Whoa...The Edits

Over the weekend if you happened to see a short, red head continuously doing the “raise-the-roof” hand gesture while chirping “Woot! Woot!” it was probably me. You see on Friday I received two exciting emails from Beachwalk Press—a contract for Hijacked, the second book in my Night series and another round of edits for The First Night.

I love the entire publishing process, edits and all.

A couple of months ago when I first signed with Beachwalk, I was certain there would be no problem with someone editing my work. And why would there be? I mean, just as every author does, I poured over each line a minimum of fifteen times adding comas, taking away comas, deleting the extra spaces, taking out the unnecessary, using the most perfect word or phrase at the most appropriate time…the list goes on.

Those who have been there, imagine how my jaw dropped when I opened the first word document full of changes and comments. Don’t get me wrong, I expected some mistakes to be found, just because I’m a first time author doesn’t mean I’m totally clueless…not usually anyway. Needless to say, I was horrified I hadn’t tightened up my story as well as I thought. How could I have missed that stuff? I mean, I’m the type of person, who at a glance, finds errors in office memos and newspaper articles, not to mention published books.

As I read through the comments and made changes as suggested I realized I need someone to read my work and tell me when things don’t make sense or don’t flow on paper as well as they do in my head. I can imagine right now how some of you are asking, “Why would she confess her writing isn’t perfect?” The answer is easy…no one’s writing is, there will always be something that can be changed or added.

Lucky for me and my debut novella, I have Pamela Tyner—word sensei and publisher extraordinaire—editing behind me and making the story I love even better. I can’t wait to see the finished product on December 17^th and believe me, no matter where you are, you will probably hear my screams of pleasure…I mean squeals of delight…cries of exhilaration…um…I will be really excited.

Until next time,

Sidda

Limes and stuff

Hi everyone,

This week I've been clearing out a lot of old stuff, or new and useless stuff, or stuff that doesn't work, when it occurred to me that it doesn't seem to ever end. Every week, I'm cramming the bin or recycling boxes fuller and fuller of more STUFF! Where does it all come from? Seriously, I can be on my own all day writing having emptied the trash just the day before - I'll go to chuck something in the bin and it will simply bounce off the mountain of crap in there already and land on the floor, sometimes with a cheeky little roll to my feet as if to taunt me even more.

I looked at all the stuff that comes in packages and linings and papers with 35 page instructions in every language on this earth and thought - I don't actually OWN that many things - really, the things I do own seem to either spread, magically multiply or just come in a gazillion layers of packaging.

The only thing on my shopping list today is one lime. ONE LIME. To make a lime and grated carrot salad for lunch (you must try this with a little fresh coriander, it is a true elixir of life) - now my challenge to myself is to find this one lime and buy it without acquiring any other unwanted stuff to go along with it. I don't want instructions on how to use this lime in Japanese, I don't wan i shrink wrapped in polythene or even in a protective nylon net. I don't even want a miniature brown paper bag. Do you think I can do this?

What on earth has this got to do with being a Spicy Author, I hear you cry? Well, let me tell you - EVERYTHING! I wrote a synopsis for my new novel yesterday and it was a glorious affair, getting all the plot twists, characters and details in - then I looked at the submission guidelines again and it was only supposed to be one page. One page? But, but, my lovely book will sound so drab and surely I need to point out all the relevant details? I must give as much packaging and stuff as I can to get my point and product across.

So I went back to my synopsis, which I thought was already a tight piece of writing and absolutely, ruthlessly and heartlessly cut half of it out. And do you know what? It was better for it. No frills, no details, no instructions or pointers, just the essential facts and plot. It was the lime.

And that was it.

Now,fingers crossed a lime is all the editor wants!

Thanks for reading and have a fab day!

Tabitha x x x x