Saturday, February 22, 2014

Excel timelines and what the heck

My ongoing edits and revisions.
As if a book about a story that starts before recorded time and goes to the present is not enough, I had to also use dates and have my characters ALL over creation! To-boot, did a ton of research for everything!
Just finished the second timeline to make sure that my dates, people and events are in order and THEY ARE!
Next is maps, John (my husband and editor extraordinary) uses our World Globe and printouts when doing my final edits.
I know why I love spooky, I was raised in spooky. Just why do I love Anthropology, History, and Science?
If the river don't rise and hell... I should be finish in a few days.
P.S. how many readers would want a story with a map, references and timelines. I do, I like books by Jean Auel and James Michener, Isabelle Allende and Elizabeth Kostova, Anne Rice and others like Carlos Castaneda.

Thursday, February 20, 2014

Pain is not optional.

My quote on rewriting and editing: Pain is not optional.

Back to 27-thousand words, the going is a slow crawl into what I wrote long ago, and gosh, golly-gee, it sounded, looked and felt so good then and now I've cut the pages in this book form 1,200 to 900 and on with the hatchet. I wonder how writing groups I belong(ed) to put up with me! Anyways, here is a link to a free download on re-writing and editing - to me the same hatchet. Again I thank my husband for his bluntness and fearless hatching and editing, and those that like the book enough to have high-hopes for me, and to those that say aren't you done yet, I say: maybe never.

Here is a free download (really helpful) Revision and Self Editing for Publication: http://www.writersdigest.com/revision-self-editing-publication

Last but not, a quote form an author I enjoy reading:

"I always rewrite the very beginning of a novel. I rewrite the beginning as I write the ending, so I may spend part of morning writing the ending, the last 100 pages approximately, and then part of the morning revising the beginning. So the style of the novel has a consistency."  Joyce Carol Oates

Editing versus Proofreading | Scribendi.com

Editing versus Proofreading | Scribendi.com

Sunday, February 16, 2014

Are you superstitious?

I don't wake up to read my horror-scopi but yes, I do look at it when I am going through my email and golly gee murgatroy it looks like it knows me well!

Sunday, Feb 16, 2014 -- You must pay attention to the smallest details today as you take on a very exacting project. Normally, your ability to focus is not an issue, but your energy may be a bit scattered now. Don't judge yourself too harshly if you realize that you committed to a higher level of perfection than you can deliver in such a short time frame. Just do the best job possible and then move on. Taking pride in your work brings the ultimate satisfaction.

Jee-per-creepers, I have been sharing about my editing and the deadline is looming over like a vulture ready to snap me. I better throw it mouse or rock.

DailyHoroscope.com | Daily horoscopes written by Rick Levine & Jeff Jawer

Saturday, February 15, 2014

Virgin's Song

Hope you had a loving Valentine's  Day. 
We postponed our vacation so I can finish editing my novel and I'm at 25,000 words - not at my goal - but I and resting right now because I was sick all night. Maybe the slice of cheese cake affected me - don't eat much sugar anymore - or meds I am taking for a sinus inflammation that was causing me dizziness and ear pain. 
The hamburgers we made for our valentine's dinner were great! 
Here is the link to a poem I wrote last week when taking a break from editing and that was graciously published in our community of writers publication. The poem is about the book I am editing.
Virgin's Song
http://www.lakewildwood.net/document_view.asp?id=1226

Sunday, February 09, 2014

Beyond Keystone XL: Eight Reasons for Optimism on Climate Change

Still of the opinion that there is no need, other than greed, to build more pipelines. For sure not in California, not that safety and health in other states is not a concern, however those states in danger need to elect officials that enforce regulations. California, as per article, is on the way to become one of the healthiest states in the union, so Californians must ensure that California remains a Democrat state and out of reckless greed.

Beyond Keystone XL: Eight Reasons for Optimism on Climate Change

Must-Have Writing Tools for Serious Writers

Most articles I read about writing are good but this article is fresh and useful, thanks. Even though I disagree about writing by hand first. I can hardly read my writing when I write by hand, my ideas and thoughts come so fast that by the time I think I'm done its a mess of scribbles.
Must-Have Writing Tools for Serious Writers

Saturday, February 08, 2014

still editing


Finished editing 50 pages, might not sound like a lot but because my novel is science fiction/fantasy and is complex and large I decided, before starting these complete edits, to first create a timeline and character history for the entire book.  It is then that I saw the need to write a brief summary for every chapter, and have done so for the first 25 thousand words. 
My plan now is to continue to do the chapter-by-chapter summaries for every 10 thousand words as I go along and to complete the first 50 thousand word edits and summaries by next week. We will see. 
I have a couple of friends that have done some edits and my husband is my main go to person, it works great because John is a good writer and an avid reader and he makes suggestions that improve my story. 
Feels like I am walking on a tightrope.


Tuesday, February 04, 2014

In the paws of editing

It amazes me, not intending to be vain, that I have written such a massive and mysterious science-fiction/fantasy novel and will submit a synopsis on this site very soon.

Quote

"The chains of habit are too weak to be felt until they are too strong to be broken."
-- Samuel Johnson, Lexicographer