Might Actually Be getting Better at This

I got my short story back from my editor and —- she liked it!

When I first took her up on the offer of being my personal editor, I accepted with enthusiasm and trepidation. I knew she would help me, but I also knew she wouldn’t let me get away with anything.

The first short she sent back to me dented my thick skin. But, I worked with her advice. That story bounced back and forth between us until it was decent.

That was quite a while ago now, and I owe her a lot. She has improved my style, voice, plot devices, done her best to teach me grammar, and helped me hone my skills as a writer. I wouldn’t be half the writer I am today if it were not for her – it is that simple – and I know it.

The short I just got back from her had a note attached which made me swell with pride, because she had nothing but good to say about the tale. Oh sure, there will be red marks all through the thing, but that will always be true – there is always room to improve. What counts is that I am improving; that instead of – ‘the bones are good but this needs a lot of work’, I now have, ‘this story was delicious’.

Higher praise, I couldn’t ask for.

So thank you, Sheila, for working so diligently with me over these years and making me an author – not just a writer.

Filed under: Writing Tagged: anthology, editor, edits, Jonathan Alvey, paranormal private investigator, plot, short story, Urban Fantasy, world building, writer, writing