Publishing Step 2: Edit. Read. Edit some more.

Okay I should have got to this earlier, but I'm here now.


Is your book written?


If not you should go back to my first post.


http://vernonsverses.blogspot.com/2016/01/publishing-step-1-write-damn-book.html


If it is, CONGRATS!


Now what?


Now it's time for you to edit.


First there is self-editing.


BUT HOW DO I DO THAT?


First. Set it down.


I know, easier said than done when it wont get out of your head, but do it.


Okay, I know you didn't.


Now it's time to read over it again. See if there are any scenes that are dragging, any typos, etc.


Now that you think you have a masterpiece it's time to find a critique partner.


What's that and what do you need it?


A critique partner is someone who you work with to trade manuscripts with and critique. Give each other notes (constructive criticism). It's better to use a critique partner because you become a better writer when you read and you have someone who is also a writer to read your work.


How do you find a critique partner?


There are many online organizations and other places, but first I'd figure out what you're writing?


Romance?


Then Romance Writers of America may be a great place to start. They have a ton of local chapters and online ones.


You can also just google "writers groups in my area". To start, meeting other writers might be best then you can find out who you vibe with and sometimes it's good to know that there are people like you who aren't just behind a computer.


There are also great conferences you can go to as a newer writer with workshops. RWA, RT, UTOPYACON, are all great resources.


Now that you have the critique partner you two can trade manuscripts. Remember that it's nothing personal. They're there to build you up, not tear you down. It may take a few different critique partners, but eventually you'll find your mesh.


Up next.  Trad or Indie? The choice is yours.

When you have to outweigh your critique partners

It's no secret that not only do I have critique partners, but one of my best friends is a technical editor.  Both my critique partners and my editor friend have read my manuscript and given me notes on how to improve on it.

But here's another little secret--sometimes I don't listen to their suggestions

*runs before Kelsey Ketch beats her with a pirate sword*

No, but seriously you all must think I'm crazy so I should explain myself...and since I like lists way too much I'm going to explain it in list format.

1.)  Not only do I use critique partners and editors, but I also did research with experts for this project.  I have no idea how to fly a plan or how one would fly it during combat.  So I actually found an airplane mechanic and pilot and asked him exactly what I would need to do to fly a fighter plane and shoot weapons.  (If this book is ever published, you'll see that it's really accurate.)

2.)  I guess it's time to come clean and admit that even though I'm afraid of aliens, I'm also kind of a science fiction geek.  I've watched way too many science fiction television shows and read way too many comic books and really want to honor all of the world building that this genre has created.

3.)  Sometimes I take their suggestions and then flow them in a completely different direction.  When you're critiquing someone else's manuscript sometimes you make small suggestions or ask questions, not expecting your partner to run with them and change whole chapters.  Sometimes your critique partner will do just that and then you read the second draft and think...the heck?

4.)  In the end, it is my story.  They may make suggestions that are great (Um, yeah let me tell you these girls like their weapons), but in the end it's the story that I'm trying to get across and I have to be true to that.

So...yes this is short and not all that awe inspiring, but I've really been rocking and rolling on revisions, so I may even give you a little sneak peak of HOW TO DATE AN ALIEN next week...maybe...MAYBE if you're lucky.  Or I'll just make something up and then what would you do about it?

Do you go against your critique partner's suggestions?  Do you look for experts for your WIP?

Writerly Wednesday

Today, for my Writerly Wednesday, I just wanted to share how I randomly found some of my new favorite writing buddies and how the Social Media world definitely helped out with that.  If you look at my sidebar you will see a few authors and writers.  Some of them you may have heard of and some you may be confused about, so I've included the links to their sites and hope you check them out too!




Beth Revis - Ms. Revis do you even know how I found you?  It was August and Mockingjay was coming out and I really wanted it.  Someone had retweeted a contest that Beth was having to win a Mockingjay book and pin.  I entered and starting following her blog because of it.  Slowly I became wrapped up in Beth's world of Across The Universe and couldn't be happier to have someone to talk alien with!

Elana Johnson - Querytracker.net is a wonderful thing, isn't it?  Elana had done an early critique on one of my old queries on one of the forums, so of course I had to find out who she was!  After discovering that she was an agented author, I found her on the many differant social networking sites and immediatley became hooked when I found out about Possession!  Now she regularly gives me a reason to check out her blog in the morning and defined the word "Fangirl crush."

Jill Scribbles - This one is actually a really funny story...or atleast I think it is.  I was complaining about back pain with pregnancy and Jill @'ed me on Twitter and started talking to me about the Snoogle.  So after talking on Twitter I decided to check out her Twitter, blog, and was immediatley hooked by SLIDE.  It just goes to show you how Twitter mentions can really spark something!

Kelsey Ketch- When I started querying for MY PAPER HEART, I used Querytracker.net to keep tract of all the agents that I was querying.  I soon realized that Kelsey and I were querying alot of the same agents.  Finally I saw Kelsey's story come across the "Success Stories" page.  I was so excited for her and after reading her story was even more inspired.  I interviewed her for Fangirl Friday and ever since then we can't stop talking about things like pirates, aliens, and all things writing!
Kienna Riley - Kienna/Leta is my real life critique partner.  We are both involved in our local chapter of RWA and after talking to another member about looking for a critique partner, she sent me in Leta's direction.  I was one of the first people to read UP ON A ROOFTOP and am so excited to see her published December 23rd!
Kiersten White -  Funny story...I have no idea how I found Kiersten, I just know that once I found her blog I was hooked!  Finding her blog took me all the way up to the Chicago suburbs to meet her in person and to get an autographed book!  That book has since been borrowed to my mother-in-law who is already asking about the sequel!

Lynsey Newton- Lynsey was actually one of my first blog followers back when I had no idea what I was doing!  Since then she's beta read both MY PAPER HEART and HOW TO DATE AN ALIEN (I know you're jealous, right?)  She keeps me updated on all things from the other side of the pond and puts up with my whining...it's a win-win situation.
Steph Sinkhorn - My husband pointed out that my friend's names tend to have alliteration and I like it!  Steph was part of one of my first writng groups and opened my eyes to the world of blogging and Tweeting.  Without her The Punching Bag wouldn't be here!

Nicole- Another critique partner!  Nicole was another early blog follower and reader of MY PAPER HEART.  I also got a first read of her work MORAL COMPASS, and I'm hoping to see that one get snagged up by an agent soon.  It reminds me of a little big of I AM NUMBER FOUR and a little bit of HUNGER GAMES, so I hope that excites all of you even more!

Stacey Kade- I guess I saved the best for last?  I actually discovered Stacey when I was querying agents in June and saw the cover of THE GHOST AND THE GOTH on her agent's website.  The title intrigued me, so I read the book not expecting much, but I can tell you that Stacey has a YA voice that definitely rocked me!  After that I contacted her for a blog interview and ever since then she's helped me out with all things science fiction (even helping to give Ace his name!)

I hope you check out some of these writers and find your own way to meet some great writers along your journey!

WIP Wednesday

The Second draft of HOW TO DATE AN ALIEN is DONE.

YEAHHHHHHHH!

I said that I would edit throughout the month of November and do a bit of a “Nanoremo” and I did it!

But that doesn’t mean I’m going to go out and query now…

(note:  One should NEVER go out and query before they are absolutely sure that their novel is ready and have another pair of eyes go over it).

So what do I do now that this draft is done?  Do I sit back and relax?

HECK NO.

I send of this draft to my trusted critique partners (they’ll see the things that I miss or that I think is awesome, but really isn’t), and then I’ll implement their feedback.

TRUST ME, critique partners are something every writer should have.  You may think you just wrote the next New York Times Bestseller (which I’m sure you did), but that critique partner is there to just help you tweak those things you may have missed on your masterpiece (misspellings anyone?)

I learned a few lessons in picking my critique partners (You can actually view them on my handy side bar) and am here to share what I have learned about critiquing and beta reading.

1.)     Be open.  If they tell you that there was something that could be fixed, don’t cry about it.  Take it with an open mind and see the broader picture.  *Maybe* it’s not wise to name your main characters Bella and Edward…just saying.

2.)    Make sure that you both read and write similar genres.  Do you think it’s wise for you to critique someone’s work if you dislike Dystopian and they wrote a Dystopian novel or vice versa?  Sometimes those critique partners who write different genres are good for the tightening portions, but even I’ll admit that I’d have a hard time critiquing something historical, since that’s not what I read.

3.)    Keep an open line of contact with your critique partner.  Maybe you each just share a chapter at a time and then discuss it over skype, or maybe you send the whole manuscript and then talk about it over coffee.  Either way, this is a journey that your critique partner wants to share with you!  If they didn’t then they wouldn’t be your critique partner!

4.)    Be honest, but don’t be mean.  Sure you think their story about zombie alien cowboys fighting for the love of human sorority girls is a really stupid concept, but don’t tell your critique partner that.  Give your critique partner the good and the bad.  You can say, “Hey this concept may not be my thing, but you do a really nice job of storytelling, especially the last stand at the Gamma Phi house.”  (note…no this is not what my alien manuscript is about, don’t get excited).

5.)    Take critiques with a grain of salt…and maybe a shot of something.  These aren’t personal.  Yes, your book is your baby, but just because someone didn’t like parts of your story, don’t take it as that being a critique against YOU.  Your critique partner just wants to help you, so take a step back and really look at your critique partner’s notes.  It may hurt that she doesn’t like the character of Bella the alien princesses disguised as a sorority girl, but that doesn’t mean that she doesn’t like you or can’t give you tips to improve your character!

So now what to do that my Betas and critique partners have my manuscript?  Well I’m flexing my knuckles and getting ready to return the favor of course!

              

Teaser Tuesday

So...for this addition of Teaser Tuesday I am doing something a bit differant.  As you know, I'm writing an alien novel.  Well I've written three differant beginnings.  My husband likes one and I'm teetering on the other two.  So for this Teaser Tuesday I need your help!  I'm going to post the first page of my three differant beginnings (I've only really only wrote about 5 pages for each) and you all vote for one!  Let the helping start!  (Anotherh note:  These are all first drafts and have not been checked for grammar, spelling, or punctuation.)

Option #1 (they are in order of when I wrote them as well)

The first day of summer vacation should always be spent sleeping in NOT waking up at the butt crack of dawn to get to the airport. Unfortunately that's exactly what I am doing. While other seventeen year olds are curled up in their beds and dreaming of burning all of their textbooks I am shoved into the backseat of my mom's Geo, which smells like fast food and cigarettes.



"I still don't understand why I have to sit in the back or why Brian even has to come with." I mumbled crossing my arms across my chest.


"You know I get car sick." My annoying half brother screeched in his annoying overly nasally voice. "And I have sweet grades, so mom doesn't have to send me to Mexico to work."


Okay I wasn't going to Mexico, but it might as well have been. New Mexico, why is it even called that anyways? I had only been there one other time to visit my dad and there really wasn't anything new about it.


Since I was a soon to be high school senior with mediocre grades and my only extra ciricular activities being blogging and World of Warcraft, well that didn't exactly look the best on college applications. So, basically, my dad hooked me up with an internship at the air force base that he works at to sort of pad my college applications, or to punish me for spending more time in the cyber world than the real world, either way, I was not happy.

Option #2

Some girls have all the luck and some girls are stuck spending their summer in the middle of the desert. I'm definitely the latter of the two.



As I sit in the Roswell international airport I can't help but wonder why I agreed to this arrangement.


A summer internship with the Air Force aeronautical claims division. Doesn't that just sound riveting?


"But think how good it will look on your college applications!" My mom gushed.


Her husband, or the man droid with a bad toupee, didn't even look up from his blackberry to respond to her. He was probably happy to get rid of me for the whole summer. All he ever did was complain about how much time I spent on the computer, which I think he was just jealous that I have more blog followers than he does, and build model race cars. I don't know how my mom could stand him.


"I have enough to put on college applications." I sighed swirling her pathetic attempt of spaghetti noodles with my fork.


"Yeah I don't think your sappy blog posts count as something to put on a college application." My half brother, Jordan, snorted, pushing up his glasses as he did so. I swear, for only being twelve he's half way to being the most know it all person in the world and probably tied for person being allergic to the most household objects.

Option #3

If you would have told me, at the beginning of that summer, that I would come face to face with death all because of a Romeo and Juliet romance, I would have never believed you. Especially since that summer started out with so much heartache.



“Your mom told me about Vassar.”


I watched as the Phoenix Sky Harbor airport started to fade away in the background. The blazing heat waves made it look like it was literally melting into the sand.


"Being waitlisted isn't so bad. I mean it's not like they rejected you." My dad glanced sideways at me. Something had changed in him since I saw him last. Okay so it had been seven years since I'd seen him, but somehow he looked different like he had been waged in a difficult war, one that still haunted him, but barely lived to tell the tale.


"Saying that you liked my haircut or even asking what I've been up to may have been a better intro." I scoffed, watching the cactus disappear in the rearview mirror instead of meeting his gaze.


He sighed, rubbing the bridge of his nose. "I'm just trying to let you know that I'm here for you, Sofie."


I wanted to laugh, but instead I did what every good teenager does, put in my earbuds and zoned him out. I had no idea how far it would be till we got to my dad's air force base, but I didn't want to be stuck telling him my entire life story before we even got there.


"You know, Sofie, this internship is one of the best in the country. Once Vassar sees it you're sure to be off the waitlist and first in line to pick out your dorm." My dad yelled, trying to drown out my music with his thick Boston accent.

MY FIRST CONTEST, TWEET FEST

And the moment you've all been waiting for...MY FIRST CONTEST...

I didn't know what to call it, so we shall call it "Tweet Fest."

First the rules:

You must be following me on Twitter. 
I would LOVE if you were following this blog as well, but I know that alot of people are over at Wordpress or Live Journal and don't want to switch, SO.  If you are following this blog your name will be entered twice.

I'm not exactlly up to 100 followers yet, but this contest will run from June 20th and end on July 20th at 12:00 am central standard time, so hopefully I should have 100 followers by then!  If somehow I reach 100 followers PLUS 50 blog followers I will add a fourth prize.

Here are the prizes.

1.)  Epic Award winner Laurie Larsen's book "The Chronicles of Casey V" autographed, plus if you are a writer she will give you a first chapter critique!
2.)  Autographed copy of "Through The Garden Gates" a collection of four short romance stories and autographed by Carrie Lofty.
3.)  Glee Season 1, Volume 1, the music

A fourth prize will be announced if and when I get 100 followers on Twitter and 50 blog followers.

How am I going to pick the winners?  The old fashion way...I put your names in a basket and my husband draws them out!

How do you enter?  Well I can't figure out how to do that whole creative thing where you enter your information on the blog and it goes into some MAGICAL place, so instead I'm going to count it by advertising this post on your Twitter feed.  All you have to do is give a shout out to my contest on Twitter, make sure to @mrsmaganvee, and that's IT. 

Spread the word!