It’s Fall? What happened to June?

Oct 31, 2010

It’s Fall? What happened to June?

This month has gone… where? I’m not at all certain! My brain is stuck somewhere last May. By the time I start paying attention, it’ll be January. Someone owes me a summer!

As I said last week, I’m gearing up for NaNoWriMo. I’m not feeling 100% confident, but I’m going to give it a go. After I made a “holy crap I’m not sure I can do this” tweet this weekend, Jamie DeBree reminded me that giving up before one starts is for losers. (Although she was much nicer about it than that.) And she’s right! Better to give it a go and end up with 1/2 a finished book than to give in to hand-waving-freak-outery before the starting pistol sounds. One day at a time.

All in all, October has been a good month. My novel Ordinary Angels has moved from the content editor (a total of 4 rounds there) to the line editor. So progress is being made behind the scenes. And here I’d thought it was reasonably polished before it went to the editors. What I’ve learned about working with my editor is that it’s important to have someone to point out the places where you, as the author, have said, “Hmm, it’s not perfect, but it’s good — or at least good enough.” The most important thing to look for in an editor is someone who won’t let you get away with that attitude! (Or at least it has been in my case.)

I’ve also done a couple of editing projects (for others) this month, and luckily for me, both were novels that I very much enjoyed. As geeky as it sounds, I really love searching through text for the odd comma mistake or grammatical weirdness (we all do it) and analysing manuscripts makes me all happy and warm. I think I also enjoy feeling like I can make a difference before the book is published. I have done book reviews in the past, but it always seemed a bit futile and perhaps even mean-spirited to point out mistakes or plot-inconsistencies at that point. But an unpublished manuscript is a bundle of potential, and that’s exciting.

On that note, by the way, I have posted a couple more testimonials on my fiction editing page. It still feels strange to have a section devoted to “Let’s talk about how awesome India is,” but at the same time, I’m thrilled that people are finding my editing process helpful enough to offer such kind comments.

It’s not to late too sign up for NaNo. In fact, within the past week I’ve talked my dad into joining! (I have a very creative family.) This will be his first novel, but he’s outlining and gearing up, going to local meet-ups and getting straight into the spirit of the thing.

So, Happy Halloween, everyone! May your day be full of treats! (But not too many, because that will make you sick. — Trust me, I know. Last year we only got one little tricker, leaving us with a bowl full of fun-sized candy to polish off. Naturally, I did my part.)

Are you dressing up? Or are you spending this more as All NaNo’s Eve rather than All Hallow’s Eve?

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7 Comments

  1. Theresa Milstein
    31 October 2010

    Happy Halloween!

    Good luck with NaNoWriMo. I hope you have a prolific month.

    If you get a chance before you begin, I’m hosting a Halloween Haunting until tomorrow on my blog “Substitute Teacher’s Saga”. You can enter to win a prize.

  2. AlexJ
    31 October 2010

    I haven’t dressed up in years.
    And the only way to fail is to fail to begin. Just go for it!

    [ Follow me on Twitter: ]

  3. Old Kitty
    31 October 2010

    GOOD LUCK with Nano and fabulous that you got your dad to sign up too!! Yes you are a very creative family!! Amazing!!!

    And yay for your book going up the editing heirarchy now!!! Hoozah!!!!

    Take care
    x

  4. Estrella Azul
    1 November 2010

    Break a leg (or should that be finger?) on NaNo, think it’s great that your dad is also joining :)

    And I also often feel like June was left somewhere hanging and still hasn’t quite gotten around my calendar… :)

    [ Follow me on Twitter: ]

  5. Clarissa Draper
    2 November 2010

    Well, I hope NaNo goes well for you. I’m looking forward to it even though I know I’m going to be super busy.

    CD

  6. Girl Fren'
    2 November 2010

    Ok, then, I’ll tell you: Summer “summer-ed” in Oklahoma this year. At times, hotter ‘n the gates of Hell, but loads of unseasonal rain that left my beloved prarie lush. But then, YOU on the other hand, live in Paradise, so no more complaints. Even Winters are superb there!

    BTW, you’ll get a kick out of this: I heard your Dad refer to this writing binge as “NaNo-NaNo” — wasn’t that a sound Robin Williams used to make in “Mork and Mindy”?

    @Estrella: “…break a finger…” FUNNY!

    Good luck to you all. If I could figure out how to tell the story I want to tell, I’d join you, as well.

    And, YES, I dressed for Halloween. I went out naked, took a fistful of Magic Markers and invited people to play connect the dots with my freckles.

    Happy November, !ndia, and NaNo-NaNo to all.

    [ Follow me on Twitter: ]

  7. Glynis Smy
    4 November 2010

    I’m a bit late here. For some reason I couldn’t keep connected on your link. All sorted now.

    It was my birthday Halloween. Good fun.

    As for you and NaNoWriMo…I know because I’m your buddy there, that you are off to a great start! Congratulations!
    Happy Scribbling.