Gone to Galley

Got my final edits done on "Blue Light Special" and now I have the galleys in hand. I always worry about proofing my own galleys. I've read the story over and over and over so many times that I wonder if I'm going to see what's actually there, or what I think is there.

It's so important to make sure errors are caught. Nothing turns me off more in a story than poor editing: typos, wrong word usage, etc. So it would be utterly ironic for me to have those problems in my own work.

For those of you who are published, do you proof your own galleys? If not, what other options do you use?

And for the readers, do you even notice poor editing? Does it matter a lot or not so much if a story has typos, etc.?

Wishin'... and Hopin'... and Thinkin'...

Right now I have that song in my head... but somehow I'm quite sure Ms. Dusty Springfield never meant them in the context that I'm using them. I'm still waiting to hear if my Cowboy story has been accepted. But until then, my writing life goes on.

Lately, I've been editing my "Appearances" story (which probably won't stay titled that... it's just how I first thought of it, lol). And I'm finding certain characters are coming up so much clearer than they originally did. They're growing and evolving in ways I am constantly surprised by. I wrote this one at the same time that Mysti wrote her Shut Up and Kiss Me when we did it as sort of a writing challenge. We were trying to get the ball rolling and get something done... anything done. Mysti popped up in my IM window and said, "I have an idea" which usually makes me cringe... some of her ideas are a bit out there. Like yanno... "I have an idea... we should write erotic romance!" :-D

So, Mysti had an idea... we needed to just make it a challenge. We had two days (might have been three...) to write a story that was approximately 7500 words. She finished hers long before I did, but I have a very hard time making my stories shorter... I want to share the information and more of the story. Anyway, the end result was my Cowboy story that originally ended at almost 13,000 words. But I wrote it within the time limit we'd set. I can remember thinking that I liked this story, but feeling pressed to finish in the alloted time. And I'm sure that showed in the first draft.

As so often happens with a story, it started out one way, and it quickly jumped over into a different direction than I had originally planned. Once I hit save that last time I popped up in her window... "Done!" At which point she demanded I send it to her immediately. Ugh, I really hate sending anyone a first draft... I know there are mistakes in there, I know that I've twisted the plot and left out the conflict. And while I do better with criticisms than I do with praise (go figure) I always feel a little sick to my stomach when I first open up a document that has been looked over by a crit partner and see all those crossed out lines and comments along the side. Each time I think, "That's an awful lot of red!"

Mysti looked at it and sent me her comments and edits. And my first thought? "WOW, that's an awful lot of red!" LOL. Then, after taking a deep breath, I read through all the comments and edits and then closed it and set it aside. I'm not a person who can do the first or second round of edits on my stories immediately. I have to read every comment that was made, and then let it germinate. Let it sit and let my subconscious brain pick it apart and put it back together again. Besides, I was in the middle of second or third round of edits on my Cowboy, so I continued to work on those.

Now, Cowboy is off, and waiting in someone else's hands and Appearances can take center stage. As I go through and add words... or change words that I apparently love too much (clenched anyone?)... I am once again amazed at the way a story can change and evolve and grow. Characters that may have been a bit bland can take on a whole new appearance. They can steal a scene, or in some cases an entire book. They can go from whiney and not all that admirable to bitchy but lovable. I love the journey I go on each time I step into the worlds in my head. I love how I can see, taste and touch what I'm trying to get down on the screen. I absolutely adore the voices in my head (yes, even when they are screaming at me that I'm not getting their stories down fast enough). Basically, I pretty much love everything about writing... okay, I could do without the emotional angst as I wait for a response to my inquiry... but nobody's perfect, lol. Maybe if I can keep my mind on editing Appearances and writing some more I won't go as crazy... then again, maybe not. Guess we'll all have to wait and see, lol.

Writing Sex

I'm still ass-deep in edits -- I've been working like a dog and am only about halfway through them. Considering this is my third round, it shouldn't be this hard.

But it is.

The amazing thing? I've added in the neighborhood of 6000 words to this story since I sent it in. Since I'm adding, and not subtracting, is that reverse edits?

LOL....

The good news for potential readers is that the additions are pretty much regarding sex. Lots of sex. More description, stronger verbs, s-t-r-e-t-c-h-i-n-g out the scenes and wringing them for every last bit of heat. And, this is actually what the edits have been for, all three times. It's a challenge to walk through these most intimate acts in slow motion, describing not just what is happening, but how everything feels, tastes, smells, sounds.



It's been an amazing learning experience. And, I just want to say that anyone who thinks writing sex is easy needs to think again. I told Kealie a couple of days ago that my next story is going to be a sweet romance! *G*

What do you think? Is it easier to write lots of sex, or none? And, after you've written erotic romance, can you go back to writing sweet?

More: What are YOUR edits for, mostly? Any hints on getting through them without a massive headache when you're done?

Neverending Edits

I got what I hope are my final edits for "Shut Up and Kiss Me" in my inbox two days ago. It was both exciting to get them and discouraging.

I feel as though I've worked that story to death and I'm a little sick of it, lol. Think about it -- how many times do we touch a story before it's published?

I write the first draft. Send to my crit partners. Get suggestions and edit. Send again. Make more edits. Submit to publisher (and then feel like vomiting). Get contract and edits. Do edits and send back. Get more edits. Do them. Get MORE edits.



*sigh*

And so it goes. I try to remember that I'm so grateful for the opportunity to publish my story, and edits are part and parcel of that (and I love my editor, I really do -- she's going to make the story so much stronger!), but there are days I don't think I can face it again.

Regardless, I'll be working my rear off on those edits and hope that they will be done, done, done this time! Wish me luck.

How do YOU feel about editing?

Editing, Writing and Submitting, OH MY!

Just got another round of edits on "Shut Up & Kiss Me" -- hopefully these are the last "real" edits... the next should just be typos, etc, and then we can get an official release date. I'm starting to set up the promo stuff as best I can without a release date. I'm having banners, a book video and a virtual tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions (want to host me? *G*), and am also working out outside interviews and what-not. I suspect I'm going to be exhausted by the time it's all said and done.

Anyone have any thoughts or secrets on promoting they want to share?

In other news, I finished and submitted another short story to my very patient editor (Lori LeBonde) at WRP, currently called "Blue Light Special". Hopefully I learned something from all the editing I did on "Shut Up & Kiss Me" and this story won't need quite as much work!

I'm also working on redoing another WIP to fit the "two rose" guidelines for WRP, because I was challenged by my editor to give it a go. *gulp* Wish me luck! Any tips on writing light bondage or menage scenes? I'll take anything you have.

Have a great rest of the week :-)

MIA

ACK!! Despite email reminders to myself, I keep forgetting to blog on Thursdays. Kealie's going to disown me.

I've been absurdly busy (though I'm sure every single person reading this could say the same thing), and got my second round of edits back for "Shut Up and Kiss Me" a couple of days ago. It's exciting to be one step closer to getting a release date, though I have to admit to wishing Kealie was along for the ride with me, since she's the reason I wrote the story in the first place (we challenged each other to write a complete short story of at least 7500 words in 24 hours), but she'll get there. I've read her stuff... she's going to make some publisher somewhere very happy.

In any case, I've also been working on a second story and it's nearly done as well. The best part is, I think (I hope!!) I've learned quite a bit from the edits that I've gotten on SUaKM (hey, that's a cool acronym) so that I won't have to have quite so many edits on this one. Guess we'll see. I was shooting to get it submitted in the next couple of weeks, but now that I got the other edits back, it may have to go to the back burner.

I sure wish I had about five hours more every day, though I'm betting if I did, I'd fill them up, too. I'm not a person who relaxes very easily -- I like to be busy, busy (which is a good thing, considering my crazy life).

Also, I'm on Facebook, but I can't figure out how to share the link, but if you search by name (Mysti Holiday), you'll find me!!

Have a great night :-)

Not Here... and Announcement!

Okay, I wasn't here today. I spent most of the day at the hospital keeping my mom company while my dad was in surgery. So, I'm a bit exhausted and forgot today was my usual day to blog. So you get a late post. Dad's fine, he had hip surgery, but he's cranky... he's not the best of patients and my mom worries while he's in the OR. Might be because she's a nurse and knows all that could go wrong. So, since the hubby was off work today, I hung out with my mom at the hospital most of the day. Now, I'm off to hide in my room so I can hopefully... finally... finish revisions to resubmit my cowboy story to TWRP.

Speaking of cowboy stories (ya like how I segued there?): Our good friend Sandy Sullivan had a release last week! Way to go Sandy! (Yup, give me a holler and I'll announce yours too... lol) Her book Cowboy Love came out on Thursday the 10th of September, and is available from Siren Publishing. It looks purty good too!

Cowboy Love by Sandy Sullivan

Amy Russell has sworn off men until she runs into Tanner Lewis. His muscular chest, soft brown eyes and drop dead gorgeous, sexy dimpled smile has her rethinking her decision. Can she learn to trust again, especially a cowboy, after her ex broke her heart? Will she let Tanner penetrate the shell around her heart?

Tanner's been burned. Yeah, he was in love once, until he caught his fiancé in bed with his best friend. Now all he wants is to get his singing career on the right path. Just when he thinks things are going perfectly, he runs smack into Amy Russell, horse tamer extraordinaire and registered nurse. As he watches her take a difficult horse and turn it into a docile pussycat with nothing more than soft words and a kind touch, he's fascinated, but Amy doesn't want a relationship. Can he convince her there's nothing better than a cowboy's love?

In an Editing Haze

I <3 My Editor

Does it amaze you, despite having gone over a story a thousand times, and having your writing friends do the same, the number of errors and editing suggestions that come from your editor after contracting?

I'm so pleased with my editor for "Shut Up and Kiss Me". She's fun and astute and, as I look through her suggestions, she's challenging me to be a better writer. Isn't that fantastic?

I remember reading some of the old categories from Nora Roberts -- some I enjoyed (like the MacGregors) and some, not so much (but won't name them ... I don't do snark), but one thing I noticed as a reader who had started with her newer stuff and worked backward was how much better her writing got as she continued publishing. I don't know if I would have noticed so much if I hadn't read the newer stuff first and then found her older work lacking.

I'm sure some of that came with experience, but I wonder how much of it came from working with stellar editors?

So, Lori, if you're reading this. Thanks :-)

And, those of you who are published: did you love your editors? Do you think they strengthened your writing? Did you learn anything new from them?

Now... off to do more of the edits she's given me.