For the first third of this book, the most polished third (where “polished” is highly relative), the transition from 2nd to 3rd draft was all about taking words out. Eight thousand words, more than ten percent of the book, fell easily away as I tightened and focused.Then I hit a point where the pacing and […]
Scribble scribble scribble scribble scribble Read More »
Outtakes always make me a little sad, because deep down, I want to write all the books, not just the one revision narrows the story down to. From the current book-in-progress (the one with the Cheetos and tarantulas and rivers and ravens):I’m not stupid, and it’s not like you need to be an honor student
Just after getting off the treadmill, while stretching out calves and hamstrings, I remembered something basic: that better than having one’s protagonist do something stupid is having him do something smart, just a little too late.Or re-remembered. Or maybe just figured out how to apply that to this particular story.Better still is when they can
Today in writing / rewriting land Read More »
So the second draft of this book has followed the basic shape of the first draft (apart from a new first chapter stolen from 2/3 of the way through) for 20,000 words now. That may … well, it’s not a new record, but I don’t think that’s happened since the unsold YA I wrote before
Every book is the first book Read More »
Got a revised draft of Faerie After (aka the third and final Faerie book from Liza’s point of view) off to my editor Friday afternoon, just in time for the weekend (and a post-book gelato break with jennifer-j-s. There’ll be one more quick look by my editor, and possibly some final questions, but we’re basically
“It’s just that time of year when we push ourselves ahead / We push ourselves ahead …” Read More »
Dear Protagonist Who Is Admittedly Under Quite A Bit of Stress Right Now,You do like your weapons, don’t you?I keep taking them away, but you keep finding new ones. How long do you think we can go on like this?At least until the climax, yes, but then … what?Seriously? The denouement, too?Me=======================================Dear Book,Okay, we’ve being
Also, chapter 14? You keep making me cry Read More »
35 pages from the end of the current pass through Faerie After and feeling rather teary.That is all.
Read edit edit edit read edit edit read read edit edit read Read More »
I’ve been hunkered down going through the (relatively light) editorial revisions on the third Faerie book, Faerie After (now the official title!) and also making some final edits of my own. I find myself wanting to hold onto this book, partly because an writer can edit any book pretty much forever, but also partly because
“In the black of the eye / in the heat of the act / is a crack in the ice …” Read More »
Dear Protagonist,Right. Ready to try to save the world one more time? Let’s do this revision thing.Me