Pauline Rowson's Blog - Posts Tagged "revisions"
Third revision of DI Andy Horton marine mystery crime novel no. 8 finished, started on fourth revision
I have finished the third revisions of the DI Andy Horton marine mystery crime novel number eight in the series and have now started on the fourth revision.
The third revision consisted of firming up the ending and making sure I had the right killer? in the right place at the right time and for the right reason! The fourth revision will now consist of ensuring that all the clues are in the correct place, all the questions are answered and everything ties in. Following this it will be the fifth and hopefully final revisions to check that each phrase and word used is the right one before I send it to my editor. My deadline is January.
I started work on this DI Andy Horton police procedural crime novel on 13 April 2011 and it took me four months to write the first draft. The second revision took me two months and the third six weeks. I have nine weeks until the end of January, so plenty of time, and fingers crossed and a fair wind I will complete it (and be happy with it) before then. So on with the revisions.
The third revision consisted of firming up the ending and making sure I had the right killer? in the right place at the right time and for the right reason! The fourth revision will now consist of ensuring that all the clues are in the correct place, all the questions are answered and everything ties in. Following this it will be the fifth and hopefully final revisions to check that each phrase and word used is the right one before I send it to my editor. My deadline is January.
I started work on this DI Andy Horton police procedural crime novel on 13 April 2011 and it took me four months to write the first draft. The second revision took me two months and the third six weeks. I have nine weeks until the end of January, so plenty of time, and fingers crossed and a fair wind I will complete it (and be happy with it) before then. So on with the revisions.
How long does it take you to write a crime novel?
It's always a scary moment when I press that send key and the completed MS for the next DI Andy Horton crime novel wings its way through the ether to my publisher, but yesterday was D Day and off DI Horton number eight went. I always think, could I have spent a bit longer on it? Should I have changed this or that? But there comes a point when you've done all you can and it's time for a fresh pair of eyes to be cast over it.
I'm often asked how long it takes me to write a crime novel and I usually answer about nine months. I started writing the eighth in the DI Horton series on 13 April 2011 and five revisions later there it is completed, so just over nine months seems to be a comfortable timescale for me and allows me to have one crime novel a year published. I was also pleased to have completed this DI Horton bang on time because I promised my editor he'd have the completed novel in January 2012.
And what does DI Horton get up to in this new crime novel? Ah, you'll have to wait a bit longer to find out. Perhaps when my editor gives the green light on it I'll publish the title and blurb here. Meanwhile, number seven in the series, A Killing Coast, was published this month in hardcover, hopefully that will keep Horton fans satisfied until the next instalment.
A Killing Coast
When a body is found floating in the sea off Portsmouth harbour, Detective Inspector Horton initially judges it to be an accidental death. Soon though, to his dismay, he discovers he’s got it very wrong. Accused of being incompetent by his boss, and with the head of the Major Crime Team coming down heavily on him, Horton wonders if he’s allowed his ongoing investigation into the disappearance of his mother over thirty years ago to cloud his judgement. With no clear motive for the murder, Horton is sucked into a baffling investigation that he is determined to resolve despite the odds. Not only does he need to find a brutal killer, but Horton now has to prove to himself, and others, that he is still up to the job.
A Killing Coast
I'm often asked how long it takes me to write a crime novel and I usually answer about nine months. I started writing the eighth in the DI Horton series on 13 April 2011 and five revisions later there it is completed, so just over nine months seems to be a comfortable timescale for me and allows me to have one crime novel a year published. I was also pleased to have completed this DI Horton bang on time because I promised my editor he'd have the completed novel in January 2012.
And what does DI Horton get up to in this new crime novel? Ah, you'll have to wait a bit longer to find out. Perhaps when my editor gives the green light on it I'll publish the title and blurb here. Meanwhile, number seven in the series, A Killing Coast, was published this month in hardcover, hopefully that will keep Horton fans satisfied until the next instalment.
A Killing Coast
When a body is found floating in the sea off Portsmouth harbour, Detective Inspector Horton initially judges it to be an accidental death. Soon though, to his dismay, he discovers he’s got it very wrong. Accused of being incompetent by his boss, and with the head of the Major Crime Team coming down heavily on him, Horton wonders if he’s allowed his ongoing investigation into the disappearance of his mother over thirty years ago to cloud his judgement. With no clear motive for the murder, Horton is sucked into a baffling investigation that he is determined to resolve despite the odds. Not only does he need to find a brutal killer, but Horton now has to prove to himself, and others, that he is still up to the job.
A Killing Coast
What's happening in July for Crime Author Pauline Rowson
It only seems like five minutes ago I was writing the entry for June and here we are in July (and with little sign of the summer in the UK). So what's happening in July?
On 5 July I am to be guest crime author at the annual conference of the British Society of Criminology taking place at the University of Portsmouth, Institute of Criminal Justice Studies, (ICJS).
I'll be appearning on a panel on the afternoon of 5 July with my fellow crime writers, Graham Hurley, Peter Lovesey, June Hampson and Linda Regan and I'm really looking forward to it.
The conference is themed around ‘Criminology at the borders’ and coincides with the twentieth anniversary of ICJS. It brings together academics and practitioners operating at the cutting edge of thinking on crime and justice and provides an insight into some fascinating topics including cyber crime, international and organised crime; policing and law enforcement across national boundaries,global criminology, between and across national borders and her own panel event, crime cultures – fictional meets factional imageries of crime and justice.
On 6 July I'll be on the Julian Clegg Breakfast Programme on BBC Radio Solent between 6.45 am. and 7am on 96.1 and 103.8 FM and DAB Digital Radio.
I'll be in the studio chatting to Julian about my crime novels set in Portsmouth, the Isle of Wight and the Solent area and talking about the new DI Andy Horton, Death Lies Beneath which is published on 26 July.
If you can't catch the interview live then you can listen to the programme again via the BBC Radio Solent website.
July also sees the publication in the UK by Severn House of the NEW DI Andy Horton marine mystery crime novel Death Lies Beneath, number eight in the series.This is once again set in the Portsmouth and Solent area of the UK.
"When ex con, Daryl Woodley is found dead on the marshes bordering Langstone Harbour the Intelligence Directorate believe his murder is linked to big time crook Marty Stapleton currently serving time in prison. DI Horton is not so sure. He attends Woodley’s funeral in the hope it will give them a lead in an investigation that has drawn a blank at every turn. It does but not in the way he or anyone expected. A body found on a rotting boat being salvaged in Portsmouth Harbour throws Horton into a complex and frustrating investigation. As the tension mounts to solve the case, Horton receives a chilling message; time, it seems, is also running out for him personally…"
Also in July I'll be continuing to write the ninth in the DI Horton series, as yet untitled. I'm currently working on the revisions and hope to have it completed by the end of the month or at the latest the first two weeks in August.
On 5 July I am to be guest crime author at the annual conference of the British Society of Criminology taking place at the University of Portsmouth, Institute of Criminal Justice Studies, (ICJS).
I'll be appearning on a panel on the afternoon of 5 July with my fellow crime writers, Graham Hurley, Peter Lovesey, June Hampson and Linda Regan and I'm really looking forward to it.
The conference is themed around ‘Criminology at the borders’ and coincides with the twentieth anniversary of ICJS. It brings together academics and practitioners operating at the cutting edge of thinking on crime and justice and provides an insight into some fascinating topics including cyber crime, international and organised crime; policing and law enforcement across national boundaries,global criminology, between and across national borders and her own panel event, crime cultures – fictional meets factional imageries of crime and justice.
On 6 July I'll be on the Julian Clegg Breakfast Programme on BBC Radio Solent between 6.45 am. and 7am on 96.1 and 103.8 FM and DAB Digital Radio.
I'll be in the studio chatting to Julian about my crime novels set in Portsmouth, the Isle of Wight and the Solent area and talking about the new DI Andy Horton, Death Lies Beneath which is published on 26 July.
If you can't catch the interview live then you can listen to the programme again via the BBC Radio Solent website.
July also sees the publication in the UK by Severn House of the NEW DI Andy Horton marine mystery crime novel Death Lies Beneath, number eight in the series.This is once again set in the Portsmouth and Solent area of the UK.
"When ex con, Daryl Woodley is found dead on the marshes bordering Langstone Harbour the Intelligence Directorate believe his murder is linked to big time crook Marty Stapleton currently serving time in prison. DI Horton is not so sure. He attends Woodley’s funeral in the hope it will give them a lead in an investigation that has drawn a blank at every turn. It does but not in the way he or anyone expected. A body found on a rotting boat being salvaged in Portsmouth Harbour throws Horton into a complex and frustrating investigation. As the tension mounts to solve the case, Horton receives a chilling message; time, it seems, is also running out for him personally…"
Also in July I'll be continuing to write the ninth in the DI Horton series, as yet untitled. I'm currently working on the revisions and hope to have it completed by the end of the month or at the latest the first two weeks in August.
New Video posted on writing a crime novel, first drafts and revisions
I've posted a new video on my You Tube Channel and here on my Goodreads Profile.
This short video was shot at a talk I gave in June 2013 to members of the Emsworth U3A. In it I am talking about how long it takes me to write a crime novel, first drafts and revisions.
There are currently thirty videos posted here. Some are interviews, others are readings and trailers and in others I discuss various aspects of crime writing.
I hope you enjoy watching them.
This short video was shot at a talk I gave in June 2013 to members of the Emsworth U3A. In it I am talking about how long it takes me to write a crime novel, first drafts and revisions.
There are currently thirty videos posted here. Some are interviews, others are readings and trailers and in others I discuss various aspects of crime writing.
I hope you enjoy watching them.
New Video posted on writing a crime novel, first drafts and revisions
I have posted a new video here on Goodreads, on my official website and on My You Tube Channel. This short video was shot at a talk I gave in June 2013 to members of the Emsworth U3A. In it I am talking about how long it takes me to write a crime novel, first drafts and revisions.
I hope you enjoy watching it.
I hope you enjoy watching it.
