E is for Editing

I mentioned yesterday that I have a problem editing while I write. This may partly be because I love editing. I am trying to get a job editing fiction and wjoes work better to practice en on than my own?

I am trying hard to break out of this habit though. Editing belongs after I get a finished draft down. If I dont wait until then, I would never finish a manuscript. My many unfinished works on my laptop os a testamemt to this.

None the less, editing is important. A writer should have a good relationship with their editor because they are going to be working together for months polishing the work to the best it can be.

Do you have problems with editing?

D is for Drafts

Every author goes trough multiple drafts of anything they write. Personally I am doing a first draft that no one will see then a second draft that I will start sharing with my writing group. Based in their feedback, I will work on my third and fourth drafts.

The first draft is the hardest for me, because I want to get all of my ideas out at once an make everything perfect. I am trying to break myself out of the habit of constantly editing, but it is hard going. I think if I can keep up not editing I will be able to finish my first draft of my romance by June. By December I want to be on at least my third draft.

Are there any special processes or habits you have when you write your drafts?

C is for Characters

Characters are one of the most important aspects of a book. Just like great actors can carry an okay film, I believe amazing characters can make a reader forget about a cliché plot. On the other side of things, even an amazing story won't save a book from characters that the reader can't connect to or don't like.

Personally I like having all of my main characters to have aspects in them that I would admire. Jessica in my romance is headstrong and stubborn, if not a bit naive and Mina in my fantasy is strong and goes after what she wants, even though she as quick to judge.

Characters are too important for a book to not put a lot of thought into.

Do you think characters are very important? What makes them that way?

B is for Blogging

B was a really hard letter for me. It isn't that I had a hard time thinking of a work, but there were too many interesting words to explore: bildungsroman, biographies, blog tours, the list goes on and on. But I eventually settled on blogging.

I started blogging two months ago now and though not everyone I know understands why I blog, I enjoy it so much. Having started blogging, I have come into contact with some amazing authors and bloggers. It also lets me explore topics that interest me and start conversations about them with other people.

What is your favorite part of the blogging world?

A is for Agent

Many people feel having an agent is an important step in getting a publishing deal. Sure there are plenty of successful authors without agents, but in order to submit to many publishers, you have to do it through an agent.

Personally I want to have an agent there to help figure out which publishers to send to and negotiate a better contract for me. It could be a little difficult for me to find someone, because I would prefer to use only one agent for everything. I'm not sure how many agents would be willing to represent both romance and YA/NA. Those are very different categories. But I will search high and low when the time comes.

From what I understand many people who originally worked in editing migrate over to agenting and vice versa. I have considered doing this later in my career. The role of an agent seems to be an interesting one, but I am sure not everyone is suited to become one.