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3 chapters, 49 pages, 3 days (give or take)

  • Jul. 16th, 2008 at 11:38 PM
Scruffy
I'm keeping pace with my schedule of edits, and I'm really proud of the tightening I did to the most recent chapter. I think I managed to cut about 8 pages out of it, total.

I'm not sure if I'm most proud of that fact, or the fact that I did most of the cutting while watching "So You Think You Can Dance" with Lizzie tonight. I'm ashamed to admit that I'm hooked on a reality show, but this one is pretty fun (I predict Gev and Kherington get voted off tomorrow, as Comfort bought herself another week or two before getting the boot).

I think I like the show because I know almost nothing about the art of dance, and I enjoy learning from the judges (especially Nigel). And the immediate feedback is really cool -- Lizzie and I try to do commentaries during the dances and the compare notes with Nigel and Mary (the screaming lady) and the guest judge each time.

And hey, it's the only TV show I watch. The only time the TV's on, it's set to Noggin or we're watching a movie!

So it's on to chapter 22 tomorrow.

In other, related news, the nifty Enter the Octopus blog has a picture of an actual ARC from my upcoming book -- go to Matt's blog and check out the Gathering of Doorways ARC-y goodness. Thanks for the photo -- wish I'd get MY copies... ;)

In other, other related writing news, I came across this interesting review of my previous novel, The Wannoshay Cycle. It was nowhere near as snarky as my review from Kirkus, but it does hit home on some problems I'd worried about with the book. That's why it's a first novel, folks. Got to get those chops up to speed. Two negative reviews still don't compare to the dozen or so good reviews the book got, and anyway, I still wouldn't change anything about the book.

That's it for tonight, folks. Trying to get to bed before midnight for the first time all week... Later!

Comments

[info]potthead wrote:
Jul. 17th, 2008 03:54 am (UTC)
Eep! The Gathering of Doorways ARC looks so shiny! Literally, yeah, but, er, figuratively, too? I can't wait until I can order a copy, too!

And bravo on being nearly finished with the revisions. Keep going--you can do it! :D
[info]michaeljasper wrote:
Jul. 17th, 2008 04:07 pm (UTC)
The book is coming out as a hardcover, and it almost looks like that's what the publisher, Prime, sent out as ARCs. But surely they wouldn't spend all that extra cash, right? I'm hoping to get MINE before my trip on SUnday, but I ain't hold my breath.

And thanks for the support!!! That really truly helps keep me going.
[info]hownottowrite wrote:
Jul. 17th, 2008 12:09 pm (UTC)
"That's why it's a first novel, folks. Got to get those chops up to speed."

I love that line. Adding to the writers quotes that pop up on my site.

My first novel received casual reviews that ranged from furtive attempts to escape my presence - to - "I will kill you if I ever see you again". Didn't stop me from writing another one. LOL.

Rock on, Michael. Keep up the good work and best of luck with that gas leak. :)
[info]michaeljasper wrote:
Jul. 17th, 2008 04:08 pm (UTC)
Thanks! I enjoyed your most recent entry about Maybe. Good stuff.

And tonight, I'm moving the dog's pillow away from my writing table...
(Anonymous) wrote:
Jul. 17th, 2008 09:12 pm (UTC)
first books
Wannoshay Cycle being your first book, doesn't excuse sloppy writing. That's what editing is for. And writers groups, writing classes, and editors.
[info]michaeljasper wrote:
Jul. 17th, 2008 11:42 pm (UTC)
Re: first books
But that's just it -- I didn't think it was sloppy. And I'm assuming the editor who bought didn't think so either.

That's the beauty of reading and writing fiction -- everyone's entitled to their opinion, so I didn't mind the review so much. And some editors and agents who saw the book before it was published had some of the same feedback -- they wanted just one point of view character too.

It's all about what you like to read and your expectations. I told the best story I could, and I learned from it. And I'm still proud of the book.

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