Edits - How vs Why
So now that the damn book is finished, it’s time to work on edits (or someone could just kill me now and I’d be okay with that).
So, I’m reading through.
The writing is pretty good - Thank God!! - it’s just in need of some minor line edits (deleting the 5000 that’s). But there’s still that whole problem of the book not actually having a plot.
In other words, I managed to write an entire book - the HOW of everything, without ever knowing WHY anyone was doing what they were doing.
Missing motivation much?
Now, actually (will wonders never cease - usually he won’t talk writing with me) The Hubster actually came up with a great WHY last night.
And he made it incredibly easier than I was trying to (I was trying to involve the government and make it all 1984ish - he said why not just a straight forward ‘bad guy’ - then I said ‘duh’ while smacking myself on the head).
So, to make things easier on myself (ie, doing work without having to think too hard) I’ve been going through, mostly doing line edits, and highlighting the things that are going to need to change. Luckily it seems to be mostly at the beginning and the end, but there will need to be some minor changes in the middle, too. Just a line here and there though.
And my heroine’s backstory has to change, but it makes her motivation a little more clear, I think.
So, all in all, I’m pretty happy and hope I can have this sucker finished and ready to be sent off by this time next week!
How’s your writing going?
March 2nd, 2006 at 6:04 pm
Um…well. It’s going…
March 2nd, 2006 at 8:27 pm
Good luck with the edits, Emma. I’m editing a paranormal at the mo and having fun in a sick, sick way that only a writer would enjoy.
March 2nd, 2006 at 8:39 pm
Slow. Very slow.
Good luck with the edits! Glad you were able to solve some plot issues. Maybe we need to change the saying from ‘out of the mouth of babes’ to ‘out of the mouth of hubbies…’ :-)
March 2nd, 2006 at 10:33 pm
Yes! You have made me laugh and oh does it feel good! And I’m soooo relieved - probably more then I should be - but still I am - to find that there is another hubby out there that generally speaking doesn’t want to talk writing or anything to do with it. Mine will. And there are even times that he does a really good impression of ‘pretending’ to be interested and listening with great thoughts. But… you knew there had to be a but didn’t you? :-) He has told me, nicely, that its not his ‘thing’. Its boring to him. Which I can’t understand - I mean its enthralling to me! :-)
I suppose its like me having to watch or talk or play golf with him. Yuck! I do it. I pretend to be having fun or be interested and I won’t ‘tell’ him that I truly can’t stand it - he’s aware its not my favorite thing in the world but he doesn’t know that I’d rather watch paint dry. Some day’s I do a better impression of liking it then others where I roll my eyes and grimace and find some excuse, any excuse even doing laundry just so I don’t need to go, or talk it or anything. So I guess I do get it. But it was so refreshing to hear that there is another sweet hubby out there like mine. :-)
And your bit about starting the edits! Way to awesome - especially to me since that’s all I’ve been consumed in as of late. Getting the plot, the words, the tone, the story under the story correct, the… well the list goes on and on … and Yeah! Someone please just shoot me now! :-) I like the first part of writing the most. I suppose I might like the last part too - the getting is published - if I ever reach that stage. :-) Which someday I plan to!
Have fun editing and tell your hubby way to go! I love it when someone can give you the simplest idea, the best idea!
Cole