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Thanks to Ronnie Allen for this week’s questions. If you’ve just come from Raine Balkera’s blog, welcome. If not, head on back and check out her answers.
1.When do you decide that you’ve done enough editing and changes would now be making it different, not better? So it’s the time to submit
My finished draft goes to my critique partner before anyone else. She finds plenty of issues with my plot, characters, and strangely worded sentences that made sense when I first wrote them down. From her notes, I make changes, reread the book out loud, and then send the manuscript to two other critique partners who challenge character motivations and anything that pulls them out of the story. After revising from their comments, I send it to my agent for her opinion.
2. When and how do you accept change advice by rejection letters and critique partners?
My critique partner has a fantastic grasp of my voice and understands what emotions I’m trying to layer into a scene. I use her suggestions almost 99% of the time.
When I began writing, I tended to ignore good advice because reworking major components of the story seemed overwhelming. I’d once received a critique about how my heroine came across as unlikeable. I didn’t care. I liked her. The drunken little felon haunted me in several rejections from various agents and editors. They loved my voice, hated my heroine. I’ve learned my lesson. When I hear the same critique over and over again, I take the advice seriously.
3. When you’re not writing, how do you spend your day or do you create your day around your writing?
Finding time to write is never a problem. I prefer writing to just about anything else. I use every moment available to move my work forward. Housework tends to suffer. If forced to choose between writing and the laundry, I pick writing every time.
I force myself away from my computer to be with my family, especially when I’m writing a scene that is completely formed in my head and ready to be written. Now that the kids are back to school, my schedule has more structure and I can carve out a balance between writing time and family time.
When not writing, I exercise, read from my huge “to be read” list, and spend time with my family.
Dani Jace is next. While you’re over there, check out her book, White Doe.
that was a fun to read, but now I’m curious to know more about the rejected character 😉
When the book gets published which should be in the next year, I’ll post the original chapters on my blog so you can read the difference.
Ooh, what a fun idea!
I agree when you hear the same thing over and over in a critique you probably should listen. I learned my lesson on that one as well 🙂 I enjoyed your blog, Veronica!!!
You’re absolutely right about when we hear the same advice several times we need to sit up and pay attention.
I’ve had the same thing happen with a heroine. Even though the editor rubbed me the wrong way, once I stewed on it i realized she had a point. I toned her down and she’s OTW to being published. Loved your answers!
Great post, Veronica! What you said about likeableness of your heroine is interesting. You’re so right. We all love our own characters, but determining whether or not they are likable to others is important.
I also love your comment about choosing writing over laundry. 🙂 Amen to that!
I’m with you in the poor housework camp. So much maligned. One day, Veronica, you and I will have someone who comes in 4 hours a day, cooks and cleans and even grocery shops for us. And our writing will pay for it!
It’s great to find a critique partner who works so well with you.
Great answers! 🙂