Also knee-deep in Love You Till Tuesday, and can I say I have never been so spittin' mad as when *bleep* gets *bleeped* and almost *bleeps* - brilliant scene! ;)
Like you, I edit as I go. I don’t keep drafts, and I have a “Cutting Room Floor file.” But leave a manuscript lying fallow for a month? Nah, can’t do it. Once it’s back from the beta readers and I’ve spent a day or two implementing their advice and suggestions, for better or worse it’s time to publish, baby! Once I’ve written the first line of a story, it has never taken me more than eight months to get that sucker out there for everyone to see. And then it’s on to the next book. But that’s just me. We’re all what we are.
And I thought I was a fast writer :) ! I work like that on short stories, although I like to let them sit for a few days, my eyes are clearer when they can rest a bit. But a book is different. If I'm focused, not distracted, and well prepared (the big research done ahead of time, a basic outline - it will change but that's OK), I can write an 85K in 2 months, but that is a breathless race, and there will be a lot of revising left to do. And I can't do that right away - I need a break to see what's slow/not working/plain wrong/ sloppy written ... that's when I'll write short stories, to reset the machine! Congrats on being so steadfast ... which reminds me I have a few of your Alex books on my reading pile!
I tend to take a month or two between books to refresh myself and do some binge-reading. But once it's time to write, I'm pretty consistent with it. We're talking 35K a month, give or take, so not so breathless a pace. But that includes revision (major and minor) as I go, and I don't let the manuscript sit.
I think you've aptly expressed what many of us go through. In a way, it makes me feel better. I thought I was being too tough on myself--or maybe not tough enough? Sigh. Anyway, we gotta keep moving forward and at some point let the book/story/article go.
Love You Till Tuesday is one of my faves this year, so (our) Book Two is a must-buy and easily tops my list of forthcoming titles. Looking forward to it.
Martine, I'm a write (and edit, and change) as I go person as well. Always have been. I have a single draft until I'm done, same document. It's just how I roll personally and the only way that works for me. - Jim
And yes, I have a hard time going back into old work. I usually just let it be as it was published. Because if I started editing, there would be no end to it.
I'm about a quarter of the way into LOVE YOU TILL TUESDAY, and I'm enjoying it thoroughly. Yesterday I read some of it when I should've been working. Shhh! Don't tell anyone.
Also knee-deep in Love You Till Tuesday, and can I say I have never been so spittin' mad as when *bleep* gets *bleeped* and almost *bleeps* - brilliant scene! ;)
Ahahaha! I think I know what scene you're talking about!
Like you, I edit as I go. I don’t keep drafts, and I have a “Cutting Room Floor file.” But leave a manuscript lying fallow for a month? Nah, can’t do it. Once it’s back from the beta readers and I’ve spent a day or two implementing their advice and suggestions, for better or worse it’s time to publish, baby! Once I’ve written the first line of a story, it has never taken me more than eight months to get that sucker out there for everyone to see. And then it’s on to the next book. But that’s just me. We’re all what we are.
And I thought I was a fast writer :) ! I work like that on short stories, although I like to let them sit for a few days, my eyes are clearer when they can rest a bit. But a book is different. If I'm focused, not distracted, and well prepared (the big research done ahead of time, a basic outline - it will change but that's OK), I can write an 85K in 2 months, but that is a breathless race, and there will be a lot of revising left to do. And I can't do that right away - I need a break to see what's slow/not working/plain wrong/ sloppy written ... that's when I'll write short stories, to reset the machine! Congrats on being so steadfast ... which reminds me I have a few of your Alex books on my reading pile!
I tend to take a month or two between books to refresh myself and do some binge-reading. But once it's time to write, I'm pretty consistent with it. We're talking 35K a month, give or take, so not so breathless a pace. But that includes revision (major and minor) as I go, and I don't let the manuscript sit.
I think you've aptly expressed what many of us go through. In a way, it makes me feel better. I thought I was being too tough on myself--or maybe not tough enough? Sigh. Anyway, we gotta keep moving forward and at some point let the book/story/article go.
Love You Till Tuesday is one of my faves this year, so (our) Book Two is a must-buy and easily tops my list of forthcoming titles. Looking forward to it.
Sending love, Andy... Thank you.
Martine, I'm a write (and edit, and change) as I go person as well. Always have been. I have a single draft until I'm done, same document. It's just how I roll personally and the only way that works for me. - Jim
“un état second” - I love that!
And yes, I have a hard time going back into old work. I usually just let it be as it was published. Because if I started editing, there would be no end to it.
Oh yes, that's what happened with that SF series. At some point, it becomes addiction!
I'm about a quarter of the way into LOVE YOU TILL TUESDAY, and I'm enjoying it thoroughly. Yesterday I read some of it when I should've been working. Shhh! Don't tell anyone.
Ahahah! Thank you Jody! I also tend to get caught in reading when I should be working... it's an occupational hazard.