Thursday, September 10, 2009

Editing Brain

You know you've been editing too much when your editor emails you a question about the book and, without meaning to, you answer in the voice of your narrator.

And your editor notices.

Oh, did I mention I finished my edits? Yeah. Of course, I've probably set a bad precedent, considering I had four weeks and I took eight days. Hopefully they don't start giving me two week deadlines in the hope that I finish in a single day...

Now if you'll excuse me, I'm going to go nap for a week or so. Who wants to watch my kids?

25 comments:

Lisa said...

I do not know how you get stuff done so quickly. Wow. Majorly impressed!

Rachel said...

I love how you're always bounding full of energy when you work on and talk about your writing. It's so inspiring! And it's so amazing how fast you work.

Hooray for naps (if the kiddos allow them)!

Erin said...

I once read aloud to my husband in French without realizing I was speaking French and not English. Is that sort of the same thing?

Megs said...

Oooh, me me me me me! I love those little rascals!

Then again, a nap sounds wonderful right now. Good luck with that!;)

Kiersten White said...

Lisa--I don't sleep enough and my apartment is messy.

Rachel and Megs--Sadly, I'm absolutely positive I won't get a nap any time soon.

Erin--Exactly the same thing!

Nick said...

She's obviously got a collaborative agreement setup with laptop and dishwasher. I don't see any other possible way to get things done so fast, except maybe cybernetics. But that could include laptop and dishwasher, too.

Novice Writer Anonymous said...

Wow, that is amazing. I bow to your prowess at editing. So do you do one last look through from here for typos then send it off or is your baby on its way to your editor's inbox as we type?

Congrats on getting your edits done!

Erin, I did that once in beginning French. It was a weird day. Of course, I couldn't do much in French being only a beginner at the language, but it still made me think that maybe some things were starting to click.

Kiersten White said...

Nick--You've discovered my secret. And the reason why I always have so many dirty dishes lying around. The dishwasher is busy doing other things.

NWA--I actually already did one last read through. I made all of Erica's requested changes, along with a couple of my own tweaks, and then I re-read the entire thing to make sure nothing slipped by me : ) Erica already has it.

Marsha Sigman said...

When the lines of reality blur between your life and your story...you gotta know your doing something right.

Or your losing it.

I am dying to read it!!!

Jessie Oliveros said...

Did Michelle do revisions with you on your books before sending them to publishing houses? Or maybe they were already nearly perfect.

Renee Collins said...

Speedy as usual. :) Congrats for finishing! Must be an exciting feeling.

Dominique said...

Congrats, girl. you've got mad skills.

Kiersten White said...

Marsha--I'm totally losing it. Dominique is right on when she says *mad* skills.

Jessie--I don't know about perfect, but Michelle isn't really an editing agent. Which I like. She did have me trim a few scenes in Flash, but she didn't have me do anything to Para. The way she puts it, if she has enough detachment from the narrative to be picking out things that need to be changed, she doesn't love it enough to represent it.

Renee--Thanks!!

Nadine said...

LOL - I love these posts! How funny that your editor noticed!

Congrats on finishing your edits!!

Jeannie Campbell, LMFT said...

that's great about the editing! it's such a good feeling to be done.

and when you find someone to watch the kiddos...send me their name/digits.

jeannie
The Character Therapist

Tamara Hart Heiner said...

Most of the writers I've talked to do the same thing. We can't help it. We get info back on how to make it better and we just hop to it.

Andrea Cremer said...

Wheeeee! I just sent in my edits too :) I'm toasting you!!

JaneyV said...

Are you human?

Rick Daley said...

Most writers inject their own personas into their characters but you took a decidedly different approach.

c.n.stephens said...

Would you please lay out the exact step-by-step process of writing/editing/thinking while your children are awake/alive/in your custody?

Because I really don't get it.

Lora said...

Wow! You must have a terrificly strong sense of your narrative. Go, Kiersten!!!


Lora
litdiva.blogspot.com

CMOM Productions said...

You mean things like that aren't normal?

Whirlochre said...

If you can pull this one off without the need for costumes, it's a lifesaver.

I hate all that dressing up whenever the phone rings.

Shelli said...

congrads on edits - mine are due next week :)

Tara said...

I love that you answered in your character's voice. Congrats on the accomplishment.