Kate Elliott's Blog, page 41
March 21, 2011
apparently I have finished Cold Fire
I seem to have completed and sent to my editors the final revisions pass on Cold Fire.
Technically it's not yet been received and accepted, so I'm hesitant to proclaim that it is complete. Also, it will go to the copy editor next, and then I'll have one last chance to read through the entire thing to find those pesky repetitions and the unclear passages or spelling mistakes I miissed the other ten times through.
I know I've said before that I've finished Cold Fire, but with a Sept 2011 pub date, I think scheduling will save me from hitting the point where I start changing things I should leave as they are. In fact, the other day, I was in the process of changing a line when a beta reader praised that very line, and I realized I had reached the place where I start doubting everything when in fact there is a lot that simply should be left as is because, theoretically anyway and if you accept the premise that the book works, it works as is. If you don't accept the premise that the book works, then obviously we have a different sort of problem.
From first draft to this draft, though: wow. a lot of work and changes both subtle and major. This to me is the meat of writing now.
What I'm thinking now is: if this got published exactly as is, that would be cool.
So I'm now allowed to say, in the immortal words of Katharine Kerr:
urk urk urk
Technically it's not yet been received and accepted, so I'm hesitant to proclaim that it is complete. Also, it will go to the copy editor next, and then I'll have one last chance to read through the entire thing to find those pesky repetitions and the unclear passages or spelling mistakes I miissed the other ten times through.
I know I've said before that I've finished Cold Fire, but with a Sept 2011 pub date, I think scheduling will save me from hitting the point where I start changing things I should leave as they are. In fact, the other day, I was in the process of changing a line when a beta reader praised that very line, and I realized I had reached the place where I start doubting everything when in fact there is a lot that simply should be left as is because, theoretically anyway and if you accept the premise that the book works, it works as is. If you don't accept the premise that the book works, then obviously we have a different sort of problem.
From first draft to this draft, though: wow. a lot of work and changes both subtle and major. This to me is the meat of writing now.
What I'm thinking now is: if this got published exactly as is, that would be cool.
So I'm now allowed to say, in the immortal words of Katharine Kerr:
urk urk urk
March 19, 2011
DABWAHA Round 2
It's game time in Round Two Set 4 of DABWAHA, the March Madness style book tournament.
Set 4 runs March 19 (Saturday) from noon CST (USA Central Standard Time) to midnight.
If you are so inclined, do come vote for Cold Magic (there are three other "games" going on as well).
My worthy opponent in this round is Sara Creasy's SONG OF SCARABAEUS. It's her debut novel (it looks great!), plus it's got a fabulous cover. She's the Reader Pick for the bracket I'm in (the Crossover Division), and is ranked higher than me, so I really need your vote! ;)
Set 4 runs March 19 (Saturday) from noon CST (USA Central Standard Time) to midnight.
If you are so inclined, do come vote for Cold Magic (there are three other "games" going on as well).
My worthy opponent in this round is Sara Creasy's SONG OF SCARABAEUS. It's her debut novel (it looks great!), plus it's got a fabulous cover. She's the Reader Pick for the bracket I'm in (the Crossover Division), and is ranked higher than me, so I really need your vote! ;)
March 17, 2011
March 17: You can vote until midnight
You have two chances to vote for COLD MAGIC in two March Madness book tournaments. (One person, one vote.)
My rounds go until midnight today March 17 (USA Central Standard Time)
DABWAHA's Round 1 Set 4 is here.
Remember: A vote for Cold Magic is a vote for moar Rory.
My rounds go until midnight today March 17 (USA Central Standard Time)
DABWAHA's Round 1 Set 4 is here.
Remember: A vote for Cold Magic is a vote for moar Rory.
March 16, 2011
Swamped, but VOTE
I am swamped in the final revisions pass for COLD FIRE, on a very very very short deadline.
Frankly, I'm also exhausted by the news out of Japan, Libya, and Bahrain, even though none of these afflict me directly. Yet I do feel these things affect us all, one way or another.
However, there is this.
I have voting info on Round One of DABWAHA, a kind of March Madness for Romance related novels.
Cold Magic's first "game" is March 17 CST 12pm -1159pm.
I'm up against a novel called The Winter Sea (a cold theme!) by Susanna Kearsley.
It's very doable to vote (the original bracket thing was confusing).
I'll post the specific Round One Set 4 link tomorrow am. I'm counting on you!
ETA: Given that I'm working 12 hours a day, following this contest is about all I have energy for online. I hope to resume blogging etc next week.
Frankly, I'm also exhausted by the news out of Japan, Libya, and Bahrain, even though none of these afflict me directly. Yet I do feel these things affect us all, one way or another.
However, there is this.
I have voting info on Round One of DABWAHA, a kind of March Madness for Romance related novels.
Cold Magic's first "game" is March 17 CST 12pm -1159pm.
I'm up against a novel called The Winter Sea (a cold theme!) by Susanna Kearsley.
It's very doable to vote (the original bracket thing was confusing).
I'll post the specific Round One Set 4 link tomorrow am. I'm counting on you!
ETA: Given that I'm working 12 hours a day, following this contest is about all I have energy for online. I hope to resume blogging etc next week.
March 13, 2011
DABWAHA Tournament of Books: Cold Magic is In
So there's this March Madness style tournament of books called DABWAHA.
Which you can find here.
COLD MAGIC is in the "Crossover" bracket.
Go check it out.
From Sunday to Tuesday this week you fill in brackets, and then you vote starting Wednesday.
There's a "How to Play" page.
Which you can find here.
COLD MAGIC is in the "Crossover" bracket.
Go check it out.
From Sunday to Tuesday this week you fill in brackets, and then you vote starting Wednesday.
There's a "How to Play" page.
March 11, 2011
tsunami warning
As many if not most of you already know, there's been a major earthquake in Japan, followed by devastating tsunamis in that region.
Tsunami watches and warnings have been posted for across the Pacific Rim, including a tsunami warning in the state of Hawaii.
In other words, the civil defense sirens are going off. Coastal areas are currently being evacuated in the state of Hawaii. This is a serious situation, although ultimately of course unpredictable in outcome.
I would like to note for those concerned (who are not on Twitter or Facebook, where I've already tweeted and posted this) that I am NOT in the evacuation zone, so my house is safe. My son's apartment is also outside the evacuation zone.
I'm quite concerned about my canoe club and all the canoes, because everything is right on the beach in Hale'iwa. We would drive down there, but doing so would just add another car on the road into an area where people are almost certainly evacuating inland.
We'll know in a few hours. Here's hoping for the best.
Tsunami watches and warnings have been posted for across the Pacific Rim, including a tsunami warning in the state of Hawaii.
In other words, the civil defense sirens are going off. Coastal areas are currently being evacuated in the state of Hawaii. This is a serious situation, although ultimately of course unpredictable in outcome.
I would like to note for those concerned (who are not on Twitter or Facebook, where I've already tweeted and posted this) that I am NOT in the evacuation zone, so my house is safe. My son's apartment is also outside the evacuation zone.
I'm quite concerned about my canoe club and all the canoes, because everything is right on the beach in Hale'iwa. We would drive down there, but doing so would just add another car on the road into an area where people are almost certainly evacuating inland.
We'll know in a few hours. Here's hoping for the best.
Random thoughts for the day
Whatever people think of COLD FIRE, no one will be able to say I did not revise the heck out of this book to make it the very best I could.
I'm thinking a lot these days, though, about clarity. & how to make the world clear to readers without infodump.
It's not the amount of information, it's the clarity, the speed at which it is doled out, & absolute specificity of explanation.
I'm thinking a lot these days, though, about clarity. & how to make the world clear to readers without infodump.
It's not the amount of information, it's the clarity, the speed at which it is doled out, & absolute specificity of explanation.
March 4, 2011
Cold Fire Revisions, Lightborn, DABWAHA
I think the revisions for COLD FIRE are done.
Here are some stats, for those who are interested in the process:
I started writing COLD FIRE at the tail end of February 2010. There was no first draft as such, but a series of partial drafts, each adding on to and revising what had come before, until eventually I turned in a completed draft on Dec 6 2010. This draft had portions that were in third or fourth draft form and other sections that were fairly raw first.
The draft I turned in to my editors in Decembr 2010 was 654 pages*, and about 215,000 words. I turned it in KNOWING it needed significant cutting and focusing (the plot has not changed at all, but I've not just tightened up the book but really focused the characterization and the way the story unfolds). I simply needed the space away from it. I personally don't mind turning in a flawed draft. I get a better revision this way. That's just how I work, and is not meant to suggest others ought or ought not to work that way.
I have been fortunate in having a dozen really valuable beta readers. I received my official editorial comments on February 5 2011 and promised to have the book done by the end of the month, which I technically have done IF February was a month of normal length. Right?
The draft I turned in is 528 pages* and 178,000 words. By comparison, COLD MAGIC ran 491 pages* and just under 160,000 words. [* that's manuscript pages, not book pages]
I suspect after the editors read this revision, I will make one final light pass over the manuscript in the nature of polishing and sanding off the last scratchy bits. Then the book will go to a copy editor, and I'll have a final chance to cut and line edit.
I'm taking 3 days off.
Meanwhile: Tricia Sullivan's LIGHTBORN is on the short list for the Arthur C Clarke Award. Congrats!!! I'm just thrilled about this.
Finally, I'm amusingly thrilled to mention that COLD MAGIC has made the field in one of those March Madness book tournaments, this one DA BWAHA and staged by the marvelous bloggers from Smart Bitches and Dear Author. It's Romance oriented, and COLD MAGIC evidently slipped in in the Crossover division. The formal announcement is tomorrow (which is today already in most parts of the world, now that I think about it), and I'll post more info when I have more. No, I have no idea why it is called da bwaha.
Here are some stats, for those who are interested in the process:
I started writing COLD FIRE at the tail end of February 2010. There was no first draft as such, but a series of partial drafts, each adding on to and revising what had come before, until eventually I turned in a completed draft on Dec 6 2010. This draft had portions that were in third or fourth draft form and other sections that were fairly raw first.
The draft I turned in to my editors in Decembr 2010 was 654 pages*, and about 215,000 words. I turned it in KNOWING it needed significant cutting and focusing (the plot has not changed at all, but I've not just tightened up the book but really focused the characterization and the way the story unfolds). I simply needed the space away from it. I personally don't mind turning in a flawed draft. I get a better revision this way. That's just how I work, and is not meant to suggest others ought or ought not to work that way.
I have been fortunate in having a dozen really valuable beta readers. I received my official editorial comments on February 5 2011 and promised to have the book done by the end of the month, which I technically have done IF February was a month of normal length. Right?
The draft I turned in is 528 pages* and 178,000 words. By comparison, COLD MAGIC ran 491 pages* and just under 160,000 words. [* that's manuscript pages, not book pages]
I suspect after the editors read this revision, I will make one final light pass over the manuscript in the nature of polishing and sanding off the last scratchy bits. Then the book will go to a copy editor, and I'll have a final chance to cut and line edit.
I'm taking 3 days off.
Meanwhile: Tricia Sullivan's LIGHTBORN is on the short list for the Arthur C Clarke Award. Congrats!!! I'm just thrilled about this.
Finally, I'm amusingly thrilled to mention that COLD MAGIC has made the field in one of those March Madness book tournaments, this one DA BWAHA and staged by the marvelous bloggers from Smart Bitches and Dear Author. It's Romance oriented, and COLD MAGIC evidently slipped in in the Crossover division. The formal announcement is tomorrow (which is today already in most parts of the world, now that I think about it), and I'll post more info when I have more. No, I have no idea why it is called da bwaha.
February 28, 2011
Official Release Date for COLD FIRE
Gee, people, the question of one or two spaces after the period is a popular subject. I love you guys.
I have been told the official release date for COLD FIRE:
9/26/2011
or, if you will,
26/09/2011
I have been told the official release date for COLD FIRE:
9/26/2011
or, if you will,
26/09/2011
February 26, 2011
A query
Two spaces or one after the period at the end of the sentence.
Give your reasons.
Give your reasons.
