Well, I finally did it; I started a new book. That’s right folks, after nearly 2 years, I’ve starting composing fresh characters in a fresh setting. I was beginning to wonder if this day would ever come again, but – whew – it’s here.
You see, after completing 5 manuscripts and working with each one with beta readers, critique partners, ripping and tearing apart at conferences and workshops, editing, editing, editing, editing, editing and some more editing, I’d gotten to the point where I knew these manuscripts were good but not outstanding. Good isn’t going to cut it in this writing business. Books must be outstanding or better than outstanding. I knew what I had to do. I had to take my writing to the next level and I wasn’t going to get there myself.
So, I broke down, bit the proverbial bullet, and hired a professional editor for what I felt was the best of my 5 completed manuscripts. Wow – was that eye-opening. A manuscript I thought was good, perhaps even a little better than good, turned out to be not really so good at all. Crap in fact.
Okay, probably not crap, but after seeing the many weak spots and places for improvement, I was shocked. How could my almost-ready-for-publication manuscript still need so much work? It was daunting and discouraging to say the least. I’ve been working on these pages for forever already and now I have to work on them again? Apparently so.
So, I took a day to gulp down my woes (literally in the form of several glasses of wine), and then approached the recommended changes with a new perspective. The new perspective was: I want to be good. I want to be really good. I want people to buy my books, love my books, and talk to other people about my books. I want people to want to buy more of my books.
Lesson one: learned – everyone needs a professional editor. Pay the money, invest the time, see the results.
Lesson two: still working on – don’t try to create a perfect book the first time around because it’s going to need changes and it’s not going to be good enough when you’re done the first time.
Lesson three: still working on – don’t be afraid to think outside the box. These are fictional characters after all, they can do whatever you create them to do. So what if it’s not what I, or anyone I know, would do, make the fictional people on the page do them.
Lesson four: learned – Get rid of the stuff that’s not working even if the sentences are pretty. You know how good it feels to de-clutter your closet or to clean out your junk drawer? Yeah, that’s how it’ll feel when the cluttering up mess of words taking up space in your manuscript is gone.
Lesson five: learned – Editors are not cheap so decide where you can skimp on other things (can you say shoe shopping) to employ a good one.
So I ask you followers of my blog, do you have any writing tips, tricks, secrets or other important knowledge to impart? As a non-writing follower, do you appreciate a well-written engaging story? Who are some of your favorite authors?
Word of the Day: Vespertine
Fun fact about Me: I’m not as good a grammarian as I think I am. That sentence is proof of that statement.
Original post by Jansen Schmidt, July 2016. Photos courtesy Google Images.
jansenschmidt 
I hated throwing pretty words away! I also love to avoid conflict, so, yeah, that was an issue too.
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I remember that being problematic for you. Think of it as “tension.” That was your preferred word.
And, yes, I hate cutting out those lovely sentences that sound so poetic. Oh well, one person’s poetry is another person’s crap.
Thanks for weighing in on the subject. Writing is hard.
Patricia
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Be careful with what others say, Patricia, even professional editors. I have a friend who is very well known among authors on social media. She used to be part of a critique group she and I started, and nothing anyone ever wrote was good enough.
One of the writers in the group whose work was “crap” and would never be worth publishing according to this lady has gone on since then to publish two different YA series which have sold like gangbusters.
My point is that the value or lack thereof in a story is a matter of opinion. An professional editor’s opinion may be a bit better founded than that of a friend or relative, but it’s still opinion. Don’t let anyone kill your dreams or make you turn away from a story that’s on your heart.
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I SOOOOOOOO get that David and thanks for the reminder. The things that I found shocking after my editor first read through my work was the amount of “ly” words and redundancies. I never saw them. And, they definitely needed to go. I made some storyline changes, too, but that’s what my story needed. It wasn’t quite there yet and another “professional” opinion was welcomed.
Plus, she told me on the phone that this is MY story and I should tell it the way I want, that it was merely her job to offer suggestions. So, I feel pretty comfortable with our working relationship.
As always, thanks for the support and encouragement. I know what you mean about the value of other opinions. I have a pretty good sense of what’s working and what’s not, which is why I committed to working with an editor. What I had was working, it just needed to work better.
Have a great week.
Patricia
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Oh yeah, an editor who “gets” your writing and shows you the spots to improve is worth a closet of shoes. 🙂 I love your attitude, girl! Instead of getting down on yourself and giving up, you’re aspiring to improve and strive for greatness! I’ve learned that writing is a continual learning curve and there’s always, always, always ways to grow, push yourself, and improve. Can’t wait to read your books!
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Thanks Coleen. I appreciate the support. Some days I was so damn sick of editing I was ready to throw in the towel. But then other days I got the inspiration to do what needed to be done. Nothing worth having comes easy, right?
You are so right about improving and growing. I’ve heard it said that the biggest room in the world is the room for improvement. I intend to fill that room up.
Thanks for stopping by and wishing me well. I know the time is coming when my book will be ready to introduce to the world.
Patricia
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You go girl!! I am a poster girl for never giving up as you well know and I encourage everyone to never ever give up on your dreams. They do come true. You have the great ideas and I know you’ll be telling us about your first sale one of these days. Good luck, my friend.
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Ah, thanks Paisley. I sure miss you’re encouragement every month. I know that some day my book’ll enter the world, but until then, I’m going to keep learning and improving and working on other books. I’ve got a lot of stories floating around in my head.
As always, so nice to see you. Have a great week.
Patricia
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What David said, many times over! The main thing I’ve learned recently is how absolutely critical it is to kill the critical voice (aka internal editor) while writing, and don’t revise except to fix mistakes – because when we “polish” we are actually removing our voice from our work. But most of all, congrats on starting something new! That’s also the way to keep learning and improving.
What little energy I have most days is vespertine. 🙂
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I love how you use my words of the day. Thanks for doing that.
Yes,I’m learning (the hard way) to stop thinking so much and just write. So what if the sentence is a little funky or maybe there’s a better word or too many adjectives or “ly” words. That can all be fixed later. Get the story out.
I appreciate everyone chiming in with positive vibes and good ju-ju. Keeps me focused.
As always, thanks for your support and have a great week.
Patricia
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Congratulations! I once thought I could write a book, but I never seem to get started. Maybe starting with stories and blog posts is the way for me… I don’t have any writing advice, except to keep writing, and reading and repeating it over and over. Editing and revising is difficult, it’s probably the hardest part of writing. Hang in there and stay focused, all good things come, eventually.
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Thanks Clay. I would have to agree that the secret to getting successful is getting started. I’m not one to quit and I’m developing some really thick skin. Writing’s not for sissies.
Thanks for stopping by and for your support. Here’s to making the days count.
Patricia
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Hello my friend! I am so behind in blog-reading, it’s shameful … so forgive my late response. Congratulations on the progress you are making by working with an editor. She won my stamp of approval when you quoted her as assuring you this is “your story”. That’s key to a writer/editor relationship. I love the editing process and eagerly anticipate it with each new work. When it comes to the fine points of grammar and word usage, I so appreciate the expertise. When it comes to story content and plot development, an experienced second set of eyes is priceless. However, don’t ever hesitate to debate a comment that doesn’t sit right with you. That’s important too, and good editors are always there to listen and work through a difference of opinion. This is exciting news, Patricia! Write on!
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Thanks Patricia. I’m still not quite comfortable with my author/editor relationship, but I’m willing to keep going (if my budget allows). I definitely feel like my eyes were opened to a few things I didn’t even realize I was doing.
As always, good to hear from you. And, my blog never closes so drop in any time.
Patricia
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