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Okay, so it'd be terrific if I could say I've churned out twenty thousand or so fantabulous heart-wrenching words on my WIP since last we met, but that'd be a big fat lie. I haven't. On the plus side, I'm still hard at work editing an excellent book for another writer, so at least my brain hasn't completely turned to mush. Yet.
The author whose work I'm currently abetting has a ton of sometimes chilling imagination, so her books are always entertaining. Being able to help make her diamond shine as brightly as possible is very satisfying... for both of us.
Edit... or regret it! That would be my advise for any writer. Shine your baby up as much as possible before sending it out into the world.
[NO... I'm not soliciting for more clients. I WILL return to my own book as soon as possible.]
Okay, enough of that. Let's check out this month's question:
Has your writing ever taken you by surprise? For example, a positive and belated response to a submission response to a submission you'd forgotten or an ending you never saw coming?
Sometimes, I think writers are only kidding themselves when they think they're completely in charge of the stories they're creating. Changes from what we think is going to happen to what actually ends up happening are inevitable.
For me, anyway.
The changes were more subtle in my first book Hot Flashes and Cold Lemonade. The bones remained pretty much the same, but I certainly never intended for Matt, a conservative young Republican, to be gay. And I never meant for a lifelong friendship between a white lab tech and a black doctor to turn into something more, either. Those things just... happened. And they felt right.
I may not have gone where I intended to go, but I think I ended up where I needed to be. [Douglas Adams]
WHAT JUST HAPPENED???
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| [image courtesy of unsplash] |
Okay, that's about it for now. Time to get back to the editing... but one more thing. I think I may know why I've been dragging my feet a little bit with my current WIP.
I believe I may need to lose a couple pounds and tone up my gluteus maximus a bit before going through that again...
Until next time, take care of yourselves. And each other.
Fun post! Sooner or later you will get the new book finished, and I'm sure it will be worth the wait. So keep doing those butt exercises, and just keep going! Hugs, Valerie
ReplyDeleteThanks! Yep, sooner or later. That's the plan. :)
DeleteHugs back atcha.
Editing! I know a few people who could use some editing and they don't even write books!
ReplyDeleteWhat I laughingly call "my book", has been sitting just over there (points left) mocking me with its unwritten pages. I'll read the last few chapters, sometimes the whole thing and have only a vague idea of how to move it forward. so I put it back "over there" and spend a few hours trawling real estate sites. Every Wednesday, I hope the word prompts might spark another chapter, but I got nuthin'. but that's okay, I'm not in any hurry, I don't have agents and publishers breathing down my neck.
Unfortunately, too many things make it into print... in books, newspapers, magazines, on Facebook, in emails, whatever... without benefit of a good editing. Even a basic read-through editing would make such a positive difference...
DeleteHA! Yeah, no agents or publishers are breathing down my neck, either. Lucky us, huh? No pressure...
Editing is too often a sadly neglected essential.
ReplyDeleteAs you know I don't consider myself a writer, but in my dabblings the characters assuredly call the shots.
You're absolutely right. Editing IS essential, but for some reason, it's a step some writers think they can skip.
DeleteYou may not consider yourself a writer, but you ARE. (Ask your characters!)
You'll be done soon and back to that runaway plot and characters.
ReplyDeleteYour mouth to God's ears... :)
DeleteI'm surprised I manage a blog post or two a week. It will be extra shocking if I ever tackle a book again, but you never know. This hiatus has been fine and there are, no doubt, demons waiting to surface in writing. We shall see. Meanwhile, I guess we have to get off that bench and exercise a bit - ha! See ya at the gym. ha ha ha ha ha.
ReplyDeleteI know what you mean. It seems to take more effort to write a blog post now than it did when I first started...
DeleteIf I hadn't written my last book as the first of a trilogy, I'd probably be okay with not writing another book, but the rest of the story is burning inside of me. Hopefully, I'll get 'er done.
Hey! Believe it or not, I HAVE been exercising my... um, butt... off on the treadmill. The actual exercise exhausts me at first, but overall, it's given me more energy. (Poor Smarticus...HA!)
Your brain is totally not mush with all that editing work your doing. I believe all of that will help you in your own writing, too.
ReplyDeleteI love that quote by Douglas Adams. Rings so true!
I sure hope you're right. For now, I'm immersed in her book, and the characters speaking to me are hers. I hope my characters don't get so annoyed with me that they won't talk to me when I get back to them.
DeleteIsn't that a great quote? And it applies to far more than writing. :)
A line is seldom straight and that is all for the good. Words take us places where we did, at first, not plan to go. It is life with its many twists and turns. Sometimes it is more interesting to take that left hand turn and toss the GPS, and see where it takes us.
ReplyDeleteYou will get back to your writing when you are truly ready.
For sure. I'm all about enjoying those detours in life, because what's most important is the journey, not the destination.
DeleteWhat a humorous look inside your head! :) That raccoon is a hoot! Having too much time on my own hands, now I'm curious about editing opportunities. (Having been accused of being a grammar Nazi … jus' saying.)
ReplyDeleteOnly the brave dare venture inside of my head, dear lady. I'm glad I didn't scare you away!
DeleteThere's all kinds of editing, and grammar is just part of it. If you're serious about wanting to dip your toes into editing, you should consider joining the IWSG and offering your services. :)
Hi Susan - your brain is definitely not mush - but one that wanders its own path ... and bursts out laughing at the jokes, that others might miss. We all take our time ... the next hot flash must be due soon?! Take care and just enjoy the summer while it's here - cheers Hilary
ReplyDeleteHi-ya, Hilary. HA! Yeah, that's a pretty darned good description of my mind. It certainly IS a happy wanderer. :)
DeleteYou take care, too. Cheers!
It's funny how writing can start out in one direction and end up in a completely different place. Those characters cry, "Mutiny" and take over. :)
ReplyDeleteAbsolutely! And they don't give a fig about our opinions, either! Just like a bunch of rebellious kids... :)
DeleteI always love your funny graphics. Yup, my characters definitely have their own ideas. Sometimes I follow them to see where they'll lead. Sometimes I have to yoke them back to the plot wagon and crack the whip.
ReplyDeleteYoke 'em up and crack the whip, eh? I'll have to try that next time... :)
DeleteYou are one of the very most wonderful editors in the world. LOVE that money meme, though it needs tweaked for the writer life.
ReplyDeleteAw, shucks. That's awful sweet of you to say. Thank you. :)
DeleteYeah, you're right. That meme would work for writers, too. Most of us aren't exactly rolling in cash...
Edna sure nailed it. My daughter is working on a third book and this is how she feels.
ReplyDeleteI think that's how all writers feel when their books... their babies... are released into the big bad world. Scary stuff!
DeleteI feel compelled to answer the above question … in 2 parts, friend Sue. 1.) Yes, as I constantly and excessively agonize over my finished pieces, and tend to file away at them even long after they appeared in my blog. 2.) … and this concerns more the writer than the writings … So far, and over the years, I have contacted 4 brilliant writers. Got responses as well, but all 4 were terribly disappointing (talk about let down)as I got the impression of them either sitting on a really high horse or being plain rude. Anyway, dat ok though … smiles. Love, cat.
ReplyDeleteI'm not surprised that you agonize over your writings, because your efforts definitely bear fruit in the results. I'm sorry to hear the writers disappointed you, though. That's a shame. Then again, at least they responded to you... or their secretaries did. That beats being ignored.
DeleteI whisper in your characters' ears so they stage revolts.
ReplyDeleteLove,
Janie
Curses! I KNEW it!!!
DeleteEditing makes you happy? Here take the 3 books I have to edit. Take them. Here! lol
ReplyDeleteYeah, gotta love it when those characters go off to the races and you just have to try and keep up. Pesky buggers.
HA! I'm already up to my ears in editing right now. Besides, I never said I was a glutton for punishment... or selfish. YOU should enjoy some of that editing happiness, too. :)
DeleteDear Susan, the reason I've never been good at editing is demonstrated in today's post on "Invalid's Workshop". I took a 9-year-old poem and changed about 2 words. That's my disreputable average (https://atrialinvader.blogspot.com/2019/08/ductile-time-revisited.html). Is there an editor (apart from Willie) who can help a gardener fix poetry?
ReplyDeleteDear Geo, I find it hard to believe you aren't a top-notch editor. You coulda fooled me. Your blog posts are always flawless, and maybe the fact that you only changed 2 words in a 9-year old poem is because it didn't need to be changed.
DeleteI've never edited anyone else's poetry, but I think it'd be kinda tough, because poetry is such a raw expression of personal feelings and beliefs. Any little word change or rhythm change would risk altering the poet's intended expression, and I think only the poet himself is properly equipped to understand the nuances of his intentions.
Wow, that was quite the twist with the conservative Republican.
ReplyDeleteIt was, and no one was more surprised than I. Except for maybe Matt's parents... :)
DeleteI want to write a funny comment but I have to poop.
ReplyDeleteOkeydoke. Well, I certainly wouldn't want to stand between a man and his toilet. :)
DeleteEvery novel I write ends up surprising me - I start off with some image in mind, but by the time it's written it ends up somewhere completely different. I blame the characters!
ReplyDeleteI'd say we have to do something to get those characters to toe the line, but sometimes, they seem to know better than we do. It's THEIR story!
DeleteSusan, you have a gift for creating interesting multi-dimensional characters. No wonder they even surprise you! You also have a talent for editing, and I can’t wait to hear more about the book you’re working on. Funny what you said about never editing poetry. I’m sure you used the utmost restraint in not editing any of my poems! Good luck with all of your projects.
ReplyDeleteJulie
Thanks, kiddo. Nope, no restraint at all was required regarding your poetry. They were already fine just as they were. They were... you! :)
DeleteI'm glad you enjoy editing. I think I actually prefer editing my own work to writing and I do like helping other writers too, as long as I believe they are really open to the comments. I love how you described your characters taking charge of the story...which is to say you are open and creative and not trying to control the words. All good stuff.
ReplyDeleteI used to hate editing, because I was eager to be "done" with a piece. Now, like you, I kinda prefer it. It's easier to hone the words you've already written than it is to come up with them from scratch.
DeleteRevolting characters.
ReplyDeleteIs this about Congress?
Nope. They're repulsive.
DeleteHAHAHAHAHAHAHA
Delete:)
DeleteI think it's awesome that you're helping someone with their editing. Edit or regret...I like it. I'm going to use it with my students. :)
ReplyDeleteCool. It's the perfect line to nudge students. :)
DeleteI imagine editing to be a fun job. You get to read books while doing it...
ReplyDeleteIt IS fun, but that doesn't mean it's easy. :)
Delete