Getting Through the Editing Process

 As writers, we're often either blind to our own flaws, or they mask themselves so cleverly within the pages of our manuscripts that only fresh eyes can find them. 

Try it for yourself.  Tuck your "brilliant" novel away in a drawer for four months and then pull it out and tell me it's still brilliant, because I can guarantee you that your whole perception of it will have changed.  Once snappy dialogue will seem bland; your originally bulletproof plot will now have more holes in it than a slice of Swiss cheese, leading to the consumption of an entire bottle of wine and a feeling of utter inadequacy.  This is why we edit.  We edit to polish, to fill in the gaping holes, and to make our readers experience the "wow" factor that our novels are intended to elicit.  But how do we get through this arduous process without wanting to slit our wrists? Well, we all have our own preferred techniques, but the six that I've personally found the most helpful are as follows:

1. Think of it as turning the mediocre into a work of art.  This is something I keep having to repeat to myself.  As much as we hate to think that what we write is anything but spectacular, the fact is, that's not always the case.  This is why we edit.  We edit, edit, and edit some more.  We add commas where they are lacking, quotation marks that were forgotten, and more "showing" where there was once only "telling".  We remove paragraphs that are unnecessary, words that do nothing to add to the story, and dialogue that's more weighty than uplifting.  Truly, the editing process allows you to add that extra dash of paint to the canvas, turning your work from humdrum to astounding.

2.  When in doubt, simplify. Too many times, we as writers tend to make the uncomplicated an enigma by adding mud to crystal clear water.  We want everything we write to be poetic while failing to realize that true poetry isn't forced.  So, it's no surprise that when editing time rolls around and we re-read the "masterpiece" that we swore we wrote, it sounds more elementary than Frost.  This is when frustration kicks in making us wonder what exactly it was we were drinking when we wrote our first draft.  But instead of doing what we can to make it better, we either scrap it completely or complicate it even further.  Simplicity is key. Instead of trying to be elegant or mistakenly believing that throwing random commas on the page will make your mess more organized, keep it short and sweet.  Your point can be powerfully conveyed in just five words, but completely lost with twenty.  Besides, editing 100,000 words is a hell of a lot easier than 200,000.

3.  Break out the vodka.  This only applies to those who aren't pregnant and of age, of course.  I'm one of those people who tends to push themselves until something is done.  If I don't accomplish what I've set out to do (whether it be writing, running an errand, or just taking a shower that day) in the time period I've allotted for it, I feel as though I've completely wasted my time.  As a writer, it's good to set goals for yourself, but just because you've set those goals doesn't mean they can't be subject to change or modification.  If you keep pushing yourself to meet unreal expectations, instead of meeting them, you'll find yourself on a one-way ticket to burn-out city before you know it.  Trust me, I've been there and it's not pretty.  I liken it to being on a cruise ship in the middle of a hurricane.  Take time to unwind. If you can't figure out where your plot went wrong or what one of your characters should say to lighten the mood, don't beat yourself over the head.  Instead, remove yourself from your work for a little bit. Take a walk, take a nap, take a chill pill.  Just don't let the editing process consume you until you begin to loathe it entirely.

4.  Read the works of others.  If you're like me, you learn by example.  There are times that I find myself stuck on sentence structure.  I know how I want to word something, but it just seems awkward.  Reading the works of other authors, especially those who write in a similar style as you, will help you with your structure conundrum, thus pulling you out of an editing funk.  Plus, it's always a good idea to take a break and read in order to clear your mind and make it fresh for another round of editing.

5.  Have a good bitching session then get on with it.   Let's face it, the vast majority of writers hate editing.  It's tedious, time consuming, soul-sucking, and it brings our faults as writers to light.  However, with that said, it's a necessary part of being a writer and, unless you have your own personal editorial staff, it's unavoidable.  The good news is you're not alone.  Right now (and at any given time), there are thousands of writers going through the same process as you are who are pulling out similar fistfuls of hair while starring blankly at their computer screens.  The beauty of this is that these same writers are most likely online on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, or any one of the gazillions of social media sites out there.  Reach out to them.  Have a good bitching session, as chances are, you'll find that you have a lot in common with other writers, and it's always good to have someone in your corner in your time of need.

6.  Remind yourself that dreams are worth chasing.  There is a reason why you chose to write.  Whether it be in pursuit of becoming the next bestselling author, because there's a story brewing in your head that you feel needs to be shared, or because it helps you maintain a healthy level of sanity, we all write for one reason or another.  We all have dreams and the best dreams are those you have to work to attain.  There isn't anyone, shy of a celebrity, who's had their dreams handed to them.  They had to work for them.  And it takes hard work, dedication, and hardcore patience to get where you want in life.  Just think of editing as a stepping stone towards publication or fuel for the rocket ship that is poised to blast you and your novel into orbit. 

I'd like to hear from you guys and gals now.  How do you get through the tedious editing process?  Are you one of those rare anomalies who actually likes the process? 

My next post, assuming I don't go into labor in the next week or two, will focus on the great genre dilemma for writers.

Have a great week!

Why Social Networks are Important for Writers

Image Source:  howtofindfriends.wordpress.com

When I first began writing I naively believed that all it entailed was for one to write a book, send it off to the agent/publishing company of their choosing, and then reap the rewards of sweet publication. After all, how many millions of other books are there out there on the shelves already? Of course, with experience comes wisdom and with rejection comes the harsh reality: I may never be published...at least, not by conventional methods. Thankfully, we live in a time where new authors have many more options available to them. Their voices can be heard and the works they believe in are no longer silenced by a simple form rejection letter. As a writer, I feel blessed to be alive during this time and shudder to think about all those other aspiring novelists born decades ago who never had the opportunity to be heard in a society hampered by the limited technology available at the time. Who did we miss out on reading? What epic story was never told? We truly live in a time of limitless opportunity.

In the forefront of this technological boom social networking sites emerged. Like many, when I first heard of social networking sites, I immediately thought of their less productive uses: chatting with friends, playing games, catching up on gossip, venting frustrations, looking at cute photographs of babies, and listening to others brag about their lives. I didn't understand their instrumental and flat-out necessary role in launching a new author's career nor did I get why having your own blog was essential. My how a lot has changed. The truth is, in order to be a successful writer, you must also possess an ability to market yourself. This is especially true if you're self-published. Since most of us budding authors don't have a Trump-sized bank account, the best medium for us to get our names out there consists of the use of the universally accessible and affordable world of social networking.  Not surprisingly, this is not the only reason why social networking sites such as Facebook, Twitter, Blogger, Tumblr, and MySpace are useful. Every day, writers are finding more and more uses for these forms of technology. I've outlined some of the more popular uses below:

Networking--I'm one of those people who believes that everything they do needs to have some level of productivity attached to it whether minuscule or not (anal, I know).  So, when I joined Twitter I decided  I would make my account solely to network with other writers, authors, publishing companies, agents, and whomever else was associated with creating/marketing the written word.  Networking is one of the most valuable tools there is for anyone looking to promote themselves or get their name out there. It can open doors for you or point you in the direction you need to take to get you where you want to go with your work.  Through networking, I've met individuals from publishing companies who've invited me to send in my novel, beta readers to assist with editing, resources to submit short stories for publication, contact information for agents, and many, many other wonderful writers.  I've connected with people who've I've come to consider friends and of whom I know will be there to lift my spirits or knock me back down to reality when I really need it.  Get out there.  Network. Follow those people with similar interests as you and talk to them.  You'll be surprised at how close you may become with them or what vital doors may open up for you through their advice.

Maintain a Healthy Level of Sanity--Let's face it, there are times where you need to remove yourself from sinking plot lines you just can't salvage, dialogues that don't seem to be going anywhere, or from starring at a blank screen after a serious bout of writer's block rears its ugly head. This is a good time to connect with those writers you've been networking with to share your innermost insecurities (as they most likely share similar ones as well), gather advice, or just not talk about writing at all.  Losing yourself in the social aspects of social networking sites is sometimes just as good as therapy in that any mental break at all from something that's causing you strife tends to recharge your inner battery allowing you to find clarity and insight where it didn't seem to exist before.  It's also always good to know that you aren't alone and that there are other individuals out there who share the same insecurties as you do.  In a way, this often has the ability to help you regain you own confidence so you can tackle your own obstacles head-on.

Getting your work out there--Before the advent of social networking sites and the Internet in general, if a writer wanted to get their work read, they were at the complete mercy of the publishing companies.  If their work was rejected, it wasn't heard outside of the writer's own social circle.  It was as though an invisible gag was being placed over their mouths, silencing all their hard work.  Today, be it a short story, epic novel, or a couple of mindless sentences, a writer has the ability to reach hundreds of thousands of people through a click of a mouse.  For those who lack confidence in their writing this can prove to be quite a booster as well as a learning experience from the feedback of those who read your works.  Writing was meant to be shared and with social networking that's now more of a possibility than ever before.

Promoting yourself--Unless your last name's "Kardashian" you probably have no idea how in god's green earth to promote yourself and/or your work.  You're a writer not a marketing entrepreneur after all.  Well, it's time to wake up and smell the reality show because there's more to writing than just actually writing (as any writer who's experienced instant recognition of which they were totally unprepared for will tell you).  For those of us who aren't lucky enough to have an agent, publicist or army of people assisting us with our every step, there's the wonderful world of social networking.  Social networking sites have made everyone from Justin Bieber to Amanda Hocking household names.  Aside from counterproductive gossiping machines, they're also useful tools to get your name out there to the world and to showcase your talent.  Think of them as free advertising to a wide variety of prospective readers and those who's attention may benefit you in future projects.  In order for your voice to be heard, people have to first know that it even exists.  Make them aware of it by promoting both yourself and your work.  Just return the favor for those who help you spread the word.

Learning/Improving yourself--Sharing your work naturally welcomes feedback.  Feedback is like manna from heaven for writers.  It brings all of your strengths and weaknesses to light (and trust me, there are plenty of writers/readers out there who are just aching to give you their opinions in that regard).  Social networking sites connect you with both your biggest critics and your most devoted fans.  They can humble you while also serving to inflate your ego.  By gaining these different perspectives, your abilities will grow and your eyes may open to crucial errors that you may have otherwised missed. 

Aside from sharing your own work, these sites also allow you to read the writings of other aspiring authors.  Reading the works of others is extremely beneficial as, like fingerprints and personalities, everyone has their own unique writing style and ways in which they tell their story.  Studying how others write can teach you a lot about your own style serving as a form of research tool  for you to hone your craft (not to mention it's just plain fun to read the work of others).

Ideas--I've learned quite a bit about how to market myself and my writing (as well as how not to) along with how to set up my blog as well as a plethora of other useful information about the industry through social networks.  Seeing how successful authors market themselves and interact with others in this profession has been incredibly helpful and the knowledge I've gained will greatly come in handy when the time comes for me to start marketing my own book.  Whether your publishing through conventional methods or self-publishing, there's always something that can be gained through others on social networking sites.  Look at the profiles of other authors; read their blogs; follow them on Twitter.  Go straight to the horses mouth for all the questions brewing in your mind as opposed to turning to Google for all the answers.

What are some other useful ways you've discovered to use social networking sites?

As promised, I'm ready to announce my first ever giveaway winner! I've been promising a giveaway since I was at a mere ten followers (or so it seems) as a way to bribe/plead with y'all to join my blog and it seems as though it worked!  By utilizing a purely scientific, highly mathematical equation (a/k/a pulling a name out of a hat), I'm happy to announce that the winner of a $10.00 Barnes & Noble gift card is Erin!  Congratulations, Erin!  I'll be in contact with you soon!

Thank you again to all of my followers.  Without you I'd just be talking to myself.  Since this one was so much fun, I'll announce another giveaway when I approach 200 followers!

How I Find Time to Write With a Hectic Schedule

Alas, like most aspiring authors, it's required of me to hold a day job to pay those pesky bills.  Fortunately, I've been lucky enough to work with an amazing group of people as a paralegal at a law firm that I'm exceptionally proud of. < Insert witty lawyer joke here>  For me--and I'm sure the same is true with most people--my job doesn't end after I put my forty plus hours in a week.  When I get home, I instantly have to put on so many hats that I feel like I'm literally turning into a mad hatter.  From mother to wife to dry cleaner to housekeeper to accountant to plumber to groundskeeper to chef to ninja (okay, maybe I'm exaggerating slightly on the ninja role in a futile attempt to feel cool), I always feel as though I'm too busy to keep my head on straight let alone write.  So how does one balance such precious little time during the day between their jobs, family and dreams? Well, I'm glad you asked because, if the title hasn't already tipped you off, it's the subject of today's blog--hey, even I'm prone to my slow moments, just look at my Tweets sometime.

The following ideas include techniques I've actually used myself to feed my creative need in between the chaos and hustle and bustle of life.  Others are those that came to me while composing this blog: 

1.  Take notes:  Most of the time, for me anyway, the best ideas arise at the most inopportune of moments (while on the phone with clients, typing letters, driving home, fighting crime, etc.).  In order to accommodate for these sudden sparks of genius (or so I like to think) I've made it a habit of carrying around a writing utensil and something said utensil can be used to write on. For instance, in my proudest moment, I've made use of a tube of lipstick and a utility bill--I wouldn't recommend this.

While I'm at work, I have a year supply of post-it notes at my disposal of which I use to write down sudden ideas that pop into my head to use when I can actually devote time to writing,  When busy at home, I've been known to use the nearest random piece of paper (including my daughter's coloring book pages, napkins, "to do" lists, and, if I'm lucky, a discarded piece of notebook paper). Fortunately, I've been lucky enough not to have to resort to the toilet paper...yet. 

The point is, when you find yourself consumed with absolutely no time to sit down to hammer out an idea, make use of those items available near you (traditional paper, post-its, children's building blocks or smoke signals) to jot down your thought nuggets for further use and exploration later.

2.  Carry a recorder: Most of the attorneys at my firm have recorders ready to roll at a moments notice--Lord knows my boss makes use of his.  Recorders are convenient if you have a sudden idea that you want to rattle off right away.  Doing this saves time as, unless you're the Speedy Gonzales of the keyboard, most of us speak faster than we are able to write. Use your recorder to record random thoughts, plot epiphanies, dialogue, or even complete pages of material.  They're handy, cheap, and can be used darn near anywhere (although I would recommend avoiding the bathroom).

3.  Use your head:  If you absolutely cannot find something to write on, try to find creative ways to remember those ideas you're coming up with.  For me, music is a huge inspiration for my writing.  A few of the "scenes" in my first manuscript were inspired by various pieces of music. Perhaps there's a poem that has helped inspire a story for you, a location, a memory or a certain person.  Equate your ideas with something that is familiar to you.  It will help you retain them until you can actually write them down.

4.  Bring your laptop with you-While writing Enigma Black, I would, on my lunch hour, whip out my handy dandy netbook (oh God that sounded a little too Blues Clusey) and use my one hour of sanctity to crank out sentences, paragraphs and pages.  That's one good thing about netbooks, the little buggers are tiny and very easily portable. If you don't own a laptop but have access to a computer where you work, use a word (or whatever) program to write and then e-mail what you've written to yourself.  Use any break or opportunity you can get to write.  You'll be surprised by how much you'll be able to accomplish if you do.


5.  While the kids are out cold-I used to cherish nap times for more reasons than just the sudden silence that came with them.  I'm big on being productive and capitalizing on opportunities when they arise. Therefore, nap times and Dora times were like Christmas in my house.  Now, getting my daughter to take a nap is like trying to fight a lion with dental floss and I have to make use of random five minute blocks of time when she's occupying herself (and I literally mean five minutes as, if she's quiet for longer than that, I know I'm in for a mess to clean up).


6.   Become nocturnal:  Not surprisingly, I do most of my writing pretty late at night and I drag ass the next morning because of it. Usually,  I'm unable to begin writing hardcore until after 9 or 10 at night.  Most of the time, I'm writing until around midnight or one in the morning.  Thus, I will apologize in advance for my blog posts.  As writers, we need to adapt even if that means burning the midnight oil or writing at the butt crack of dawn--if, of course, it doesn't have any negative impacts on your family or employment.

Okay writers, I gave you mine, now you give me yours.  What are some ways you manage to fit writing in under a hectic schedule?

My next blog will focus on those books that had the biggest impact on my childhood.

Advice I've Encountered Along the Way

Throughout my career as an aspiring author--thank God for day jobs--I've amassed a wealth of advice from speaking with other writers, reading, or through my own personal experiences that I wish I would have known right off the bat. Granted, this advice is something I could have come across with simple research or chatting with others floating in my same boat, but I was but a mere newb with no idea what I was getting myself into.  For those of you considering a career in writing, I hope the following tips are of some help to you.  For those of you who already have a career in writing, I ask that you leave a little slice of advice of your own.

My Less Than Expert Advice

1.  Stringent goals are a buzzkill-Goals are a wonderful thing; they are, perhaps, why you began writing in the first place.  Setting stringent goals with your writing, on the other hand, is like slitting your own throat.  Too often, I've read statements by authors along the lines of, "I'm going to write 1500 words today," or "I'll quit writing for the day after I finish two chapters".   A part of me dies inside every time I read statements such as those (maybe that's what I've been smelling).  There's no sure fire way to either give yourself writer's block or to provoke poor writing than forcing yourself to adhere to unreasonable expectations.  Writing is meant to be enjoyable, empowering even.  If you must force yourself to do it, it's rendered meaningless.  Not only will this affect your demeanor, but the quality of the writing you're forcing down your throat as well.  Rushed, forced writing will read just that:  rushed and forced.

2.  Discouragement is a dirty word-We've all had our low points where we've thought to ourselves maybe this isn't for me after all.  Why else do you think writing has one of the highest incidences of depression than any other profession?  Of course, it does nothing for our mental states when we see the works of Snooki or The Situation being snatched up by publishing companies while ours remain in the slush or, worse, rejection piles.  Dear readers, the only thing standing between you and your dreams is yourself.  By allowing discouragement to eat you alive, you're allowing yourself to negate all the hard work it took to get to where you are. 

3.  Remember why you write-Whether it be as a form of therapy, to share a story with the world, to support a cause, or just to pass the time, we all have a reason why we expend exorbitant amounts of time plugging away at the keys beneath our fingers.  The day you allow yourself to lose sight of that reason is the day you should shelve the laptop until you find it again.

4.  Rushing only makes things take longer-I'm going to leave the obvious joke alone here as this is a family post.  Tell me, when you rush to complete something, can you honestly say you've done your best work?  I didn't think so.  Don't rush to complete a sentence; don't rush to complete a chapter and, by all means, don't rush to complete a novel.  If you decide to rush through a novel just because you're obsessed with seeing it on bookstore shelves, you desperately need to slow your roll, take a deep breath, and allow someone to bitch smack you back into reality.  Believe me, you'll be grateful they did.


5. Read and Write-I've always regarded this as one of those "duh" tips that should be a given, but I digress.  You're only as good as the authors you read, so choose wisely and read often.  You'll be amazed by what you can pick up by studying the writing styles of others.  When I first started writing, I began to pick up on things I never paid even the slightest bit of attention to before (sentence structure, punctuation, grammar, characterization etc.).  Once you've read, sit down and write for as little or as long as you feel compelled to do so.  Even if all you do is write a sentence, you're still working on perfecting the skills necessary to succeed later.

6.  Develop a thick skin-Critiques are crucial for any author and aid in making your story the absolute best it can be.  Sometimes, the truth hurts.  Most of the time the errors comprising the truth can be fixed.  Remove your personal feelings from the critique. Listen to your novice proofreaders and editors for they are your future audience.

7.  Set your work down-For two weeks, two months, or even longer, let the draft of your manuscript lay dormant without so much as a glance in its direction. --It's at this point in the post where those among the "rushers" are completely freaking out at the thought of this premise.--No matter how many times you go over your own manuscript, there will always be errors that you just don't catch.  It's imperative that you be able to look over your work with new eyes (no, putting in contacts does not constitute new eyes).  You'll be amazed by the little things you'll be able to catch (as well as the sheer amount of them) after you've put your manuscript away for an extended period of time.  If you don't believe me, try it for yourself.

8.  Two words for the price of one-Keeping your story flowing is crucial in writing.  Eliminating unnecesary words will do wonders for your flow.  One way to exterminate the little buggers is to look for instances where the meaning of two words can be summed up using just one.

For example:  Instead of using "to allow for" use "enable".  Same meaning, fewer words used to convey it.

9.  Save editing for later-Your first draft is for showcasing your creativity; your second draft is for beating the hell out of it.

10.  Read your work aloud-Somehow, verbally hearing the words you've penned provides more clarity than just "hearing" them in your mind.  There's probably some scientific logic behind this of which one can Google  (I sense a future blog topic).

11.   Keep a something to write on and with on you at all times-Ideas--great, earth-shattering ideas--can creep up on you when you least expect it.  I can't tell you how many times I've had a breakthrough and told myself that I'd write it down as soon as I got home only to find myself home two hours later with my hand in a Pringles can and my eyes glued to the television.  That idea I had two hours earlier?  It's long gone; a distant memory I only wish I could recall.

12.  Get emotional-If you're passionate about your writing, it will translate over to your readers. Dig down deep to that gut wrenching day when your first love broke your heart, you lost your beloved pet; the day you found out Snooki had written a book or that Paris Hilton was recording another album and let that agony run rampant on the page.

13.  Write what you want to, not what you think you need to-This is a topic I've beaten like a dead horse (see my blog post "What Covers Your Literary Bones?" posted on April 12, 2011). Write what's in your heart not what is trendy or marketable.

14.  Be open ot ideas-Just because you have a good idea in your head now, doesn't mean you shouldn't leave room for an even better one to take its place.  Adapt.  If you find that your story isn't gelling, revamp it.