From the Ashes in Final Draft
I'm going to die.
Not really. But I want to.
Okay not really. But I feel like I am. I am working on the final draft of From the Ashes before it goes to my editor at the beginning of Nov. So not quite the final, final draft, but the last one I can fix myself.
And I just got back beta feedback. Oy. I have a HUGE problem with my main character. So she is in need of a total makeover so she isn't quite so...realistic. :) So, unlike Shattered, where I only had a few minor tweaks to my book and could squeeze in the final edit, all in a month, this book is going to kill me. I only have a month. To do a laundry list of changes. Which is my fault. I did have quite a few betas. But that's good. Lots of eyes means lots of feedback which means lots of improvements!
Lemme just say how I love my beta readers and would be utterly lost without them. They take their precious time to read my atrocious draft of a novel and are kind enough to slog through and tell me what a mess it is. That is pure selflessness. This feedback is hard to get and some of it is a treasure to get. And I have a problem. Many authors will tell you that you only need pay attention to the things they really had in common or you agree with. I'm a little different. Why? Because I'm of the mind that improvement is improvement. And even if something only bugged/stood out to one reader out of ten, it means it stands to bug 100 out of 1000. So I take into consideration every little thing my betas bring to my attention. Their feedback is anything but undervalued.
Yes, I could just do a few tweaks to my character to solve the issues. I could ignore the remarks from only one beta. I could. But in reality, I can't. I wouldn't be satisfied. So now what I anticipated was a week of small tweaks has become a few huge changes and lots and lots of little ones.
So that is where I am. Taking a few minutes to lament this career choice. I actually had to take time off my day job so I could squeeze in two full days of writing/editing this month. Lame.
But! On a positive note, I've got my new editor chosen! And I'm super close to picking my proofreader. And also, my cover is being designed by an up-and-coming cover designer and I can't wait to brag about her and be her first book cover! So at least I've got a good balance of stress and relief. :)
Also, Among the Flames, book 2, has a solid outline/rough draft prepared. Each scene is planned and it is waiting to be written. Which *gulp* will be next month, when From the Ashes is being edited. Yep. Writing two books at the same time. I'm crazy.
Till next update! Hang in there with me!
Not really. But I want to.
Okay not really. But I feel like I am. I am working on the final draft of From the Ashes before it goes to my editor at the beginning of Nov. So not quite the final, final draft, but the last one I can fix myself.
And I just got back beta feedback. Oy. I have a HUGE problem with my main character. So she is in need of a total makeover so she isn't quite so...realistic. :) So, unlike Shattered, where I only had a few minor tweaks to my book and could squeeze in the final edit, all in a month, this book is going to kill me. I only have a month. To do a laundry list of changes. Which is my fault. I did have quite a few betas. But that's good. Lots of eyes means lots of feedback which means lots of improvements!
Lemme just say how I love my beta readers and would be utterly lost without them. They take their precious time to read my atrocious draft of a novel and are kind enough to slog through and tell me what a mess it is. That is pure selflessness. This feedback is hard to get and some of it is a treasure to get. And I have a problem. Many authors will tell you that you only need pay attention to the things they really had in common or you agree with. I'm a little different. Why? Because I'm of the mind that improvement is improvement. And even if something only bugged/stood out to one reader out of ten, it means it stands to bug 100 out of 1000. So I take into consideration every little thing my betas bring to my attention. Their feedback is anything but undervalued.
Yes, I could just do a few tweaks to my character to solve the issues. I could ignore the remarks from only one beta. I could. But in reality, I can't. I wouldn't be satisfied. So now what I anticipated was a week of small tweaks has become a few huge changes and lots and lots of little ones.
So that is where I am. Taking a few minutes to lament this career choice. I actually had to take time off my day job so I could squeeze in two full days of writing/editing this month. Lame.
But! On a positive note, I've got my new editor chosen! And I'm super close to picking my proofreader. And also, my cover is being designed by an up-and-coming cover designer and I can't wait to brag about her and be her first book cover! So at least I've got a good balance of stress and relief. :)
Also, Among the Flames, book 2, has a solid outline/rough draft prepared. Each scene is planned and it is waiting to be written. Which *gulp* will be next month, when From the Ashes is being edited. Yep. Writing two books at the same time. I'm crazy.
Till next update! Hang in there with me!
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