The Artist Unleashed: WHY YOUR SELF-PUBLISHED BOOK NEEDS AN EDITOR, by Amie McCracken

That fine line between art and product is difficult to draw, but it’s essential to protect your sanity. It’s not news that artists are highly creative people, typically with a teensy bit of mental instability (it comes with the territory). I mean, doesn’t everyone have a bit of the crazy when our imagination comes into play? When you were a child, those shadows wouldn’t have turned into monsters without your brain being on the fritz. And that’s exactly why when we create something we are inherently attached to it. We love it. We hate it. But overall, it is a piece of us.

In order to get your writing out in the world though, you need to separate yourself from the art and view it as product. Your book is ...


Sorry for the interruption, but The Artist Unleashed posts have moved to a new domain. Please click HERE to read the rest of this post and for the opportunity to comment.

What goes through a literary magazine editor's head when writers don't follow guidelines?

1. FUCK.

2. Again? Seriously?

3. Should I email them and tell them to resubmit, or just delete it?

4. I could just deal with it and send them a reminder for next time ...

5. But then I'd be doing that a hundred times a month, and wasting my time.

6. Christ. Just delete it. It's their problem.

7. Um ... no, maybe that's too mean. Email them politely and ask them to resubmit.

8. But how is this my problem? They should have just read the guidelines. Not. My. Problem.

9. *hit delete button*

10. Feel relief.

11. Realize I've just wasted ten minutes contemplating what to do about a submission I'll never end up reading. Realize that I do it too often because I am only human and that there is another 'only-human' on the other end, and it's easy to make a mistake (or neglect reading guidelines out of laziness). Realize that if I keep this up I will have wasted: 10 minutes multiplied by 50 or so faulty submissions which equals 8.3 hours wasted in total. That's a WHOLE DAY! I promise myself I'll not do this again and will delete without thinking about it.

12. *click*

13. FUCK.

14. Again? Seriously? Is it really so hard?

15. *sigh* I can't just leave them hanging ...

See what your faulty submissions do to me? Please. Just get it right the first time and it will work out better for everyone. You are human. I am human (a kind one). We are all human. Unless of course, you're a dog. Respect what what goes on behind the scenes (a shit-load of work), please.

Next time, just remember, you are emailing a person, not a robot, and guidelines are there for a reason. They're there to ensure everything is done in a time-efficient manner. I want to spend time reading your wonderful work, not wasting time trying to make up for your laziness. If you were in my shoes, I think you would feel this way too.

How many times have you submitted work and not followed the guidelines thinking that it can't hurt?

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Guess what? String Bridge has had a makeover. A new paperback will be out shortly too. I've also decided that, from now on, I will give away the digital version of the soundtrack with every purchase. All you have to do is send me your receipt via this form, and I'll email you a code to download the MP3s. Sound good? I reckon!

The Artist Unleashed: THE TWO-FACED LIFE OF A WRITING EDITOR, by Laurel Garver

The Artist Unleashed posts have moved to a new domain. Please click HERE to read the rest of this post and for the opportunity to comment. Just search for the title of the post in the search bar on the new site.

I'm a professional editor and my fiction is full of typos ... GAH!

When it comes to my own work ... I'm hopeless ... 

Source

I can pull other texts apart to the point of recognizing when an apostrophe is backwards in the fine-print, but I cannot, for the life of me, seem to catch something as bold as a glaringly misspelled word in my own work ...

PS: ... I've also realized that I use way too many ellipsis ... ... ... and way too many italicized words. And they are so annoying to get rid of! :o)

What is it about our own work that makes us blind to imperfection? You think it has anything to do with love? Or could it have something to do with our side and rear view mirrors creating way to many blind spots? Or is it ... just what the beggar says?


What say you?

Words that follow us like little lambs ... Let's flick them off the page! Here's how.

As an editor and a writer, I get nit picky with words that are used too often. And, believe me, I USE THEM TOO, they're common, easy to materialize, and they get the message across without much thought/effort -they do their job. Well, for the first draft, anyway. But, it's a good idea to get into the habit of highlighting them after you complete each scene/chapter, so you can immediately locate them during edits, and change the little buggers to something with more substance.

The words that follow me around like little lambs during the first draft are:
smile
frown
sigh

Now, I know you're going to think it's time for the thesaurus, which, I agree, is a great source to diversify your vocabulary, but ... um ... while we're on that subject, let me interrupt with a few common alternate words for the words I've listed above. I too believe we should use these sparingly. I'll show you how in a minute.
Alternate words are:
smile: grin, laugh, giggle, smirk, guffaw (I love this word)
frown: grimace, pout, sulk
sigh: exhale, breath heavily, groan, murmur

Right ... back on track. What I was planning to say here was, that there are other ways to get these kinds of actions across by describing emotional responses. Let's take a look at some quick examples I'm just going to make up on the spot here. They're not very thought out, but they get my point across:

Example One:
"I got the part!" Jon cried, smiling enthusiastically. (ooh look, I added an adverb to make it even more taboo ;o)
or
"I got the part!" Jon jogged on the spot with impulsive fervor.

Example Two:
"I got the part," Jon frowned.
or
"I got the part." Jon ran his fingers through his hair, put his hands in his pockets and shook his head at his shoes.

Example Three:
"I got the part," Jon sighed with relief.
or
"I got the part." Jon bent forward and let his arms swing, loose like a chimpanzee, before flopping on the couch and switching on the TV.

See how much better a picture we get of how Jon is feeling? I mean, I know, these are rough, but you do get to see how Jon's emotion is significantly clearer in all the 2nd descriptions, right?

So now it's your turn. Choose one of the following and revamp it with a detailed emotional response! Looking forward to see what you come up with! ;o)

Options:
"The cat's dead," Jon smiled.
"The cat's dead," Jon frowned.
"The cat's dead," Jon sighed.

Disappearing Behind My Mushy Brain!

My brain is a bit mushy. But mushy in an awesomely GREAT way. This year, it seems, is going to be my year.

This morning I got word that a short story of mine was accepted into 100 Stories For Queensland. I also had a telephone interview with FirstEditing.com, and I got the job! I'm now officially an independent contractor with them, and will be working approx. 25 hours per week editing fiction manuscripts. I can't believe it. So much better than ELT! Food for thought, and money for food! ;o)

I'm a little stressed out today, but it's okay. I have about 60 pages left to revise on String Bridge, and I'm done. I need to write a new edition of a Writing Skills book for Hellenic American Union before the end of the month, and I have to start doing work for FirstEditing next week. Argh! I'm also writing poetry for that collection I spoke about last week. Too many things going on, but ... I think I'm coping. I am. I'm coping. Because I HAVE to. Come end month, I can relax my shoulders which I think, right this minute are hitched up to my ears as I try to type up this post real fast.

Do you ever have so much on your plate you wonder whether you might just disappear underneath it all? What do you do to relax?

Strangely Satisfied by the Mundane

So I'm back to work today! I was dreading it. But you know what? My brain has strangely relaxed. There's something soothing about not having to think too much - knowing that I can complete an editing task by using skills that I have become comfortable with over the past six years - that I don't need to learn anything new, or create anything new in order to complete the task - all I have to do is tick everything off on my editing checklist by Thursday and wait for the courier to come and pick up the proofs. Easy-peasy lemon squeezy.

Ahhh. Sometimes I forget, that it's fun not to be creative too. It's a nice and much needed break for my brain. Weird, yes, I have to agree. But I can't deny the weight that was lifted from my shoulders, the release of pressure that has built up over Christmas from a certain self-expectation, this morning when I put my head down and started checking off design's corrections on a set of final layout proofs. 

Most of my life I've been craving the opportunity to spend my time 'creating', be it fiction, poetry, or music, that I take every opportunity, every spare moment that comes my way. But I seem to have forgotten what it's like to 'see the end of a task'. When you're being creative, the 'end' is blurry. You don't stop 'creating' until you have created something that you're totally satisfied with, and satisfaction is not something you can add to your agenda. You can't say, "Oh, I'm going to start writing a short story today, and by Friday I'm going to be satisfied with it. Let's mark that on my calendar. Friday. Satisfied. Short story."

So today, immersed in my mundane editing task, I feel relief. Because I can see the end. Thursday. Satisfied. Final proofs.

How about you? Do you ever get pleasure from the mundane? 

Dribz and Drabz, Bitz and Piecez and Reminderz ... Tell me your news and I'll add you to this post!

If you think your manuscript is ready for submission and are considering giving it to a professional editor for a fine-tuning, I am now expanding my Editing Services. Check out what I offer HERE or HERE.

An anthology called School Days, which includes a short story of mine called Knickers With Trucks On Them is now available at Pill Hill Press. It will also be available on Amazon soon.

Don't forget about signing up to win a signed copy of Someone To Blame, by C.S. Lakin. All you have to do is answer the following question in the comments of THIS POST and leave your email address:

How is blame destructive to ourselves and others? And what are some ways we engage in blame and don’t even notice?

C.S. Lakin will read all your comments on my blog and choose the best answer. The winner will be announced next Monday 13th.

Last but not least, don't forget about Shannon McMahon's Anonymous Critique #3! Shuffle on over and join in the fun!!!

Have you got any exciting news? Let me know, give me the appropriate links and I'll add you to this post!!!


Additions:
Hannah Kincade, Summer, Sarah (Falen) are hosting a NaNoWriMo 2010 blogfest in January! Go check out the details!

Elena Solodow has just announced her 100 Words for $100 Blogfest! Wow! $1 per word! Check it out!

Jackee is having a 200th post celebration where for every time someone buys a book for a child (any child) this Christmas, I'll match it with a donation of a school supply kit to a humanitarian aid organization. There are also chances to win books for commenters.

Chris Phillips has a haiku contest on his blog that will end with his 65th follower!

Jamie Gibbs just received a letter saying that he achieved a distinction in his Egyptology Master's Degree :P (woohoo! Congrats, Jamie!)
Deniz Bevan is *this* close to finishing her second draft and only 11 followers away from 100 - she's holding a thank you contest on her blog!

Carolyn Abiad had a small victory this week. On December 5th, the Turkish national newspaper Milliyet's blog recognized my blog for presenting Turkish women in a positive light.

A morning in the life of me: How my man distracts me from nagging ...

ME: Ela, Re! (Come on, Man!) *I crash the dishes about in the sink* You've left your Greek coffee sludge to dry in your cup again. I've been asking you for FIVE years to wash it out. It's disgusting. Every time I wash the dishes I have to stick my hand in what looks like shit infested dishwater.
HIM: *rolls eyes* Well, stop leaving your hair in the sink.
ME: *laughs* I'll stop leaving my hair in the sink when you start emptying your sludge.
HIM: No, I'll start emptying my sludge when you stop leaving your hair in the sink.
ME: Malakies mou les twra, etsi? (You saying crap now, right?) Just because you don't know what it's like to have hair! What would you like me to do, exactly? Scour the bathroom for strands of hair I can barely see?
HIM: *ignores me and goes to his office*
ME: Ok. Fine. From now on I don't wash your coffee cups, and then see how you like it when you run out, and have to wash them yourself.
HIM: Ela tho, re vlaka. (Come here, you cute idiot).
ME: Ti? (What?) *I walk into office*
HIM: Can you tell me if this is correct?
ME: *I totally forget about coffee sludge, sit in his lap, and edit his email out loud*

PS: Thanks to all who entered the Giveaway yesterday! :o) And welcome to all the new faces! I hope you enjoy you time here. If you are new, and haven't commented, please do so that I can follow you right back as some of you haven't made your blogs accessible via your profile pages. If you haven't signed up for the giveaway yet, you can do so HERE.

I've also decided that if any winners of the Amazon gift cards would like to trade it for 'a surprise something Greek', you will be very welcome to! I will update the giveaway post with this info too.

Have a great weekend everyone!

A substantial edit for FREE??? Seriously?

 This lovely lady, Cassandra, who is a literary agent intern is offering a substantial edit to a lucky winner! Do you know how much one of these costs??? TOO much, believe me. I've hired someone to do so before and it broke the bank. So, my guess is you'd probably LOVE to get one for free. To enter, just CLICK HERE!