Home   |   LCS Prints Store   |   About Me   |   FAQ   

Wednesday, August 29, 2012

Editing Mode

The cash I earned for the July article on the Boston Harbor Islands allowed me to afford unpaid time off from my part time job for the town.  As a result, this week, I am home dedicating as much time as I can to pulling my teeth out editing the old manuscript.  This means Middle Passages is once again getting the short end of the stick.

In the writing class I took last year, the teacher told us when editing, most people are either "putter inners," or a "taker outers."  Last time round, I took out...lots...like, the-first-25-pages lots.  This time, I see all the holes and I'm putting in, sounds and images and dialogue to flesh out scenes and make them real.  I had a goal of completing 30 pages a day this week.   I think I did something like twelve pages yesterday and fifteen today, but in the meantime, I've added over 5K to the manuscript.  Anyone who says writing is easy gets fifty lashes with a wet noodle.

I took a break around 1:00 this afternoon--had to get out of the chair and out of the house.  It was pouring.  I treated myself to a vacation sandwich at a favorite shop and planned to eat it in the car at the edge of the gray beach before returning to the computer.  Just as I headed east to the ocean, the rain and the clouds skedaddled, and I pulled up to this.

Please excuse my absence here.  My hope is to be back to some semblance of a regular posting schedule no later than  September 5th for the next IWSG.  Let's see how many words I've added by then and how many of those, I'll have to take out next  time.

   

15 comments:

Mary Sullivan Frasier said...

My blog has been on the short end of the stick this summer too, my friend. I guess sometimes we just have no choice but to let life guide us in the direction that it wants us to go. If your manuscript is calling, then go my dear, go! I'd say that Mother Nature must agree. She certainly rewarded you for your efforts yesterday afternoon. (hope she's still in a good mood when we head over that way in a couple of weeks. LOL)

Stina said...

I'm a puller outter too, but then I replace it with something stronger. My word count ends up looking worse than the weight of a yo-yo dieter.

I've been all over the blogging schedule this summer too. Most people have.

Carol Kilgore said...

Freshly scrubbed beach! Love :)

No worries about your schedule. Bloggers and writers understand.

Good luck with the editing.

mshatch said...

whether I'm a puller out or a putter in depends on what I'm editing. Right now it's the latter. And if I pulled up to that view I would've gotten out and walked to the point, feet in the water, toes in the sand, sun on my hair ...ah. That's better.

Johanna Garth said...

That beach picture is to die for. And I'm totally a taker-outer, unless I'm being a putter-inner ;

Alex J. Cavanaugh said...

Wow, what a perfect beach day!
I'm a putter inner every time.

Susan Flett Swiderski said...

Good luck with the editing. That DIY dentistry can be a real killer. I take out .... put back in ... take out ... rewrite... rinse, repeat. Yep, like a yoyo dieter.

Susan Gourley/Kelley said...

I like those words. I'm going to remember those when I start edits next week.

glnroz said...

I feel sooo sorrry for Ms. Liza that she has to look at that while eating a sandwich,, lol.. The Boss and I spent several days at the beach in Port Aransas, Tx,,, I thought about you folks having a "cool" beach to sit on,,

Anonymous said...

Its a great feeling to receive cash for your wok! Congrats! and see you when you return.

Tricia J. O'Brien said...

The rain left you with a stunningly gorgeous day! Best to you as you tackle that ms.

'Yellow Rose' Jasmine said...

Good for you, for enjoying your time and doing what you need to. There will be plenty of 'stuck inside' time coming up seasonally and then you can stare down the work and get it all done.

Kittie Howard said...

That beach scene is gorgeous, no wonder you were inspired. I'm in the same empty/fill boat you're in, Liza, and am thinking about taking some time off later. I'm inspired by the work you're getting done.

Congrats on the article's sale. I remember how your writing made me want to visit Boston again so I'm not surprised! Write on!

Reena said...

Always nice to sell one's work! Congrats! And with that view, I would be taking way too many breaks!

Jan Morrison said...

I've been missing in action too - at least on the visiting front. Think I've managed my three posts a week. Editing, revising ... that is what it is all about. I like your goals and await the outcome with anticipation.
And aren't we lucky to be able to live on the east coast? I thank my lucky stars every day.