done!

Have just sent this gorgeous guy to my editor!

Okay, so I'm not that nice, but I did send the revisions for The Blonde Bombshell to my editor and this picture was attached.

Just in case she needs any extra inducement to fall in love with my Gabe.  Not that I think she will.  but it can't hurt, right?

Off to celebrate with some True Blood!

pillow talk :: revisions :: it's all about character

CHARACTER

So romance writing is all about character, so if you're going to get revision suggestions there's a high likelihood it will be about character.

My heroine Paige feels set.  I understood her from early on the process.  The hero took longer for me to pin down, as he's a true strong silent type.  And it showed, hence the majority of the changes I need to make to strengthen the story revolving around the hero.

Things most often needing strengthening in revisions are:  conflict  - what's keeping your hero and heroine apart.  Motivation - what do they want most, what would they have to give up in order to love be with one another.  Believability of action and reaction.  Likeability.  Do you care enough about her to want her to get her man?  Is he strong enough, gorgeous enough, sexy enough etc etc etc.?

Secondary characters - these guys a big deal for me.  Something I do, and I hope, do well.  But they can't overshadow the main story.

So expect your character to be a big part of any revision suggestions you might have.

And okay, this subject is an excuse for you to meet the hero of my current WIP.  Meet Gabe Hamilton.  Strong enough?  Gorgeous enough?  Sexy enough?  Oooohhh yeeeeah...

For a more in depth analysis of the manuscript revising process, I'm heading up a workshop at the Romance Writers of Australia conference on the Gold Coast this August entitled REVISIONS: REWRITING, EDITING, PROOF-READING...OH MY!  Conference details at the RWA website

pillow talk :: revisions :: protect your voice

PROTECT YOUR VOICE

When revision suggestions come in from an editor or agent, that's what they are - suggestions.  All the both of you want is to make the book as good as it can be.

Working with a great editor is like brainstorming, throwing ideas at the book to see what'll stick.  I've had some editorial suggestions that have been like a slap across the back of the head.  A total "Duh! Why didn't I think of that!"  Others ideas that have set the creative juices flowing until a comparable alternative has been found.  So long as the inherent problems are addressed that's the main thing.  However you get there doesn't matter, so long as you get there.  And if you can do so in a way that feels like you, that makes it feel still completely your story, then all the better.

Taking a step back, before you even send your manuscript in, if there's something odd, unusual, left of centre that comes out in your writing, and you love it, don't assume your editor won't too.

THE BLONDE BOMBSHELL is known to me as the one about the wicked lift, the flamingo, and the missing bed.  There are movie references galore.  And the POV of a most unexpected character.  Until the final proof edits (the last chance an author has to make any final tiny changes, check typos etc.) I can't be sure they'll all get to stay, but so far so good!  Which gives this writer a buzz, a love of the book, and a big grin as I jump into my revisions some more.

The next part of this Pillow Talk series in revisions will be about character. 

For a more in depth analysis of the manuscript revising process, I'm heading up a workshop at the Romance Writers of Australia conference on the Gold Coast this August entitled REVISIONS: REWRITING, EDITING, PROOF-READING...OH MY!  Conference details at the RWA website here.

pillow talk :: revisions :: what to do first

WHAT TO DO FIRST

First thing I do is highlight the revision suggestions in my editor's letter to find the core problems.

Sometimes there are little things, early line-edits.  Aussie terms that are gibberish to overseas readers.  Sentences that were half deleted in my final edit.  Through lines that went nowhere.  I take care of those first.  Sometimes revisions might seem so daunting you don't know where best to start.  Starting with the small stuff helps get me on a roll.

Next up I go through my manuscript, and add headings and brief notes as to where I might need to ramp up information, to add a scene, to change the POV, to edit down, and why.  I’m a big believer in different coloured fonts and highlights so that I can see in a glance whether the issue is sexual tension, conflict, background, too much information.

Next I expand on those ideas as inspiration takes me, figuring out how I might go about this. I do all this in red at the beginning of the scenes, so that I'm not messing with what's already there until I'm sure.  You can use "track changes" here, but it does my head in ;).

Next up in this Pillow Talk series I'm going to talk about  the bits I loved that I was sure wouldn't stay...and did, and why its worth trusting your voice.
 

For a more in depth analysis of the manuscript revising process, I'm heading up a workshop at the Romance Writers of Australia conference on the Gold Coast this August entitled REVISIONS: REWRITING, EDITING, PROOF-READING...OH MY!  Conference details at the RWA website here.

pillow talk :: revisions :: what mine are

REVISION SUGGESTIONS

Revisions from my editor for my latest book have arrived, and as a lead up to the workshop on revisions I am fronting at this year’s Romance Writers of Australia conference on the Gold Coast, I thought I’d talk you through my process.

This book is known to me and you as THE BLONDE BOMBSHELL (referred to by my editor as “PAIGE & GABE”, which is a good hint the title won’t stick ;)).  My editor loves the story calling it a "contemporary, sparky and a fun, sexy, entertaining read" which I'll take any day of the week!  She loved my heroine, not a thing to touch there, thought the hero "oozes raw and masculine sexiness" and the heroine's side-story with her best friend is perfect.  Yay!  Because I loved that too.

The three things that  I've been told need a little work are:

1.      Developing the hero’s character and conflicts

I don’t have a beta reader of any description.  No critique group or partner.  My editor is the first one who sees the thing after me.  And by the time I’ve spent months grappling with a story, it can be hard to see the forest for the trees.  I know his issues, I know his pain, but have I put it on the page with enough subtlety so as to herald problems without hitting readers over the head with it, or has my hand been too sleight?  The latter as it turns out ;).

2.      Developing the resolution turning point to maximize emotional potential.

I’m never hard enough on my characters.  Never.  I like them or I wouldn’t write about them!  So even while I know that the more they have to overcome to be together, the richer the pay-off at the end, I always seem to hold back.  Until my editor gives me a nudge, which always somehow feels like permission to tear their hearts out!  Poor loves.

3.      It’s too long. 

Again no surprise there!  I always write long.  Just the way I go about it.  This book came in at 72,000 words done.  I managed to edit it down to 57,000 before sending it in.  The final word count ought to be between 50-55,000.

So that's the gist of this current set of revisions.  To the writers among you, do you think those suggestions might apply to your work in progress? 

Next in this Pillow Talk series I'll talk about where I go from here.

 For a more in depth analysis of the manuscript revising process, I'm heading up a workshop at the Romance Writers of Australia conference on the Gold Coast this August entitled REVISIONS: REWRITING, EDITING, PROOF-READING...OH MY!  Conference details at the RWA website here.

the blonde bombshell has been launched

Always a great relief when a book is finished.  And sent to my editor.  An no longer "I'm so close I can smell it" which this one felt like it was for weeks.

This one was great fun to write.  There's a rogue lift, a flamingo motif, and wedding dress that just doesn't know its place.  I want to live in the heroine's apartment and as for the hero, well, a picture says a thousand words and all that so...

Fingers crossed my editor likes it too!