Well folks, the hoopla is over. Christmas is behind us for a few months, at least until Halloween when stores start playing "Have a Jolly Holly Christmas." The excitement of New Years Eve is now gonging in our heads, or didn't you indulge? Today it's pork and saurkraut and football games. Tomorrow, the reality of routine.I'm wading through edits my agent wants in Rain is a Love Song, a romantic suspense set in Paris and Budapest. The story involves an American crime scene photographer and a hunky French counterterrorism agent trying to stop The Red Hand, a group of terrorists. This is book two of a trilogy. Book one, Mona Lisa's Room, is under contract and survived the first round of edits with my editor.
How many times does a book go through edits, you ask? Depends on the quality of the publisher, don't you think? Some are so woefully understaffed, that poor writing often slides through. I'm glad my publisher, The Wild Rose Press, is so strict. Why? Because I'm still unsure of my writing abilities. Oh, the stupid mistakes I make...groans and slaps forehead.Believe me, there's nothing so humbling as going through edits. I keep thinking I'm getting stronger, that I'm learning to avoid the same old mistakes. Before I send any writing project away again, I'm doing a search for the word "was". That bad boy slips in my sentences far too frequently. Then there's the pesky "that" or "just". And WHY can't I start a sentence with "and"? It's a transitional phrase, is it not?
Since you've been so kind to read my rant, I'm giving away a free eCopy of Storm's Interlude to one lucky commenter. So leave a comment and your email address so I can reach you should your name be drawn. And, folks, have a grand, happy, healthy 2012. Hugs!
23 comments:
Edits for Dawn are humbling aren't they? I found a love for the word "gaze". And "just". And starting sentences with "but". Oy.
don't enter me in the giveaway. I've already got Storm and his lovely self. ;)
Happy New Year, Vonnie!
Yes, it's pork and sauerkraut day for sure! It's supposed to bring good luck---beside that, I love it!I'm having 10 people over,and it'll be great fun!
Santa brought me a Kindle Fire AND a Nook! Happy me! My son said they do somewhat different things and I should keep them both!
As you know I've already read Storm's Interlude, so don't consider me in your contest!
Happy, Happy New Year Vonnie, to you and your Sweetheart! Best Wishes for a successful,happy and prosperous next yer!!
I tend to ramble too so I can decipher a good one! LOL Happy New Year!
-Amber
goodblinknpark@yahoo.com
Joanne, oh those questions Dawn asks. I fume and think what do you mean, it's quite evident. So I read over the previous two paragraphs and realize it was only evident in my head, not on the printed page. Oy! She does make our writing crisper and more powerful. Thanks for stopping by!
Hi Grace, I'm sure you'll have a grand day with company. Mike used to tell me about your fun get-togethers and your fabulous cooking. Enjoy your eReaders--lucky you!
Hi Amber, thanks for stopping by Vintage Vonnie today. I hope you'll revisit from time to time. Ramble? Oh, yeah. My sons call me the Queen of Ramble. But then I do it SO well. Happy 2012!!!
Vonnie, your post was manna to my inner editor. It's great to know TWRP is so insistent at editing. Other e-presses seem more like vanity presses.
I know exactly what you mean, Ana. I've read some books by small ePresses and grimace. How on God's green earth did they get published? What was their editor thinking? Did they have an editor?
I put a lot of time and myself into my books. I ignore friends and family to get the story written. The process consumes me. When it goes public, I want an attractive, professional looking cover. I want my story to shine. I want a quality product. I take no pride in anything less. That's why I enjoy the painful editing process, because I want my story showcased in the best possible light. TWRP does that.
I love my edits with TWRP. All four rounds of them. I learned so much from Tori. When I first started writing I used 'that' in like every sentence. LOL I cry when I first see edits, then I sit down and really look at them, then I start with little ones and work my way up to the big ones.
Huh, Vonnie, funny you should say that, because I've read lots of books by Big presses and grimaced and thought WTF how did they get published? I hope to avoid any such problems with mine, but you're right. Buggers can slip in. I also have a problem with thinking something's evident when it's not. Hubby calls me on that all the time. ;) Good luck with all your WIPs!
Julianne
Vonnie,
I'm hip deep in edits myself. Great minds and all that, because I'm blogging about it tomorrow at TROP. LOL
Best of luck with yours. What's that old saying? "What doesn't kill you will only make you stronger." Whoever came up with that one was probably thinking about edits!
Oh, Jill, I thought I was the only one who cried at the enormity of edits blinking like fiends on my screen. The process is humbling.
Julianne...Let me try commenting to you again without that spelling error. I'm blogging about edits and I don't take the time to read over my comments. Duh!
I'm am SO with you on the quality of books some larger pubs print. I'm thinking some well-known, often-published writers get little, if any, editing. They aren't growing as writers; they're getting book deals on their past sales. Junk is junk no matter who publishes it. Yes, we all goof. I'm a prime example. But we need to keep learning our craft and nuances of our craft change from time to time. Thanks for commenting.
Jannine, edits make me stronger as a writer, I think, although they also bring to life my insecurities as a writer. Good luck with your edits, hon.
Vonnie,
Your book is wonderful, which makes it hard to imagine it otherwise. I had a wonderful editor for my first book, but I got an editor for my second book I didn't like. She seemed unaware of basic grammar rules. I do have an English teaching license even if I don't always write like I do. I asked for my first editor back, Lariane, and I got her back. Thank goodness, she deserves roses and flowers.
I sent through my second lot just before Christmas and haven't heard back - so fingers crossed its all going well. Either that or Fran is finding even more cringe-worthy stuff to work on! But she is GOLD. What would we do without those amazing creatures?? Just quietly - I love the editing stage, call me odd if you will ; )
Thanks for your kind words. So many have commented positively on STORM'S INTERLUDE and I'm amazed everytime. Truly.
LaVerne, I tend to enjoy edits, too, once I calm down and realize my writing is far, far from perfect. It is a humbling experience.
Ohhhhhhhhhhhhhh, edits! Just finished FOUR rounds on one book with line edits soon to come...and line edits on another book. Whine, whine, whine! But thank goodness for great editors with eagle eyes!
Judy, you are so right. We whine about them, yet we know the tough edits make our works shine--and isn't that what we want?
...And the WINNER of an eBook of STORM'S INTERLUDE is VampedChik. Thanks everyone for commenting. Have a great 2012!
Yay Amber! (I didn't come for the contest since I already own SI in both e and print format)
Edits... I spent seven months on those on a book that still isn't published! So much depends on the editor you get and how they see your story in comparison to how you see it. I don't know if I was on round one still or had moved on to numerous other rounds by the time I called it and politely took my book back to preserve the integrity of MY story. Yes- that was with one of the BIG SIX traditional publishers. Thankfully, during those long months I developed a relationship with that editor and she invited me to send anything I write that fits their lines directly to her. Will I after the last experience? I've heard wonderful things about her, she's tough on me...I probably will. That first book was in a genre I had never written before and I won't try it again. I don't blame her. I blame myself for trying to force my way into something I don't seem to have the knowledge to write. Lesson learned. WRITE WHAT YOU KNOW and edits won't kill your spirit or your book! Just remember it is your story and you have to keep the story whole, no matter who the editor is, or what they ask for. Don't agree to everything just because the editor wants you to change it. Question why if you aren't sure or disagree- and then make a decision that is best for your book.
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