What do you mean it’s not a final draft?

Posted by kandie on June 19th, 2008 filed in The Quest
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Dude, I thought I finished MY BOOKS, but what I’m seeing is I’ve only done a 1st or 2nd draft. NOT a final. Now that I’m getting the pages ready for printing, I see things that need to be changed. LOL! I mean that’s normal, we’re always our worst critic, and overly anal about our work. DAG US WRITERS! But what I mean is. I finished this book (p2l) at the beginning of the year. Got really good feedback and it’s gone through a first edit; even a reader focus group.

 

But with 6 months that have come and gone & now I’m reading it again. I see areas that I want to ‘mature’. I was advised to always get a 2nd editor. Not to discount the work of the first and it can get costly (unless you have friends who are professional editors), but it’s good to have. So now I’m researching for another EDITOR to get me to the final drafts of my work. It ain’t cheap but I also have a budget! Still it’s good to step away from your book for a moment and then read it again serioulsy.

So I’m rewriting certain areas AGAIN. (just like I’ve rewritten areas of this post just now) But I’m still moving foward with the ground work towards self-publishing including setting up my account & publishing company with a printer.

Alas, as with all things there’s a process.  I’m learning. And each time I think I’m ready, a voice of reason, a colleague or mentor hypes me on to something I forgot or could help me get to the ‘final draft’ of my manuscript.  So to start me off (learning with writing the first novel) I’ve realized for me…I’ve let people read sample chapters too soon.  And in knowing this among other things have worked out a procedure for my writing.

Also to keep me ON TRACK, i’ve created hotmail calendar reminders to email me while I’m at the day job certain times through out the week, to stop whatever I’m doing and write 1000.   I love writing but sometimes when you have so much going on in your world you have to find that motivation to kick start you again or rely heavily on discipline.  Well that’s all folks. Have a Great weekend!

 

 


The Process that’s kicking my tail…

Posted by kandie on June 19th, 2008 filed in The Quest
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Man if I tell you that writing books ain’t NO JOKE.  It’s so different than daydreaming as a kid, than facing reality.   It’s one thing to imagine a story in your head, know the characters & the overall story line; it’s another to tackle the task of making you story into a 50-80,000 word novel, ready to publish!

 

The following is the process I’m going through for my 1st & 2nd novels, P2L and DL.

 

  • Break it up and start back at the beginning
  • Outline chapters/ scenes
  • Develop your sub-plots, main plot,
  • Develop your characters,  their stories
  • Develop the overall story concept
  • Find balance between dialogue & description
  • Write 50-80, 000 words
  • Self-Edit
  • Rewrite
  • READ your story again
  • Rewrite / Self Edit where needed
  • READ again
  • Submit to a freelance editor so they can mark it up in RED
  • Read the corrections/ edit
  • Decide which changes are necessary for your creative voice
  • Rewrite/ edit
  • READ
  • Submit 2nd professional EDIT  to a freelancer / editor
  • Make necessary changes
  • Final DRAFT!

Granted, some writers don’t go through this many stages, drafts and some don’t do a 2nd edit.  But I do.  As I learn more about my craft and begin publish my work, get feedback, I’ll be able to ‘fine tune’ that procedure and decide what works best for me as I grow in this business.

 

Plus keep in mind it costs money to get your book edited—- anywhere from $150-800 depending on length of book & the editor you’re using.  So you have to RESEARCH editors!

 

Okay, then you have to write QUERY LETTERS which seem to take just as many rewrites and drafts as the book itself. Plus you’re summarizing the concept of your book into 1 page.

 

RESEARCHING lit agents & publishers to submit the query too.  Takes time…

 

From there you have to WRITE a 3-11 page SYNOPSIS highlighting the whole book blow by blow (if requested).

 

From there you have to keep sending out the query letters , sample chapters + synopsis (if requested) until you get the answer you hope for which could take weeks, months & even years!!!  And we won’t get into the additional work & money if you decide to SELF-publish your books, b/c that’s where the cover art, printing fees, etc come in to play. 

 

But you know…I love it, as frustrating as it can be to do all this work and the ‘waiting’ period I love it.  I guess I was meant to be a writer after all. 

If you’re writer (novice or experienced) please share your writing process.  What advice can you give about mine?

 

KD

 


No word…

Posted by kandie on June 18th, 2008 filed in The Quest
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Dude this is like WAITING to get your wisdom teeth pulled.  STILL no response from the first agent.   So I’ve submitted to the 2nd agent on my list & still researching publishers who accept unsolicited queries.  Just an update.

In the meantime, I’ve finished  2 non-fiction books, that I plan to self-publish while I’m waiting for good news from an agent and/or publisher. 

I’m also submitting spec scripts to tv writing & screenwriting competitions to get my feet wet, some exposure and networking.  I’m hoping to dive into a tv writing career like author Angela Nissel or Shonda Rhimes or write meaningful romantic comedies like Nancy Meyers.

kd