Book Reviews and Writing Tips

Book Reviews and Writing Tips

Wednesday, January 29, 2014

Still Editing and Rewriting

Yes, these are my new glasses.  I guess I'm officially old now.

I’m organizing, packing, doing house repairs during the day-- rewriting, and editing at night.  I’ve finally reached the halfway mark of this mystery book.  I only have about 250 pages left to go (double-spaced).  However, this book is excessively long.  After I reach the end, I need to see how I can cut some words, even though I’m doing it as I go.  We’ll see how brutal I can be.  I’m determined to have this thing done up to that point, at least, within the next two weeks.  Therefore, there’s no TV for me, limited internet time too, so I can focus on this until I’m ready to drop into bed at night.

Thank goodness they make DVR’s, so I can record and watch later.

That’s about the extent of my life right now.

Friday, January 24, 2014

The Numbers Don’t Look Good for Authors

Clip Art

How many of you saw the article in Galley Cat, from 22 January, about the amount of money authors make?  This article talks about traditionally published as well as self-published authors.  The numbers, after interviewing both types of authors, show a small percentage of writers actually make a living writing, so we better love what we do, or not give up the day job, if we’re lucky enough to have one.

To read the full article, click on Galley Cat.

Saturday, January 11, 2014

Sometimes I wonder if editing will ever end

Free Clip Art


I know many of us feel that way at times.  I’m still working on my mystery book that I finished writing a year ago.  I’m doing corrections and rewriting in places.  Generally, the result is adding more in the way of word count for me and not taking away word count.  I think I talk too much in general and this carries over into my writing.  So I’m trying to be careful about going through and removing redundant material and “garbage” words.  However, I’m not removing all of them if it sounds better to leave them in.  I’m hoping it doesn’t take me another year to get this book finished.  There are times I have to remind myself not to get frustrated.  Meanwhile, the next book in this series is sitting in my WIP folder, as I’ve already written the majority of it during the NaNo in November.

As some of you know, I’m trying to sell stuff, pack, and get the house ready to sell, etc at the same time.  This task is really cutting into my writing time, as well as looking for a place to move from here, so I’ve been lax about posting as often as I should.  Eventually, I’ll get back on a regular schedule again.

Happy writing everyone and lots of success in 2014