Still Sweating

How’s that for inspiration? Or maybe for instilling fear! LOL!

I need a bit of a kick in the pants right now because I’m entering a phase of edits. These are perhaps the worst I’ve had to deal with in my (admittedly short) writing career for a combination of reasons. First, I have a new editor. It’s hard to get used to a another person’s way of doing things and the new person doesn’t necessarily have all the knowledge of what came before in a series. It’s a hard adjustment — and no disservice is meant toward the editor — it would be tough with any new editor after having established a series with someone else. It’s a learning process for us both.

Second, now that I look back on the manuscript I sent in, I do see some structural flaws that crept in because a huge gap of time had passed from the time I started the story to the time I finished it. It couldn’t be helped — I had other books coming out that needed my attention and this one got pushed to the side time and time again. In fact, it got pushed aside so much, there’s a marked difference in the writing from the way it started to the way it ended. (Oy!)

Realizing that doesn’t make having to go in and fix it now any easier. In fact, I just find it tedious and annoying. But then, I always find editing tedious and annoying. A necessary evil, if you will.   Someone asked me the other day what my favorite part of the publishing process was and I knew my answer right away - the writing part! The initial burst of creativity. The time spent giving ideas form and shape. I love that part. The rest is just what I have to do to get it published and move on to the next creative burst. Sad, but true. Oh, and I also liked the shopping part - buying trinkets and designing and buying printed materials to give to readers and use for promotion. That part is darn fun too! LOL

So the sad part is, for the next few days, maybe weeks, I’ll be Sweating on edits. My word count won’t go anywhere, but I’ll be working harder than if I were just writing something new. Oh well, it can’t be helped, and it is still a necessary part of the writing process, so it’s still Sweat. I’ll check in when I can and let you know how I’m doing.

In addition, I’m still doing my signing tour. Next Saturday I’ll be at the Borders in Marlborough, MA and at a Borders somewhere in NJ the Saturday after that. (I’ll pass on the details when I track them down.) So mark it on your calendars if you’re in the area and come down to say hello!