I finished my first novel about two years ago. I had a professional editor look at it, cried as I cut away the fat, and trimmed it up to a respectable manuscript. Then, I started vying for literary agents, presenting my lovely novel with my first query letter, then a shiny new improved one whenContinue reading “Going Back to Basics”
Tag Archives: editing
It’s the Final Countdown (Doodle Ooo Doo)
So I have finished my third draft. My beta reader (aka my long suffering older sister) has finally finished it and given me the last few tweaks. After this, I think I’ll have it ready to go. I’m sorta slightly terrified. I’ve been working on this thing for so long that it doesn’t feel real.Continue reading “It’s the Final Countdown (Doodle Ooo Doo)”
How Life Happens and Mucks Up Your To-Do List
It’s the beginning of May now. I had hoped to be finished with my third draft at the end of April. Sadly, that is not the case. I do have to factor in how it was finals week, that I’m officially graduating from grad school (!!!), and that I recently quit my job (!!!). AllContinue reading “How Life Happens and Mucks Up Your To-Do List”
The Query Letter and Not Sounding Like an Egoist
I have officially sent off my manuscript to a professional editor, a creative writing professor and friend of my sister’s (thanks, Cari!). Now that it’s sent, I’m almost not sure what to do with myself. I have three or so other novels that I need to outline, setting up scenes like stills from a cinematicContinue reading “The Query Letter and Not Sounding Like an Egoist”
Cue Hallelujah Chorus and Grab a Box of Wine!
After three months of dragging my feet, weeping at deleted passages, and drowning in grammatical errors, I have finally finished the second draft of my novel. It stands at 98,330 words and it’s one of the most beautiful things I’ve ever seen. You know what this means? I am one step closer to actually beingContinue reading “Cue Hallelujah Chorus and Grab a Box of Wine!”
Of Deadlines and the Undead
I woke up this morning, discovered it was April, and promptly flattened my face into the pillow. Seriously, Time, can’t a girl catch a break? I’ve been rambling forward for weeks now, a zombie only surviving through caffeine and Archer reruns as I balance school and work and editing this 200 page manuscript that reallyContinue reading “Of Deadlines and the Undead”
Overusing Commas and Other Editing Woes
Halfway through the second draft of The Midnight Tide. I tend to be overly lyrical with my description, and run-on sentences are littered throughout my prose. It’s been cathartic to cut them down (though it hurts my soul to do so) because I recognize that it’s easy to get lost among the adverbs and the adjectives andContinue reading “Overusing Commas and Other Editing Woes”
Ren Martinez 