final run-through...

As some of you know (those few who actually read my blogs) I have been working on the sequel to When Love is Not Enough. Although this editing process has taken WAY longer than I would have liked, I did learn a few things.

1. Sometimes "sitting" on a project promotes clearer thinking and inspires more dynamic results. I should have known this from previous endeavors, but sometimes I have to be shown over and over again before I "get it". This time was not unlike other times before where I walk away from a project and something stirs inside me to add crucial tidbits and tweak dialogue. In this case, I think I added a few things that give it much more of an edge than it had before. I changed the ending (slightly) and shaped some of the story elements so that they tie in better. So, this last time I read through for edits, I enjoyed the story better and I think it flows smoother!

2. I learned I need to take better notes! WLINE had MANY of the same errors that I found in this MS! (I must be an old dog :s) This time, I wrote a more comprehensive outline (chapter summary) as I went and even highlighted page&line that needed reevaluation. I made a LIST of my common mistakes so that NEXT TIME, I can avoid them altogether! I figure if DSP has it one way in WLINE ("it" being whatever grammatical point I struggle with), then it is more than likely going to be edited the same way in TCOL! (make sense?)

3. You can't rush perfection. Not that anything I do is perfect (any editor could tell you that), but as I sat back and read over my MS I realized that although I wanted to rush through and finish it ASAP to submit, it was better that I wait and make the tweaks I needed to in hopes that the first time around DSP will enjoy it and accept it! There are a few PLOT related items that may need to go, and possibly some content that needs to be toned down, but I will wait to do that if I am TOLD to do so. I like the story the way it is.

4. You can't worry about something until an editor says, "Get rid of it!" Like I mentioned above, there possible content changes on the horizon. But do I fret over them now? NO! It is my fear and paranoia over having a sucky story that drives me to think I should change something. When I wrote it, it contained elements that I THOUGHT should be in it. When I read TCOL the last few times, it contains just what I want it to and conveys the story I WANTED to write. IF... IF some elements are too strongly stated and my publisher would like them removed, THEN I will remove them!

For now... I am happy with the sequel I wrote. I am nervous as to what the public at large will say about the direction I took my characters, but what author is not nervous when trying to make a dent in the literary world? I am trying to get my feet off the ground, so yeah, I'm nervous!

btw... I am supposed to be featured by Sue Brown in an interview tomorrow. Check out her blog: http://suebrownsstories.blogspot.com/

Thanks for stopping by! I hope the next thing I blog about is how I submitted The Cost of Loving and how I am getting back to writing the third book in the series! (Title to be released later)

~Wade
xoxo