Whew, first round of edits are done…

I realize I haven’t been updating the blog as much as before. Boy when I was able to update word counts I felt compelled to blog. Now saying I edited 10 pages doesn’t sound quite as exciting.

I am excited to say first round edits are finished. I sent it off to the Betas- including some new folks that will have to be fully thanked in a later post (unless they hate the book then phoey on them).  Thanks to Emily, Teri and Laurie who have been added to my Beta readers ranks. A writer friend I met on Twitter also has critiqued the first 10 pages for me. Ruthanne Reid is an amazing writer. Don’t believe me? Go to her website and read her first chapters here. You will be blown away.

So what does it mean to have first edits done? It means I see where the book needs more work. I am eagerly awaiting critiques from my Betas so I can make changes and start the second round of edits. I am saving a few people who offered to beta read for those edits.

I also wrote a query letter yesterday. No, I promise I will not send it out. Why? Several agent on twitter today bemoaned receiving queries letters where writers are not able to send the partial or full out right away. You have to be completely finished with edits before querying. I know this. I do. But man, that is a hard rule to follow.

Another rule I am struggling with is not writing book 2 if book 1 isn’t sold. I have the next book started in my head. I want to write it but I won’t. Why? If you can’t sell book 1 you are stuck with a book 2 that will also not sell.

Nope. Won’t do it. I am working on another idea that popped up in the middle of writing book one. I am struggling with some plot issues though so it isn’t flowing like the first. Of course I have just met some of the characters so they may take time to show themselves to me. Not every main character can be as pushy as Karie is from the first book.

So, that is what I have been busy doing. edits. plotting and trying not to give in to desires to query and write book 2.

Writing is done, now what?

I am a little late in posting. I try to post every monday and then another if the mood hits. I know what you are thinking. Okay, she used us to motivate her into finishing the book and now she slacks off.

No, I am not abandoning you loyal readers.  I have been working on editing and you know what, it sucks. I hate editing. In my version of hell there is a huge manuscript to edit along with people whistling annoying songs. (why whistling- for some reason it gives me a headache. So naturally my five-year-old son does it when he is mad at me.)

I pushed aside all the doubt when I was writing. I told myself putting the words on paper- or in the computer rather- was the most important thing to do. Now is when I need to take out the bad and replace with the good. I read things and think, What was I thinking? which brings on doubts of maybe everything sucks like this and I don’t realize.

I’ll be honest it spiraled down into a pit of self critism that soon made no sense. (If I didn’t slump over maybe my back wouldn’t be sore and I would write better).  So folks, that is where I have been. On a little writer crazy vacation.

I think I am back now. I like the book. Yes, there are parts that need work. Yes, editing is still one of my least favorite things. But I can do this- know why? I am a writer. I wrote a book I would like to read. At the end of the day, I can be proud of that if nothing else.

This week we have family visiting. But after that I think I will give myself permission to start working on the new book forming in my mind. When I have doubts about editing, I can switch to writing.

What about you? If you are in the editing phase, how do you cope? If you are writing, does reading about this scare you?

I hope not. It is all a part of the process. I can do it. We can do it! Off to edit…

I am too old for all nighters- but the book is finished.

Well, that is misleading. The first draft is complete.  At some time around 5:30 AM I typed the word END on the book. It felt good.

I started re-reading the book so I can get a feel for it and realized the beginning is very bad. The writing is painful in places. I started the book for NaNo last year. Wow, I have learned a lot this year. It shows in my book.

Which leads me to the point no writer wants to hear after completing their first novel. Usually the first few manuscripts don’t get published. The thought of spending all these hours working on my baby only to find it won’t be made into a book is disheartening. However, I knew that going in. I know that no matter what, each book I write contributes to the next one because I get better every time.

So this book might be the foundation for my future best selling debut novel.  Or, this book could be the perfect break out novel already and the New York houses will be fighting for me in a bidding war.  (hey, I’m a writer I create my own reality) Who knows?

All I know is my head aches, my back is sore and the wrist is throbbing, but I have 80,801 beautiful words that tell a story from my head. How cool is that?

Sigh, are we there yet?

Last night I was tired of my book. I needed a break from characters and storyline. I tried to pull a fast one on my Beta readers.

Yes. I tried the ole’ “end and epilogue”. Which, if the story is finished is fine. But mine wasn’t. *I* know what happens but I forget that readers don’t.

I tried to bum rush my characters! Akk, bad writer, bad, bad writer. I sent off the emails to the betas last night and then decided I would go to bed early. (early meaning at 1 AM instead of 4:30 AM).

Let me tell you, nothing disturbs your sleep like ticked off characters wreaking havoc in your brain. I didn’t fall asleep until after 3 and not until I started writing more in my head. sigh.

I woke to almost identical emails from my betas. No way, the story is not done yet. Need resolution.

What I have learned is writing endings is hard. So much harder than beginnings. At first I wa paralyzed because I didn’t want to screw up the big climatic moment. I got past that part and now need to tie up loose ends.

My struggle is I want to write a book 2, but I can’t. That is a big no-no until the first is sold. Why? What if the first never sells, then you are stuck with a sequel to a book that isn’t sold.

So I want to leave a few loose ends, but still want to complete this story. It’s not as easy as it may seem. But I will get through it.

Word count: 76,621. The book is almost finished. I can see the tape and the hordes of people waiting at the finish line. I’m running as fast as I can!

The importance of Betas and I’m not talking about the fish here people…

Beta readers are very important members of your writing team. While you are in the process of writing, they encourage you. I send mine chapters of the novel as I write them and if I goof off or take too long, they nag me and ask for the next installment.

Also, if I am in the middle of a chapter and am thinking about stopping, I think about leaving my poor Betas with a cliff hanger and decide to finish it. Well, most of the time anyway.

One of my Beta readers caught a mistake I was making. She pointed out that though the reader knew something happened to a character, the other characters didn’t. I wasn’t reflecting that in my writing. Oops. rookie mistake. But one I can easily fix since now instead of a few thousand words later. Thanks, Susan!

Once I finish the writing and move into the editing process, I will ask my Betas to hit me with their best shots. What worked, what didn’t. Grammar mistakes etc.  I also plan on recruiting some new Betas to get a fresh perspective after all the edits.

I know I wouldn’t be at (drumroll please) 65,809 at last word count without my wonderful team of Beta readers. Who I think of as my Alphas cause they are the tops. So I wanted to devote a blog post to my 3 Beta readers:

Susan Sosbe, Lucinda Gunnin (but I call her Cindy) and Lindsay Maddox . I have the honor of being published with these amazing writers in the Elements of the Soul anthology, but I am even more honored to call them friends.

Thank you ladies for helping me along this journey. Your support means so much to me. I look forward to someday returning the favor. Expect a thank you in the acknowledgements if the book once the book is published.

Oh and uh, the kid is sick so don’t expect the next chapter today. *Big cheesy grin*