Its all about the edits…
Every great story needs a great editor to bring it to life. I don’t care how many books someone releases, a lot of eyes are needed before a bookbaby should be released to the world.
A story may be good—even great—but it needs a fresh set of eyes. Always.
Since 2022, I have worked with bunch of editors. Some that rush through it, making obvious grammar changes changes only. Ones who probably just used “Grammarly,” which missed so many issues. Then there is the one who made me want to quit because he ripped my short story to threads. And how about the one who made rethink about the ick-vibe I was putting out, which turned out to be for the best.
Each time I toss a book to an editor, I don’t just accept the changes. I learn from them. Hopefully, it makes me a better writer for those pesky first and second drafts.
As a pantser (a writer who doesn’t outline their story), my first drafts suck. Many times, I might go a completely different way in the second draft.
I don’t know what process I like more: the first drafts, where you think of ideas OR the creative second draft, where most of the heart and soul comes from.
A lot of times, I want to be done with a story and hand off a rough first draft to someone and have them “FIX” it. Other times, I would rather focus on fixing a finished product.
That was how Love in the Shadows came to be. GA Rea was the first drafter, getting out the ideas like word vomit. It didn’t matter if it was good, we just needed a storyline Then chapter would land on my lap and I was build from it, manifest new plots from holes. Then she would take the changes and work the next new chapter from where I went with her ideas.
Either way, an editor is needed.
This is where I am in with Thorns of Yesterday. I’m on the hunt (and in talks) with a new editor. I’m close to finalizing the creative second draft and hope to have it finished within the next few weeks.
DO YOU WANT TO KNOW WHICH EDITOR MADE WE RETHINK THE ICK-FACTOR IN A BOOK?
Yup… Mastering the Art of Female Cookery had content cut due to the ick-factor, and we are not talking about the cannibalism. Go figure…
Maybe one day, I’ll tell you which editor had me seriously questioning my ability to write and if I should continue publishing. Until then, please consider upgrading your subscription to paid (if you haven’t yet). Your support of creative and potentially-banned content is greatly appreciated.