Rebecca Graf's Blog - Posts Tagged "editing"
Editing Can Be Fun
I've discovered that editing my book can be fun. Really, it can be. It's like watching a picture appear as you hack away at all the excess debris.
See, I just sit down and write a chapter. The dialogue is just the core. Descriptions that accompany the dialogue is almost non existence. Descriptions of setting is only there if it is vital. I'm just getting down the gist of things and the plot.
I keep going to the next chapter. I only go back if something vital comes up that I need to note and then I go to the first of the chapter and type in (Note - change location to porch instead of living room). I go until I'm done with it all.
Then I go back and just work on one chapter at a time. I make changes on the plot and direction if needed and add descriptions and dialogue where needed.
When I've gone through the chapters, I start all over again. This time I read out loud and pretend to be characters to see if I'm really wording it the way they would talk.
Then I might hand it over to my editor. After she goes through it, I go through it again. She does ones last look and then hopefully, we're done.
I watch it develop from a weak draft to something more substantial and alive. I can't help but smile when someone who has read every draft comments on how much more mature and full it becomes. When they experience the feelings I want to invoke, I jump for joy.
Look at editing your own work as fun and not a chore. You're a creator of something special.
See, I just sit down and write a chapter. The dialogue is just the core. Descriptions that accompany the dialogue is almost non existence. Descriptions of setting is only there if it is vital. I'm just getting down the gist of things and the plot.
I keep going to the next chapter. I only go back if something vital comes up that I need to note and then I go to the first of the chapter and type in (Note - change location to porch instead of living room). I go until I'm done with it all.
Then I go back and just work on one chapter at a time. I make changes on the plot and direction if needed and add descriptions and dialogue where needed.
When I've gone through the chapters, I start all over again. This time I read out loud and pretend to be characters to see if I'm really wording it the way they would talk.
Then I might hand it over to my editor. After she goes through it, I go through it again. She does ones last look and then hopefully, we're done.
I watch it develop from a weak draft to something more substantial and alive. I can't help but smile when someone who has read every draft comments on how much more mature and full it becomes. When they experience the feelings I want to invoke, I jump for joy.
Look at editing your own work as fun and not a chore. You're a creator of something special.
Deep Connections in Edit Mode
I am so excited to say that my romantic/suspense novel, Deep Connections, is in its final edit. After this round, we'll be formatting and editing for publication on the kindle and for print. This is so exciting. While this is happening, I've also written the very first rough draft of the sequel, Dark Connections. From here I'll be editing and expanding on it like crazy before venturing into the third and final book, Deadly Connections.
What's it all about? You can actually read the first few chapters at abookloverslibrary.com along with two other books of mine in the making an a horror story from my friend Lisa Binion. Lisa is also my editor. So if you are looking for an editor, I know one. :)
So far, only the first 5 chapters are available online for you to read, but the next two are coming soon. After that, you have to buy the book which should be out the end of May/first of June.
What's it all about? You can actually read the first few chapters at abookloverslibrary.com along with two other books of mine in the making an a horror story from my friend Lisa Binion. Lisa is also my editor. So if you are looking for an editor, I know one. :)
So far, only the first 5 chapters are available online for you to read, but the next two are coming soon. After that, you have to buy the book which should be out the end of May/first of June.
Edit and More Edit
Great works of literature don't just get written. They get thought about. They get jotted down. They get pulled together. And then the writing really is begun. The editing is where it comes together as a completely picture.
I'm not talking about the important editing of spelling, grammar, punctuation, and the like. I'm talking about the editing the author does before an editor gets it and even afterwards.
When an author edits, they take the very rough draft that is just the guts of the story and begins to bring it to life. The author writes how the two men fight and one wins. The writes the base for all dialogue and establishes the hint of a mood. When he first edits, he takes that core and gives you a picture.
The author sees where one sentence is really the birth of three paragraphs or maybe that of a whole chapter. When the first draft is written many authors will set it aside and let it ferment. Then they read it again and see where they can expand and maybe where the story is showing the author a new twist or additional plots. In essence, the story writes itself and directs the writer.
These drafts are important and take the piece of coal and creates a spectacular tiara that anyone would be proud to have.
I'm not talking about the important editing of spelling, grammar, punctuation, and the like. I'm talking about the editing the author does before an editor gets it and even afterwards.
When an author edits, they take the very rough draft that is just the guts of the story and begins to bring it to life. The author writes how the two men fight and one wins. The writes the base for all dialogue and establishes the hint of a mood. When he first edits, he takes that core and gives you a picture.
The author sees where one sentence is really the birth of three paragraphs or maybe that of a whole chapter. When the first draft is written many authors will set it aside and let it ferment. Then they read it again and see where they can expand and maybe where the story is showing the author a new twist or additional plots. In essence, the story writes itself and directs the writer.
These drafts are important and take the piece of coal and creates a spectacular tiara that anyone would be proud to have.
Post-Writing Blues
I'm not sure if everyone is like this. All I can speak for is myself. But after I have written the first draft or two of a book I begin to get blue because patience is not a virtue I possess.
The process of editing can be so much longer than writing a book. That is not always the case but more the norm than you might think. What happens then? I, as the author, want to just get it done. I want it to be perfect now.
That ain't gonna happen.
Right now, Deep Connections is with my editor. Fingers are crossed or a release date of June. During this time, I have already written the sequel. First draft is done and I'm going through the second draft now. I can't seem to do it.
I'm so anxious about Deep Connections that I can't finish polishing up the sequel. I want it all done now! Oh, well. I can't get every thing I want.
What am I doing instead? I'm writing the first draft of an entirely different story. I'm getting my frustration out on different characters.
The struggle of being a writer :)
The process of editing can be so much longer than writing a book. That is not always the case but more the norm than you might think. What happens then? I, as the author, want to just get it done. I want it to be perfect now.
That ain't gonna happen.
Right now, Deep Connections is with my editor. Fingers are crossed or a release date of June. During this time, I have already written the sequel. First draft is done and I'm going through the second draft now. I can't seem to do it.
I'm so anxious about Deep Connections that I can't finish polishing up the sequel. I want it all done now! Oh, well. I can't get every thing I want.
What am I doing instead? I'm writing the first draft of an entirely different story. I'm getting my frustration out on different characters.
The struggle of being a writer :)
Losing Yourself in a Book
Sometimes you just need to lose yourself in a book.
Okay, enough said. That's all. :)
It really could be. If you're on Goodreads, then you love to read. You know what it's like to lose yourself in a book.
Last night I was down in the dumps. Why? For a variety of reasons. The big thing was my self doubt as an author. First of all, you have to understand that I know I'm not going to win a Pulitzer Prize or anything. I know my writing needs work. I don't think it's terrible either. But last night I felt like a failure.
I had read some really good books and mentally kept comparing my writing to theirs. I came up so short. It doesn't help that all my writing is in editing mode. This can be frustrating because I want to see an end result but I look at the editing and I realize how far away the end really is.
We seek perfection. We can't achieve perfection. We have to achieve what the book says is the end. That is so hard. When is the end? When do we say, "Enough editing. This is the final copy."
Haven't found that spot yet. Still looking.
Okay, enough said. That's all. :)
It really could be. If you're on Goodreads, then you love to read. You know what it's like to lose yourself in a book.
Last night I was down in the dumps. Why? For a variety of reasons. The big thing was my self doubt as an author. First of all, you have to understand that I know I'm not going to win a Pulitzer Prize or anything. I know my writing needs work. I don't think it's terrible either. But last night I felt like a failure.
I had read some really good books and mentally kept comparing my writing to theirs. I came up so short. It doesn't help that all my writing is in editing mode. This can be frustrating because I want to see an end result but I look at the editing and I realize how far away the end really is.
We seek perfection. We can't achieve perfection. We have to achieve what the book says is the end. That is so hard. When is the end? When do we say, "Enough editing. This is the final copy."
Haven't found that spot yet. Still looking.
The End of May
The end of May is just a week away. That week will fly by. It always does especially when there is so much to be done between now and then.
I have a virtual book tour today on my website for Demon Vampire. I have another one in six days for Saving Mary. Then I have to prepare for 9 virtual book tours in June. Wow! That means reading 9 books and getting my website prepared for it along with writing the reviews and getting the interviews done.
On top of that, I'm going to spend a few weeks with my mother who lives almost 1000 miles away. She doesn't have internet access! That means driving into town everyday and getting my work done. That will be most of June.
This is also the month my first novel will be 'finished'. I'll begin the final editing and formatting for publication in July. I'll also begin the editing process of the sequel to Deep Connections.
As if I needed more on my plate :), I've joined with two friends to start a publishing company called Silver Tongue Press. We officially will launch on June 1st with a call to all writers. We're pulling together an anthology of children's stories for Halloween and Christmas.
The month of June is not only busy but life changing. So much to do. So little time. So much fun!
I have a virtual book tour today on my website for Demon Vampire. I have another one in six days for Saving Mary. Then I have to prepare for 9 virtual book tours in June. Wow! That means reading 9 books and getting my website prepared for it along with writing the reviews and getting the interviews done.
On top of that, I'm going to spend a few weeks with my mother who lives almost 1000 miles away. She doesn't have internet access! That means driving into town everyday and getting my work done. That will be most of June.
This is also the month my first novel will be 'finished'. I'll begin the final editing and formatting for publication in July. I'll also begin the editing process of the sequel to Deep Connections.
As if I needed more on my plate :), I've joined with two friends to start a publishing company called Silver Tongue Press. We officially will launch on June 1st with a call to all writers. We're pulling together an anthology of children's stories for Halloween and Christmas.
The month of June is not only busy but life changing. So much to do. So little time. So much fun!
Development of My Writing
I used to think that a writer was just born with the ability and the words came out nearly perfect as they wrote. I think I viewed it this way because in school my teachers never really took the time to show me how to improve my creative writing. It was here's the A and let's move on.
I wrote my first stories. I did something not too smart. I showed them to someone I considered a friend. They began pointing out every problem they could find including character development. It was the first draft and just really pages of ideas. I thought I was not the born writer and stopped writing creatively for over a year.
Then I met a friend who writes and she pointed out that it is a process and has to develop. Even the bestselling authors of today write crappy first drafts and then edit like crazy to produce award winning material.
I sat down and wrote. It was a story I had dreamed and I couldn't get it off my mind. I just wrote. I didn't care of it made sense or was logical. I produced at 20,000 word first draft.
I went back and began editing it. Then I went back through and edited it again. The editor has it. I'll go through it again before we finalize it and get it published. It is now well over 80,000 words.
I'm finding that I have to write the bare bones of the story first. I don't care about describing the location or the character's facial expressions. I just need to get the action and plot out.
Next, I go back and expand on plot and begin describing. The next round is largely descriptive writing. When I'm ready to pass it on to an editor, it is nothing like the first draft. It is much bigger and deeper.
Add to the fact that I'm growing as a writer you can't judge my writing on the first drafts. If you did, I'd just have to quit.
But watching the story move from notes on a page to something close to publishing quality is amazing. It is so much fun to watch how it morphs from an idea into a reality. Writing is so cool!
The result of all this is July being the month I publish Deep Connections!
I wrote my first stories. I did something not too smart. I showed them to someone I considered a friend. They began pointing out every problem they could find including character development. It was the first draft and just really pages of ideas. I thought I was not the born writer and stopped writing creatively for over a year.
Then I met a friend who writes and she pointed out that it is a process and has to develop. Even the bestselling authors of today write crappy first drafts and then edit like crazy to produce award winning material.
I sat down and wrote. It was a story I had dreamed and I couldn't get it off my mind. I just wrote. I didn't care of it made sense or was logical. I produced at 20,000 word first draft.
I went back and began editing it. Then I went back through and edited it again. The editor has it. I'll go through it again before we finalize it and get it published. It is now well over 80,000 words.
I'm finding that I have to write the bare bones of the story first. I don't care about describing the location or the character's facial expressions. I just need to get the action and plot out.
Next, I go back and expand on plot and begin describing. The next round is largely descriptive writing. When I'm ready to pass it on to an editor, it is nothing like the first draft. It is much bigger and deeper.
Add to the fact that I'm growing as a writer you can't judge my writing on the first drafts. If you did, I'd just have to quit.
But watching the story move from notes on a page to something close to publishing quality is amazing. It is so much fun to watch how it morphs from an idea into a reality. Writing is so cool!
The result of all this is July being the month I publish Deep Connections!
Oh, The Editing
I thought we had Deep Connections ready to release. That was until some eagle eyes caught a few discrepancies which I am very thankful for. Now, I'm working on them and having a few more eyes look at it. Oh, boy.
Editing is very important. It can make the difference between an okay book and a great book. Think about it. When you read a book do you get turned off when you know the author wrote a scene all wrong? I know I do.
So, Deep Connections is being pushed back a couple of weeks while I work on it and work on Dark Connections.
Stay tuned.
Editing is very important. It can make the difference between an okay book and a great book. Think about it. When you read a book do you get turned off when you know the author wrote a scene all wrong? I know I do.
So, Deep Connections is being pushed back a couple of weeks while I work on it and work on Dark Connections.
Stay tuned.
I Need to be in the Mood
Writing can be so frustrating at times. I have to be in the mood to write certain stories. If I am in a romantic mood, a comedy is not what I need to be writing. If I'm in a serious mood, romance might not be the ticket for me that day. I need to be in the mood.
What do I do to resolve that? I have several stories going on at the same time so I don't miss out on any writing time I can find. I have a comedy in the works, a romance, a mystery, and a serious chick lit. I even have a few children's stories.
What mood am I in today? Doesn't matter. Too much editing is needing my attention. I swear that is more work than the initial writing.
What do I do to resolve that? I have several stories going on at the same time so I don't miss out on any writing time I can find. I have a comedy in the works, a romance, a mystery, and a serious chick lit. I even have a few children's stories.
What mood am I in today? Doesn't matter. Too much editing is needing my attention. I swear that is more work than the initial writing.
Time to Celebrate
You don't have to have won the Noble Prize to celebrate. You have to learn to celebrate the little things because they are building blogs for the monumental things.
For example, I just finished one semester of school. That means I have a week and a half with no classes whatsoever. That also means more writing, reading, and editing. To many that might sound like torture, but to me that is heaven.
I also have to celebrate finishing the first draft of Deadly Connections as well as starting a new writing projects (I know!) with my friend, Beth. We are already over 15k in words and we started less than a week ago, I think. Wow! This is so much fun.
I have to celebrate having the chance at achieving a dream. I have to celebrate a husband who loves me. I just have to celebrate.
What are you celebrating today?
For example, I just finished one semester of school. That means I have a week and a half with no classes whatsoever. That also means more writing, reading, and editing. To many that might sound like torture, but to me that is heaven.
I also have to celebrate finishing the first draft of Deadly Connections as well as starting a new writing projects (I know!) with my friend, Beth. We are already over 15k in words and we started less than a week ago, I think. Wow! This is so much fun.
I have to celebrate having the chance at achieving a dream. I have to celebrate a husband who loves me. I just have to celebrate.
What are you celebrating today?
