revision

“The End” is just the beginning…

There’s always a surge of excitement when I type “the end” on a manuscript. It’s a feeling of completion, plus pride in the ability to finish what I started. Those two little words mean a lot, because stick-to-it-iveness is a big factor in a writer’s success. So if you’re an aspiring writer who’s finished the […]

The Heart of the Story

somehow, my Wonder Woman editor always gets sraight to the heart of a story.

The Toddler Test

Now that I have a basic outline for my new book worked out, it’s time to apply the Toddler Test.

Dante’s Tenth Circle

Dante’s Hell should have a tenth circle where the damned are forced to edit a single manuscript for all eternity.

Time Passages

One of the hardest things about writing a novel is keeping track of time. Not just keeping track of the time you spend lost in your imaginary world–although that’s a problem too. When you’re in the zone, a day passes in a blink. No, it’s the time passing in your novel that’s hard to keep […]

Ten Simple Rules

November is always a busy month. There’s Thanksgiving and Christmas preparations to get done, and the bookstore is always busy. Now I’ve gone and tossed another task into the mix: I have revisions due on my second book on November 30th, and corrections to Cowboy Trouble are due by November 25th. That’s what I get for always […]

Don’t Fear the Editor

Agents and editors are looking for talented writers who can deal with pressure. A lot of pressure

The Hard Part

I finished my revisions. I finished them a day early. I should be excited, happy, proudright? I’ve gone through my editor’s checklist, and I’ve addressed every issue, and addressed them well. I reread the whole thing today, and I was actually impressed with what I’ve accomplished. I thought the book was the best it could […]

Ch-ch-ch-ch-Changes

I can’t imagine writing without a computer. In fact, I’m not sure I’d be a writer if some genius hadn’t invented the word processor. Being able to cut and paste and move things around is essential to the way I work. For better or for worse, I live and die by Microsoft Word. But the […]