I think I may have the same title for a while!
Yet another day suffering from red-pen-itus :(
Current book length:
115,380 words
Chapters 1 to 8 have experienced that shrinking feeling - nearly 14,000 words lighter!
I keep double checking - to make sure I haven't cut out a key part of the story - but all the best bits are still there!
Should I join the Writers' Circle in the park or down at the edge of the Weald?
Sunday, 19 April 2009
Saturday, 18 April 2009
A good day in the Editorial Office
Running total: 117,797 words
It seems funny to be working on the book and rejoicing over shrinking pages!
Editing
I have only been 'weeding' through Chapters 1 to 6 too
I've noticed that the numbers of words being removed from the chapters are decreasing so I guess the writing was tighter there anyway.
It seems funny to be working on the book and rejoicing over shrinking pages!
Editing
I have only been 'weeding' through Chapters 1 to 6 too
I've noticed that the numbers of words being removed from the chapters are decreasing so I guess the writing was tighter there anyway.
Friday, 17 April 2009
Still Writing? Well, sort of...
Editing
I thought I'd give a running count, on the length of the book, on the Blog:
True count at the end of draft one 129,300 words - who says I might be a touch 'wordy'?!
Last Thursday - don't forget the concept of editing occurred to me before Manic Monday -127,000 words
I never win anything - raffles, the lottery, bets, Rock-paper-scissors - I've won nothing in my life! So, imagine my surprise when I won: 'Critique you query!'
Thank you to the 99.8% of responders, who, to date, have offered helpful advice or polite responses - my class of Rottweiler puppies have ways of dealing with teachers who only have effectively punctuating over-excited query letters in their skill set!
Still Editing:
Chapters 1 and 2 have been on the Red-pen Diet - they have seen amazing results and would like to take a few moments to endorse the plan! So, the new current total is 122,600 words.
Seriously, that's 6,700 words out of 2 chapters.
If I keep up this rate the book will be 62,300-ish words and I'll be gluing them back in!
Frankly, the editing would be going quicker if I wasn't still finding myself drawn to the 'dark-side' over on Nathan's Blog!
I thought I'd give a running count, on the length of the book, on the Blog:
True count at the end of draft one 129,300 words - who says I might be a touch 'wordy'?!
Last Thursday - don't forget the concept of editing occurred to me before Manic Monday -127,000 words
I never win anything - raffles, the lottery, bets, Rock-paper-scissors - I've won nothing in my life! So, imagine my surprise when I won: 'Critique you query!'
Thank you to the 99.8% of responders, who, to date, have offered helpful advice or polite responses - my class of Rottweiler puppies have ways of dealing with teachers who only have effectively punctuating over-excited query letters in their skill set!
Still Editing:
Chapters 1 and 2 have been on the Red-pen Diet - they have seen amazing results and would like to take a few moments to endorse the plan! So, the new current total is 122,600 words.
Seriously, that's 6,700 words out of 2 chapters.
If I keep up this rate the book will be 62,300-ish words and I'll be gluing them back in!
Frankly, the editing would be going quicker if I wasn't still finding myself drawn to the 'dark-side' over on Nathan's Blog!
Wednesday, 15 April 2009
No, not really that stressful at all
Working on the cherub’s claim forms
Form-filling furiously as I detail exactly how his Autism impairs him – this has to rank as one of my favourite activities
Supporting the angel – last day before her, non-school, stage debut
Playing four roles and singing in them all – Go Babe! – I’m still fighting the temptation to go and watch every night of the run
Editing
This, apparently, is a key focus
Still, it could be worse - give me a minute and I'll think of the reason why - alright, so it might take a little longer.
Or it might be better ... He-who-must-not-be-named bought me a Muse tee-shirt - for a present - entirely out of the blue - this was remarkably thoughtful (considering the fact that he hates Muse); my hero! As it arrived in the post, and to my certain knowledge he isn't psychic, this is 'like' well-badly-good!
Form-filling furiously as I detail exactly how his Autism impairs him – this has to rank as one of my favourite activities
Supporting the angel – last day before her, non-school, stage debut
Playing four roles and singing in them all – Go Babe! – I’m still fighting the temptation to go and watch every night of the run
Editing
This, apparently, is a key focus
Still, it could be worse - give me a minute and I'll think of the reason why - alright, so it might take a little longer.
Or it might be better ... He-who-must-not-be-named bought me a Muse tee-shirt - for a present - entirely out of the blue - this was remarkably thoughtful (considering the fact that he hates Muse); my hero! As it arrived in the post, and to my certain knowledge he isn't psychic, this is 'like' well-badly-good!
Tuesday, 14 April 2009
Literary Agent for the day ... in a night!
I'm shattered!
I have just completed the seven hour stint over the slush pile - and my brain has turned to mush. I started working at 23:30 and this is now 06:11 but I did my 'agenting' in a day.
Obviously, the fact that I also drove 250 miles home, in stop/start traffic, before starting my day as a Literary Agent, probably contributed to the brain strain.
WAS IT REALLY WORTH IT?
Oh, yes!
I have learned that the query letter is more important than the book!
Infact, judging from my stint as a Literary Agent, I'd say the first paragraph of the query letter is make or break (as far as the 'wanna-be' author's career goes).
To anyone who commented on the book - thank you.
I am 'all over' the editing!
(It should give me something to do, as I appear to have missed the window of opportunity for sleep... for last night. However, I think it is time for a nice 'cuppa' tea and a re-write of the query letter first!!)
I have just completed the seven hour stint over the slush pile - and my brain has turned to mush. I started working at 23:30 and this is now 06:11 but I did my 'agenting' in a day.
Obviously, the fact that I also drove 250 miles home, in stop/start traffic, before starting my day as a Literary Agent, probably contributed to the brain strain.
WAS IT REALLY WORTH IT?
Oh, yes!
I have learned that the query letter is more important than the book!
Infact, judging from my stint as a Literary Agent, I'd say the first paragraph of the query letter is make or break (as far as the 'wanna-be' author's career goes).
To anyone who commented on the book - thank you.
I am 'all over' the editing!
(It should give me something to do, as I appear to have missed the window of opportunity for sleep... for last night. However, I think it is time for a nice 'cuppa' tea and a re-write of the query letter first!!)
Friday, 10 April 2009
Writing - living, learning and growing
That was shameless - now I sound all twee!
WRITING - purely optional
Living - beats the heck out of the alternative
Learning - should be unavoidable
Growing - easier on the outside than the inside but probably worth the effort
RANTING? Nah - really what was s/he thinking?!
MIND YOU I'M PINCHING THE:
'the tongue in question here is more of a nickle plated than silver.'
Loving the image.
WRITING - purely optional
Living - beats the heck out of the alternative
Learning - should be unavoidable
Growing - easier on the outside than the inside but probably worth the effort
RANTING? Nah - really what was s/he thinking?!
MIND YOU I'M PINCHING THE:
'the tongue in question here is more of a nickle plated than silver.'
Loving the image.
Thank you
Having worked hard this afternoon preparing and sending another on-line (save the rainforests) submission I wasn't paying much attention to my blog.
I only popped upstairs to find a key and I found kind thoughts aswell.
Much better than the missing key!
I only popped upstairs to find a key and I found kind thoughts aswell.
Much better than the missing key!
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