tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7499019835203480699.post1813016737582277177..comments2023-11-02T06:50:41.703-07:00Comments on Fantasy, Futuristic, and Paranormal: Author Edit Thyself!Lorendahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17874101070837077093noreply@blogger.comBlogger13125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7499019835203480699.post-38236814520911816372010-10-29T13:11:49.810-07:002010-10-29T13:11:49.810-07:00Excellent advice Lex. And I'd like to emphasiz...Excellent advice Lex. And I'd like to emphasize to new authors or unpublished writers, that stepping away from your story for at least ten days makes a huge difference. <br /><br />I'd say about 60% of my edits take place after I've taken that break.<br /><br />And beta readers are a must. The more weaknesses they point out the better!<br /><br />EvieEvie Baloshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15834849555160428240noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7499019835203480699.post-49993453325483787702010-10-29T07:19:28.746-07:002010-10-29T07:19:28.746-07:00Hi Lex,
This is the best advice you can give. We ...Hi Lex,<br /><br />This is the best advice you can give. We who have been in the game long enough know that there is nothing like fresh eyes to read our WIP. Both for critting, then for betas reading the finished product.<br />I'm always surprised at the logic loops they find, and many other boo-boos that would be embarrassing to send to a publisher. I can't do without mine.<br />Thanks for the great post.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00296793847863721845noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7499019835203480699.post-87503613325611536542010-10-28T16:54:50.021-07:002010-10-28T16:54:50.021-07:00Love the post, Lex, and it's so true. :)Love the post, Lex, and it's so true. :)Lisa Alexander Griffinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14408188538622550449noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7499019835203480699.post-81271943369265436492010-10-28T13:27:23.497-07:002010-10-28T13:27:23.497-07:00EXCELLENT post! When I send work off to someone to...EXCELLENT post! When I send work off to someone to crit for me, my exact words are "Tell me if this sucks. Hit me with the red ink." It is so easy to overlook things in your own writing. When you've read it for the second, or the fifth time, you're reading the story like it unfolded in your head, not how the fingers put it in the computer. LOL!!!!Mary Winterhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12658885828695226687noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7499019835203480699.post-36732810487773019962010-10-28T13:27:06.301-07:002010-10-28T13:27:06.301-07:00Jan - Making it better is the best frame of mind t...Jan - Making it better is the best frame of mind to have when you write. Sitting on your laurels doesn't work!Lex Valentinehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04913165199017718669noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7499019835203480699.post-86739710604997295722010-10-28T13:05:33.771-07:002010-10-28T13:05:33.771-07:00Very true. I try to avail myself of a diverse cast...Very true. I try to avail myself of a diverse cast of readers. Usually there is at least one published author and sometimes even an editor who might take a look. It all makes the story better.Jan Irvinghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11701536169324333801noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7499019835203480699.post-90957461013246490812010-10-28T10:54:23.866-07:002010-10-28T10:54:23.866-07:00Thanks, Lex. :)Thanks, Lex. :)KarennaChttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09603616679409923446noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7499019835203480699.post-64901652830604172602010-10-28T10:45:23.621-07:002010-10-28T10:45:23.621-07:00Sarah - Thanks! You're such a doll about alway...Sarah - Thanks! You're such a doll about always giving me the comment love! *HUGS*<br /><br />Lynn - I lucked out and got the harshest critters in the world when I first started. Dee Carney is Ms. Tough Love. Mary Winter questions everything. Jennifer Leeland flatly pointed out what editors won't hold with. Carol my fan-reader was uber conscientious about me being true to the nature of the characters and the series. The all hold me accountable and I can never thank them enough. For my M/M stuff Patric Michael, Ethan Day, and Jason Edding keep my men sounding like men. I love them all and seeing marks on a manuscript from them means my work is only going to get better!<br /><br />Karenna - I'm not sure how to find them. They found me mostly. But if I had to find one now, I would look around at the authors whose work seems to be selling well to houses with very good reps. The authors who write posts like this. Check the blog posts at RWA groups and the ones with good advice, check out those authors and ask them if they ever crit or if they know good critters who would take on someone else. It's all about networking really. <br /><br />Jo-Anne - I feel very lucky that right off the bat in this industry I had Jen Leeland at my side and then found Dee Carney and Mary Winter. I couldn't ask for better mentors and I don't think I've put many steps wrong because of their help. When I see someone say that they finally got a contract for a manuscript that's been rejected more than a dozen times, I instantly wonder just what that person has learned and if the publisher that took their book isn't well thought of...then my respect for that writer dips too. Even if you come late to the realization that you need to constantly hone your craft...at least you made it there! That's more than can be said for the people who just keep turning out mediocre books with less than stellar publishers.<br /><br />Julianne - I'm so glad my words resonated with you. I hope they do for others as well. I prefer to see people succeed at something they love to do.Lex Valentinehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04913165199017718669noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7499019835203480699.post-49350216529231727152010-10-28T08:02:13.929-07:002010-10-28T08:02:13.929-07:00Thank you for your timely words of advice! I am at...Thank you for your timely words of advice! I am at that stage in something I'm working on, right now. I'm grateful for all my crit readers and all the work they've done to help me. Polishing a book is definitely harder than writing it. ;)Juli D. Revezzohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13240810668385584589noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7499019835203480699.post-39980777221791741062010-10-28T07:58:51.708-07:002010-10-28T07:58:51.708-07:00Oh how I wished I had seen this post earlier in th...Oh how I wished I had seen this post earlier in the game. I learned the lesson of needing a critique partner/partners late in the game. When I think of the hassle I could have saved *sigh*<br /><br />Self-editing is hard -- but with extra eyes, so much easier! Not only are your weak points highlighted, but so are bad plot points and, in my case, British slang or reference that's lost on an American audience. Oh, how I love my critique partner :)<br /><br />And good point about revising after a rejection.<br /><br />xxx<br />JoJoAnne Kenrickhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15234275353277804224noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7499019835203480699.post-84647978555211221832010-10-28T07:57:58.814-07:002010-10-28T07:57:58.814-07:00Great post, Lex.
I was just talking with one of m...Great post, Lex.<br /><br />I was just talking with one of my editors about this yesterday. I don't have a crit partner or beta reader, because I'm not completely sure how to go about finding them. I've been able to find a beta reader for a single story, but not someone I can ask to check everything I write.<br /><br />Or maybe I'm just too shy to ask...<br /><br />So what advice would you give about how to find a beta reader or crit partner?KarennaChttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09603616679409923446noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7499019835203480699.post-61815056248725041162010-10-28T07:52:47.235-07:002010-10-28T07:52:47.235-07:00Fantastic post. It's soooo true. I can't t...Fantastic post. It's soooo true. I can't thank my crit partners enough for the hours they've spent reading my stuff. <br /><br />They read it when it was junk and helped make it shiny. Yeah, sometimes thing sting when I read them...but it's only because I'm so close to the project. 99% of the time they are right in what they've pointed out. <br /><br />So I edit. And the story is stronger. <br /><br />Great post.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7499019835203480699.post-82002080714138288442010-10-28T07:27:02.529-07:002010-10-28T07:27:02.529-07:00Very informative blog about self-editing, Lex. Wi...Very informative blog about self-editing, Lex. Wishing you all the best.<br />SarahSarah J. McNealhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17749991094677728042noreply@blogger.com