Wednesday 5 May 2010

WIP Wednesday - Red Pen Massacre

I typed the pretty words The End on Grim Glass Vein at the weekend and came to the conclusion, I'm a liar. It's not the end at all. It's never the end. In fact, I'm back at the beginning and boy this red pen is brutal. I swear, my manuscript is going to pay me back with several hundred paper cuts. Though I have to say...

I'm loving editing it. I'm averaging about a page an hour (seriously agonising over every word, in fact every character in every word), but that should speed up in about 15 pages. When I'm done, I'm going to give it another pass and see how I feel about it.

Gnaws fingernails.

On Sunday/Monday, I worked on the synopsis. I scribbled a few sentences about each paragraph and then whittled them down. I'm letting it stew. At the moment, I'm convinced it's good to go. At the moment, I'm wrong.*

*I don't admit that very often.

16 comments:

Rabid Fox said...

Sounds like you've embraced editing far more lovingly than me. Oh, I'm not above murdering my darlings and all that, but the tedium can set in sometimes after a long day.

Grrr. Maybe I just need a hug. :|

Shadow said...

Good job hon. I know editing is hard. In fact, I have one that I started to work on again, I put it up for almost a year.

Just keep it up. Agonizing over words, is a good thing sometimes.

Let us know if you need help.

Cate Gardner said...

Gef, I'd say I have if I hadn't spent the past hour redesigning my blog.

Thanks, Sarah.

Aaron Polson said...

The redesign is lovely. The first few pages (10% or so) of every one of my manuscripts is full of changes, and then I pick up "steam", so I hear you there.

Fox Lee said...

I'm a blue pen woman, myself. It's soothing, but practical.

Josh Reynolds said...

Editing makes me feel all professional. Not as much fun as writing though.

And I feel you on the synopsis. Blerg.

Corinne said...

Mmm editing. When it's not going well, it's the worst thing ever - but when it works, it feels like magic. Good luck with the rest of it!

Kara McElhinny said...

If you gnaw your fingernails down to stumps you can edit with your blood when the red ink runs out. :D

Good luck with everything Cate! I'm sure it's wonderful and anything you can do to enhance will only help. Your hard work will pay off.

Katey said...

I wish to all the gods ever imagined (and/or real, of course) that I could edit right after writing something. I need to take lessons. From YOU!

Brendan said...

So . . . you're supposed to go back and change stuff?

Might explain a lot!

(Love the new look!)

Danielle Birch said...

The fact that you're loving the editing process has got to be a good thing. For some reason, I like to edit with lead pencils.

Andrea Allison said...

I'm down in that editing foxhole right along with ya, but can't complain.

Cate Gardner said...

Aaron, I hope it will be the same here.

Natalie, I'm normally a green gal but I thought I'd join the herd.

Josh, I feel all accomplished. Another read through will change all that.

Thanks, Corinne

Excellent idea, Hinny. I shall continue chewing.

Katey, never take lessons from me (several thousand manuscripts rejected). Keep doing it Mr King's way.

Brendan, I know. Who'd a thunk it? :D

Danielle. I'm musing the pencil idea now - though mine would be a stub by now.

Andrea, it's pretty here isn't it. :D

India Drummond said...

Congrats on finishing. Editing is honestly my favourite part.. the shaping and refining.

Barry Napier said...

Congrats on THE END!!!

Cate Gardner said...

India, that's what I'm loving. Each prettied-up sentence feels like a step forward.

Cheers, Barry.