This Old Manuscript (some thoughts on editing).........

Hi all,

As professional writers, we all go through the editing process. It can be easy at times. It can be grueling at others. But as I've been editing, I've been struck by how much it can be compared to remodeling one's home (hence the title of this blog entry).

For example, I think it's easier to remove words (reduce word count) than to add them. Again, this is easier to do this feat as well in construction (faster and less time consuming to tear down an existing building than to build a new one).

Also, it is not too difficult to change phrases or a few short paragraphs in the novel. This is akin to someone walking into your house and saying "Ah, you know, I don't like the color of the living room. Can you change it?" And you smile and nod and say "Sure, of course," because yeah, it's rather easy.

However, someone could also walk into your home and say "Um, I just don't like the bathroom here. Can you move it over here?" And much like in home remodeling, you start and sigh and go "OK" but really you're thinking "Wow, this is going to be difficult. Because yes, it is hard moving large chunks of writing around on a page.

Or sometimes, even, if the foundation of a story is shaky, much like in remodeling a home, one has to tear down the house and pour a brand new foundation. While this latter is an analogy for totally rewriting something, I think you all are beginning to see the similarities between editing and remodeling.

So, the next time your editor asks "Can you spice up the language here?" you know he/she is really saying "The home needs more flowers in the garden/more pictures on the shelf." And much like in home redecorating, that's not too hard to do:)

Take care all,
Christine

Vampires in a guilded...um...silver barred cage......

Hi all,

Well, a couple of weeks ago, I was talking with my online buddy, Lucilla27 about vampires. And specifically, how much 'power' they have. And how much they can use (get away with) without being hunted down, staked, etc., etc. Because while one can fly around a city (like Paris) as a bat, one cannot change back into a human in the middle of a crowded street. Nothing says "Hey, I'm a vampire, stake me" like doing something like that. Oh, and one probably cannot take a victim every night and not be hunted down either by the pesky vampire hunters. Piling up corpses is problematic and all that.

So yeah, while you're a vampire and have all this awesome power, if you want to live longer, life can't be all that different (well, with the exception of your diet requirement) than a mere mortal's. Or can it? Hence, the title of this entry "Vampires in a silver barred cage". Because, much like humans, they have to show restraint/common sense. Well, most of the time anyway.

And what does that feel like to have all that power and only be able to use it at 'select' times (or not the best times and pay a price for it?)? Frustrating, Maddening, Sad. Yeah, I think I can come up with many, different situations where these feelings apply.

I guess the issue that came out of this conversation with my online buddy, then, is that I want to think about more while I'm writing my novel #2 in the Vampires at the Opera series is what exactly is and is not different about a vampire' s life (yes, I'm using that term loosely) once he/she is turned. And how their new found powers affect their everyday life/unlife.

I guess it all comes down to something I said in a conversation to my other online buddy, dwg. Becoming a vampire doesn't solve problems. It just creates an entire new set of problems. And 'dealing' with some of those problems is what I enjoy thinking and writing about.

Until next time, take care all,
Christine