Thursday, October 15, 2009

THE FAT LADY IS SINGING

Isn't that what "they" say? It's not over til the Fat Lady Sings? Well, I'm tellin ya, it's over! I finished my latest WIP this afternoon. I have been working on that sucker since April. There were days when I had to super glue myself to the seat! Editing and re-writing are not what I enjoy doing. Now I'm going to go over the entire manuscript again, polish it, make sure I spelled the heroine's name correctly consistently, and pray that the publisher is STILL interested in my work. When people pick up a book to read it, they have no idea how much time you have actually put into that little work of art. Someone said to me one day, "I think I could write a book, it looks easy." Well, she was right. It is easy to write! What's not easy, at least for me is re-writing. There were days when I came into the office, I felt like someone was sticking bamboo shoots under my finger nails. Yes, it was torture. Now, that I am able to sit back and read through what I have re-written, I'm happy that I've spent the past six months working on it. Now, the waiting begins. However, no vacation for me, I've already started the next book. This is the fun part though, writing. Which is your favorite part? I read a blog the other day where the writer shared her favorite thing to do is editing. Maybe I should call her, she can do the editing for me, and I'll do the writing for her. I'm not sure that would work.

6 comments:

Carol J. Garvin said...

Oh, yay for endings! Doesn't it feel wonderful to finally say it's done? Congratulations!! I'm one of those people who don't mind revisions and edits, although the joy is definitely in the initial writing. The hardest part for me is knowing when to stop tinkering.

It's funny how people think writing a book is easy... that all you do is keep putting the words down until the story is told. They have no concept of what makes a good book, although I guess a few do have a natural storytelling ability and seem to get it right the first time through. Must be nice!

Enjoy the freedom to work on your next book as you await a decision on the finished one. I wish you much success with it.

Kathryn Neff Perry, PhD, MA, LMHC said...

Thanks so much Carol. I know what you mean, when do you stop "fixing" it? I copied it to a disk and now am reading it all the way through AGAIN. Let me see, is this the 500th time I've read it? Or does it just feel like that?
Thanks for your kind comments and support
Hugs
Katt

David Ebright said...

Congatulations Katt. Don't ya love that "it looks easy" stuff. Sure it is - piece of cake, hardly any work at all. Good to have the 3rd underway. Having 2 projects going keeps each fresh when you get bogged down.

Do you do all your editing on discs? I print everything & keep a couple of thumb drives loaded with the latest revisions.

I kept my draft copy of my 1st & a few "revisions" to compare the intial effort with the final product. Haven't done that with the new book & I'm kinda kickin' myself.

Uh, by the way, page 73 - you have a spelling error. Just a minor fix.

Kathryn Neff Perry, PhD, MA, LMHC said...

Dave, I used to work on edits, from a disk, back and forth between my lap top and desk top. My hubby likes for me to sit with him while he watches golf, football, basketball or whatever. So I take my laptop with me when I'm editing.
Yes, I always have to laugh to myself when people say to me,"if you can write a book I can do it too." I never doubt that they can do it, but it's a LOT more work than "they" realize. Only those of us who have done it realize it's a little more than putting a few words on paper, or a hard drive- lol--whatever the case.

Jodie said...

You go, girl! I am not a fan of revising either. Love to write, hate revising after the first go-through.

Joylene Nowell Butler said...

Yay, Katt! Congratulations. I know what an accomplishment writing is & I'm thrilled for you. Break a leg!