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Monday, January 20, 2014

A Good Editor

I've just finished reading another one of Rachelle Gardner's interesting and very informative blogs entitled ' Trust Me, You Need a Good Editor', and as always, her blog pulls me in,  gets me to thinking. But as much as her blogs make me think, they also make me ask questions, all of which I need answers. I read blogs from editors, and blog comments from writers to editors. Which editors are true to editing, and which are not so good. I have finished my novel A String of Pearls, and I am looking for a good editor. After reading Rachelle's blog as well as the comments left by some really interesting bloggers', and writers', I must tell you it was all very informative, however it left me with fears I could do without, but hey, sometimes fear's a good thing.
There are as many editors out there, as there are probably writers, and I am not sure which is the best fit for me. As a writer...we pull up bio's on editors, we research them, and even read comments about them...word for word. But every writer's needs is different: money being the giant elephant in the room, especially when your not sure the editor your choosing will deliver on the promise. And whose to say that the editor chosen that began your edit, will still be the right fit as the edit of the story continues. Seems to me, after reading some of the comments by many writer's of which the editor at some point begins to look at their work through their own eyes and not the writer's. I believe that to be true as I at one point had that same experience. It was just a sample edit, but the editor truly didn't get my character, meaning this particular character was from the south; she spoke with broken English, or slang, of which the editor didn't like, or maybe had felt she could have been better understood. Maybe. But to me...understanding a character and changing who they are, is totally different.
 Don't get me wrong... I do believe that every writer should invest in a good edit. Me for one. But here's the question: who, which one? And the most important question of the day: Are they truly qualified to fit my style? Do they get me at all?

Thanks for reading...

Wednesday, January 8, 2014

Social Media

I don't know about you, but this new wave of interacting through so many different types of social media's has got my head out in the deep ends of muddy waters. It seems that every time I read a blog or surf the web, there pops another one (LinkedIn, Digg, Reddit, StumbleUpon, Pinterest etc, the list just keeps right on growing. It's not enough we have to deal with email and Facebook. Now don't get me wrong, I am a strong believer of being in the know, and utilizing resources, but some of this media stuff is just too mad. I won't lie and say that I don't enjoy my Twitter, Facebook and Pinterest, and love chatting with other writers and readers, but...all of this social media is a bit much, don't you think? And trying to learn how to use them... brother...  However, on a more positive note...as an author, I know how important social media is to book promotion . I will uphold my dignity and not allow my female emotional side to take over, promise. So whether you use social media for a business of promotion to increase sales of some great product, or just want to get that great novel into the hands of some avid reader... there's a social media out there just for you, and me...    ;)


BYE FOR NOW, AND HAPPY READING...

Friday, January 3, 2014

A New Year

Hey guys! Hope you've all had a wonderful 2013, and brought in the new year with the people you love. As always, there's ups and downs. But that's life, right? Hope you've all took some time to reflect back on all you've done whether the decision was a good one or not. None of us are perfect. But this is 2014, and as crazy as that is to write out, it's a reality. We have a whole 363 days left to make some changes, do something new, transform or blossom into that swan or butterfly, or whichever one of God's creations we choose. Notice that word 'CHOOSE'. That's right...it's our choice to make. And maybe we won't make the greatest choice, but at least we can say we make a choice. Standing still is not an option. So, please, make the choice to get up, get out and do something you've been thinking of doing, planed to do, or did, and failed at before. Remember, failure is only failure if you fall, and regret it. Nothings wrong with falling down, just don't stay down. Learn from it and try it again. Don't let 2014 slip by without at least learning something from the fall. Sometimes life can drop a bomb so hard down on us, it rattles our entire existence, but we must move on. It's a new year...it's a new beginning,...it's a new chance...it's a new you.