness. What's the point in loving long hair if it's in crappy shape? I cut it without a second thought.
Now, you know you're a writer when you're chopping your hair off and all you can think of is manuscript editing. I kid you not. I stood there comparing cutting my hair to manuscript editing. No matter how much you love your words (or hair), if they're unhealthy for the manuscript, if they're not doing anything to give it life or to propel the scene, they need to be chopped.
Just. Like. That.
I know it'll feel like you're getting rid of a part of yourself, but it's for the better. My hair will grow back...just like new, healthier, more powerful passages can be added back into the story. It's a great deal - a little chop with huge returns. What makes it a tad easier is that your words don't have to go into the trash can. I cut and paste them into a 'scraps' file where I can use ideas, sentences, or words at a later time. I know many writers who use programs like Scrivener or OneNote, where all those cuts can be kept just a click away (I have yet to try a writing program).
What's harder for you...chopping off your hair or chopping out sections of your manuscript?
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