Deadline hell is officially here.

Yep, I'm in deadline hell. Even with my deadline extension (Thanks, Anne!) I have to turn in the edits for Bewitched & Betrayed exactly one week from today. This weekend I had to write a completely new scene, and this week I have to rewrite the last two chapters to fit the revised middle. Plus, my day job is REALLY busy. So. . . I'm going to do something I've never done before here on my blog, and I knew you all would understand.

I'm taking the week off from blogging. My brain is so hyper-focused on the book, that my blogging wouldn't be up to par, and I don't want all of you to suffer through a week's worth of half-assed posts, so I just won't be posting at all.

I promise I'll be back next Monday. And if you have any questions, please email them to me, and I'll answer them in blog posts starting next week.

Love you, mean it! ; )
Lisa

Pirate cartoon

I was going to post pics of the contents of my bookshelves (per Jo's request), but I was working late and forgot to tell Derek (hubby, manager, arm candy, and photographer). I'm letting him sleep in this morning, while I get to work. So I'll post those next week. In the meantime, I got this over on Twitter from some fans on Talk Like A Pirate Day. If this doesn't have "Phaelan" written all over it, I don't know what does.

The edits on Bewitched & Betrayed were due to my editor this Thursday, but yesterday I asked for and got (thank you, Anne!) a one-week extension. I've got one new section to write and one chapter to re-write, so I needed some extra time. I'm gonna be writing like a mad woman until Monday, Oct.5. Though I plan on coming up for air and blogging every day -- and of course, there's my day job. Oh well, sleep is way overrated. ; )

Have a great weekend!
Lisa

Reinventing the fantasy wheel

Robert sent me a wonderful question yesterday: It seems many traditional fantasy authors create works that have an Old English or Anglo-Celtic setting. I also know fantasy writers are often criticized for doing just that. Do you think traditional fantasy writers have to reinvent the wheel, so to speak? Is it enough to modify the usual setting? Was your choice of setting influenced by what others have created? And to get deeper: Do you think readers want familiar settings? Does bucking the trend help or hurt getting published and selling books?

I think we probably have Papa Tolkien to thank for the English/Medieval settings. I think some fantasy authors (I include myself in this) go with the medieval/Renaissance trappings because we loved fairy tales as children and grew up reading traditional fantasy series that were set in quasi-medieval/Renaissance societies. Growing up, I loved "princess gowns" but at the same time I wanted a sword to go with my gown.

I used Renaissance Venice as a model for Mermeia. I've always wanted to go to Venice, and I just love the whole "canals & palaces" thing. Not to mention, canals are great places to hide bodies. ; ) I love Renaissance history and politics, especially the Italians -- the Medici, Borgia, and Sforza families. The Prince by Machiavelli formed the basis for my goblins. And I've just bought some more books on those families as research for my future books. Gotta love the intrigue and backstabbing (both literal and figurative).

I've also always liked fantasy books who had "real" characters, people I could identify with, people who I'd want to have a drink with. I've tried to make my characters the same way. Make them familiar, approachable, people who talk like we do, people you care about and want to revisit throughout an entire series. I've tried to make my settings familiar as well (Venice as the basis for Mermeia). Most readers get the connection, so they're able to visualize the setting. Combine that with likable characters, and you have books that readers can immerse themselves in. At least that's what I was going for.

As to traditional fantasy writers having to reinvent the wheel, it's not reinventing the wheel so much as making it your own. I hear agents and editors saying that they chose this or that book because of the voice. It jumped out and grabbed them. I know that was the reason why my books sold -- my publisher loved Raine's voice. And it probably didn't hurt that my goblins are different from any other goblins out there, and my elves aren't Tolkienesque, serene perfection. I tried to take the usual fantasy trappings, and put my own spin on it. It's what made my work stand out, get noticed, and get published.

Agents get rejected too

Today I'm letting my agent (Kristin Nelson) help me out with my blog. Actually, I'm linking to Kristin's post of last night on my blog. Lazy? Eh . . . not really. I felt completely icky yesterday (sore throat, achy, runny schnoz, the whole bit). Thought I was getting a cold -- or worse -- the flu. But I'm feeling better today. I'm also swamped.

The edits for Bewitched & Betrayed is due back to my editor a week from today, and I've had two characters inform me of a rather drastic change in their relationship that I now have one week to weave into the manuscript. Jeez. I tried to talk them out of it (and I wish they would have told me sooner), but such is the nature of head-strong characters. Actually, it's not a change so much as I hadn't planned for them to do that in this book. Later, people, later. But, they're not listening to me right now. So, I'm going with the flow. I also have something else going on (can't tell you yet, because it's not official), that will be competing for more of my time over the next few weeks. And my day job is busy -- gotta love that job security.

So the long and short is, I'm letting Kristin do the educational/informative part of my blog today. If you think that only writers suffer the pangs of rejection, think again. Agents get rejected, too.

Since time-wise I'm being pulled in three different directions, it would actually help me a lot if you all could help me with blog topics for the next week or so. Questions? Curiosities? Ponderings? Let me know, and I'll try to answer.

Lisa

Adjust that attitude

Today my blog is a jump to another writer's blog. Lauren Lise Baratz-Logsted (try saying that fast three times) writes one of my favorite author blogs over on Red Room. Yesterday she talked about adjusting your attitude to one of determination in your goal to getting published.

Here are some of the things she regularly hears other writers say get in the way of their creating:

1) I have a spouse who's not a writer and she/he doesn't understand;

2) I have kids to take care of;

3) I have other obligations, like cooking and taking care of the house;

4) I get distracted by Twitter etc.

5) and so forth.

If any of these excuses sound like you, read Lauren's blog post. It's great.

The writing domino effect

Today I'm answering a question from Chicory: How do you keep your endings from radically changing when your characters run away with your middles? (I've noticed in writing that if you change one little thing, it tends to have a domino effect on the story.)

The only thing I can figure is that my characters must run in formation or something, because I've never had an ending change after they ran away with the middle. I think this is true because once I've decided on the ending, it's hardwired. Even Tam being completely uncooperative won't change it. So I guess I let them run around in the middle, but steer them back onto the road to end the trip. And to make it even more difficult for them to stray, I have my plots worked out in my head two and three books down the road.

I think if you have the ending set in concrete in your mind, that any road your characters take will end up back where you need them to go -- kind of like they take a scenic detour, but the destination doesn't change. Now if you didn't have a definite ending in mind, I could see where your characters would end up in San Francisco when you were kind of/sort of/maybe thinking about LA. Make sure you let them know where you're going.

So to keep your characters from ending up in Abu Dhabi, my suggestion is to have an ending in mind before you start.

I need questions to answer in my blogs -- email me.
Lisa

Writing your second novel

I had company this weekend (my sister and niece), and stayed up WAY too late watching a movie last night (Peter Jackson's King Kong), and am WAY too sleepy this morning to write something insightful, educational, AND entertaining (at least that's what ya'll say my posts are). Besides, it's Monday. I have a week and a half to finish the edits for Bewitched & Betrayed. It's going good, but I know I'm gonna have to rewrite the next to the last chapter. Grrrr.

So . . . today I found a great post from NYT Bestselling author Matthew Pearl (The Dante Club) on that moment those of you who are writing your first novel will eventually experience -- writing your SECOND novel. His post over at Red Room is great reading.

I will try to have something original -- and coherent -- tomorrow.

Yep, it's Monday; try to make it a good one.
Lisa

Author afflictions

As those of you who have been readers of my blog for awhile know, I love Ilona Andrews' books. Her blog entry yesterday was priceless.

PAD -- Pre-elease Authorial Disease and DAD -- Deadline Authorial Disease.

I've had them both, and I will have them again. Just something for you pre-published authors to look forward to. Don't say I didn't warn you. ; )

My sister and niece will be arriving at our house tonight for the weekend. I haven't seen them in a couple of months, so I'll be taking tomorrow off from blogging -- AND editing. I'm going to have a relaxing weekend with my family. Derek's grandmother also turns 99 on Sunday, and the family is having a big birthday party for her.

BTW -- I need more questions from you all. Keep 'em coming.

Happy Friday!
Lisa

Fun book quiz

Today is a fun book quiz from Jo in London. She's asked for my answers, but I want to hear some of yours. Respond to the blog and share your answers with all of us.

1. One book that changed your life? Actually it was three -- Mary Stewart's Merlin trilogy. The Crystal Cave, The Hollow Hills, and The Last Enchantment. After reading these books, I knew I wanted to be an author.

2. One book you have read more than once? Jim Butcher's Dead Beat.

3. One book you would want on a desert island? Jim Butcher's Dead Beat. ; )

4. One book that made you laugh? The early Stephanie Plum books by Janet Evanovich.

5. One book that made you cry? I can't recall one. Probably because I don't read books that would make me cry.

6. One book you are currently reading? Jennifer Estep has asked me to write a blurb for the first book in her new series: Spider's Bite, the first in her Elemental Assassin series. I'm loving it!

7. One book you've been meaning to read? Oooo, entirely too many. I think the saying "Too many books, too little time" definitely applies to me. Though slowly but surely, I'm working my way through my TBR stack. Probably one of the next books I'll read is Dan Brown's The Lost Symbol. I haven't read a thriller in a while and I really enjoyed The DaVinci Code. I love me a fast-paced adventure.

Do my readers influence me?

Today, a reader question from Jordan: How much of what you write is influenced (or could possibly be influenced) by the feedback from critics and/or fans? For example, with relationships: if one character has two possible relationships and you hear a lot of fan feedback in favor of one or the other, could this in any way influence which way you take the story? I promise I have no ulterior motive here, I'm just curious, I promise : )

Since I'm writing these books for you all, you're always in the back of my mind while I'm writing. I try to write what I think you'll like, and about who I think you'll like. That being said, the big plot elements (and yes, I'm talking about the Raine/Mychael/Tam relationship thing) has been worked out for the past two years, and is now hard-wired into my brain, so I don't think I could change that outcome even if I wanted to. I'm trying to make all of you happy, and I think you will be. : )

But I also know you all love reading about Phaelan, Talon, and Piaras. And you like Uncle Ryn and Vegard. So I try to give everyone at least one or two good scenes. It's not easy to fit everyone into a story, but I aim to please. While I'm writing along, I'm very aware of what will annoy you and what would piss you off. And it's pretty much the same things that would annoy or piss me off, so I don't write those things. I don't like reading them in other people's books, so I don't put them in mine. I figure if any of you want to be depressed, you can just turn on the TV or go over to CNN.com.

As to critics/reviewers, if enough of them say the same thing, it just might be worth considering. But for the most part, reviews are the opinion of that one person, and I'm growing a thick skin when it comes to that. Not all people are going to "get it." I've had reviewers have a problem with my using modern speech in a traditional-setting fantasy book. Jeez, that's what makes my books fun to write and to read. I figure that I made up the setting and characters, therefore I make the rules. And since the place came out of my imagination, who are they to say how my characters should speak?

That's something that those of you who are writers can apply to your own work. It's YOUR WORK, not your critique partners, not your writing class members, not even your writing professor's. Only YOU know if it's "right" or not. And in the end, you have to write what YOU want to write, not what other people expect you to write.

Lisa

Beating writer's block & getting to the end of a story

Before I get to today's reader question, I took a break from editing Bewitched & Betrayed this weekend and added long-sleeved t-shirts to my CafePress store. In the next few weeks, I'll be adding sweatshirts and hoodies. And in the next few months, Webmaster Todd and I will be completely revamping my website.

Now, on to today's question.

Rose asks: "I was wondering if you could give a budding author some advice. Since the age of five, I've been writing stories. However, I haven't been able to finish any; writer's block gets me every time. Any advice on how to over come writer's block?"

First of all, a question for you. Do you plot out your stories and have an ending in mind before you begin writing? I know a lot of writers like to strike out and see where the characters take them. I think of writing a book as a roadtrip -- but being a control freak, I like to know where I'm going, and where we're going to be staying each night along the way. I plot the same way. I know where I'm starting and where I'm going, and a few major plot points along the way. But at the same time, I'm not opposed to taking a cool, new detour if a character suddenly gets a case of independence. In fact, new ideas always pop up in the middle of a book for me.

Knowing how your story ends gives you the freedom to play around with the middle. I call it the "murky middle" because I always get bogged down at the halfway point. But by knowing how the book ends, I can write my way out of the swamp.

That being said, coming up with a concrete ending isn't easy. It takes a lot of brainstorming and trying out things. Take one of your stories that you feel really strongly about and give it a shot. Where do you feel that it's leading you, your characters?

Let me know if that helps you. If not, I'll take another stab at it. ; )

Lisa

Bewitched & Betrayed back cover copy

Here's what you've been waiting for, the back cover copy for Bewitched & Betrayed. Enjoy!

My name is Raine Benares. I'm a seeker. I find lost things and missing people -- usually alive. Finding the specters of six evil mages who escaped the Saghred, a soul-stealing stone of unlimited power, was easy. Stopping them before they unleash hell on earth just might be the death of me.

Being bonded to the Saghred wasn't my idea -- neither is hunting down its escapees. Especially not when one of them is also hunting me. He's regenerating his body by taking the lives of powerful victims, their memories, knowledge, and most of all, their magic. The dark mage wants control of the Saghred, and if he gets it, he'll become an evil demi-god that no one can stop. The only thing in his way is me.

One of us doesn't stand a ghost of a chance. . .

Saturday Fun Pics -- Talons galore!

As promised, here are a few of the other entries in the "Find Talon" contest. And also as promised . . . on Monday's blog I'll be posting the back cover copy for Bewitched & Betrayed -- it'll give ya'll a taste of what's to come. This weekend, I'll be hard at work on the B&B edits. Though tonight I'm taking the night off -- today is Derek's birthday, so it's date night are the Shearin house. ; )

Have a great weekend -- I'm going to.
Lisa

Now, here they are for your viewing pleasure -- the "Find Talon" contest runners up!
Ben Barnes




Damien Bodie

Jim Sturgess



Kevin Ziegler

Who do you follow, your synopsis or your characters?

Today, I'm going to answer a question from Dora: You have talked about doing a synopsis for your book, an outline of the main points. What happens when you start doing the actual writing and the character tells you something way different, sending the story in a different and better direction? Do you just say oops to your editor or do you try to convince the character to back off and go with what you had in the synopsis?

Great question, Dora. When I'm writing a synopsis AND when I'm writing a book, I know how the book begins and how it ends. For the purposes of pitching (and selling) a book to my publisher, I also have to come up with some major plot points to go in between. However, when I start writing the book, something (and usually quite a few somethings) change. My characters ALWAYS take the plot in a different direction that what I'd envisioned and written in my synopsis. Some of those major plot points don't get used, so I just push them to the next book. I have a plotline that I've been planning to use for the past two books; it's just never fit once I start the actual writing. It will definitely be used in Con & Conjure.

My editor has never minded in the least about me not sticking like glue to my synopsis. That being said, my books always have the beginning and ending that I pitched in my synopsis; it's just some of the stuff in the middle that changes. Editors expect that. It's your creativity (and characters) taking over. That means that your book is coming to life in your head and on the page. Both of these are VERY GOOD things. Never fight your characters; they know what's best, even if you don't realize it until later. If one of my characters takes off in a different direction that what I'd planned, I just go "woohoo!", take off running after them, and enjoy the ride.

Tomorrow I'll post some of the other entries from the "Find Talon" contest -- AND I'll tell you about the cool post I have planned for Monday.

It's Friday, folks -- WOOT! Have yourselves a great weekend!
Lisa

Editorial feedback on Bewitched & Betrayed (Part III)

Some of my editor Anne's suggestions for tightening up Bewitched & Betrayed included paying attention to details that I'd overlooked or not expounded on enough. Or what I did most of the time -- assumed that since I understood it in my head that I'd explained it fully on the page. She wanted more detail on things like how a spell works or how Raine arrives at a conclusion. She didn't want pages of info dump, but judiciously placed details that would enlighten and interest the reader.

But most prevalent in her comments were those little details that for readers (and agents and editors) stick out like sore thumbs. Loose threads, if you will. When I'm writing, I get too close to the story and sometimes I make assumptions. Either I think something doesn't need explaining or that I've already explained it elsewhere. I know the story; it's in my head. But just because it's in my head doesn't mean that I put it on the page. It's like writing directions, you may skip a few steps because you know them and they're obvious to you -- they're not obvious to the reader.

It's the same when Raine arrives at a conclusion about another character, most notably a villain's guilt for a particular act. I know the villain did it, and as a result, so does Raine, but unless I've provided the evidence earlier in the book . . . well, it's like "innocent until proven guilty." I have to make sure I've provided the proof.

But include details with a light touch. Nothing's worse than reading happily along, and then running smack into a big pile of info dump. Give details, but keep it brief, and weave it into the story so the facts don't disrupt the flow.

Lisa

I have a big surprise coming up. I hope to be able to tell you what it is on Saturday and post it on Monday.

Editorial feedback on Bewitched & Betrayed (Part II)

I'm on the last three chapters of the Bewitched & Betrayed edits. Because so much always happens in my final chapters, Anne has quite a few comments, so it'll take me a little more time to get through these. I'm within 473 words of cutting the manuscript down to the same size as The Trouble With Demons. Anne would like for me to get it smaller (and tighter). I don't think that'll be a problem since once I get to the end of the book with the edits, I'm going back to the beginning and going through it one last time. This book's plot is gonna be so tight I'll be able to bounce a quarter off it. ; )

Today's topic is based on the suggestion from Anne to further streamline the Bewitched & Betrayed's plot and trim & tighten the manuscript -- either deleting unnecessary minor characters and deadend subplots. It wasn't as difficult as it sounded, and it worked like a charm.

Becoming familiar with my minor characters during the course of writing a book, I sometimes forget that I'm giving my editor "character name overload." She reminded me that readers generally assume that named characters are going to have a role to play. I had a lot of minor characters who I mentioned one or two times and then they fell off the face of the earth, never to be seen or heard from again. She suggested that rather than naming necessary minor characters that I identify them by their function ("the butler" instead of "Giles", "the trainer" instead of "Riston", "Piaras's bodyguards" rather than their actual names (can't remember them right now).

Then there are the subplots that I either didn't pay off -- seemed like a great subplot at the time, but it wasn't necessary to the story, didn't move it forward, and it just ate up word count. And that is the key to every book in existence -- the plot must move forward. Constantly.
I cut the subplot out and put it in my Notes file for the next book. I'm sure I'll use it eventually, when it can be integral to the story.

Tomorrow's topic: Editorial Feedback on Bewitched & Betrayed (Part III) -- It's all in the details.

Lisa

Edits for B&B: Reducing the word count

I had a productive three-day weekend -- I'm 67 pages from the end of the edits on Bewitched & Betrayed and have approx. 1,000 words left to cut to have the book down to the size of The Trouble With Demons. Demons weighted in a 114K, and B&B tipped the scales at a hefty 122K. And my publisher likes them in the 100-110K range. Needless to say, I had some slicing and dicing to do. So I've gone through almost the entire book, editing it, in a week. I think that's a new land speed record for me.

For those of you who are on the verge of getting an agent, or signing that first publishing contract, I'm going to take a few days (or maybe the rest of the week) to cover some of the editorial suggestions I received from my editor for B&B. Before I begin, a word of disclaimer. Every agent and editor handle feedback differently, and each book is different, so in other words, no two books or editorial letters are alike.

As you may have guessed, the major thing for B&B was to shorten & tighten the book. By the time I'd finished writing it, I was too close to see some of the boggy places where I could cut copy, so I knew I needed Anne's help/advice. And Anne Sowards is one of the best editors in the genre (she's also Jim Butcher's editor), and I'm blessed to have her. I know going from 122K to 110K sounds like a lot, but it's all needed, and most importantly it's for the good of the book. An agent or editor isn't out to slice and dice your baby; they want what will put the best possible product on the shelf. Fortunately Anne and I have always been on the same page when it comes to pretty much everything on my books.

I love her ideas, and incorporated most of them into my edits. That brings up one more thing. A lot of people have no idea what (or how much) an editor does once they get a manuscript. I certainly had no clue. An editor works with the author to get the best book possible. Anne makes suggestions to tighten & strengthen the book and to make it flow faster. If I have any questions about any of her suggestions, I can either email or call her and we'll brainstorm. And if there's a suggestion I don't agree with, I simply give a good reason why I can't do it, and Anne's always been cool with that.

So if you're scared of the idea of someone making you do things to your book that you don't want to-- don't worry. It's your book; you're the author. But at the same time, you need to have a completely open mind. You've been working with this book seemingly forever, so sometimes (actually most of the time) you're too close to it to be truly objective. I know I am. Your editor doesn't have that problem. Listen to her (or him) with an open mind. They've got your best interests (and your book's) at heart.

So how did I shorten B&B? Anne suggested three ways (and I'll expand on these tomorrow).
1. Take out a big subplot or two to help focus the plot.
2. Remove scenes that don't move the plot forward.
3. Take out extraneous dialogue, characters, and descriptions that don't move the plot forward.

In a nutshell, anything that doesn't propel your plot forward needs to go regardless of how much you love it -- because you can always use it in another book.

Lisa

Labor Day is for writing labor

Since today is Labor Day here in the U.S., I have the day off from my day job, but not from my writing job. I'm working on the edits to Bewitched & Betrayed all day and then late this afternoon, Derek's family is coming over for a cookout. : )

So, I'm blogging to say that I'm not going to blog today. I'll be back to my regularly scheduled blogging tomorrow.

For those of you in the U.S., Happy Labor Day, and for those of you everywhere else, Happy Monday!

Lisa

"Find Talon" contest winner

Thank you, everyone, for all of your entries! I've picked a winner from the hotties that you sent. I get the fun part of the contest -- looking at all of the photos.

Tina is the winner of the "Find Talon" contest with this incredibly sultry mystery kid. She gets her choice of a The Trouble With Demons t-shirt or 11 x 17 poster. Tina found the photo (excellent hunting, Tina), but she doesn't know his name. Well, neither do I.

Tell you what I'll do. The first person to email me with the name that goes with this photo gets a . . . (runs upstairs to my office to see what I have in the prize closet) . . . collection of all three book covers on fridge magnets, in addition to personalized/signed postcards and bookmarks. If you want the mini-prize pack, rev up your search engines and find out who Mr. Delectable is. First correct answer in my in-box wins.

Have a great weekend!

Lisa

Photos from our trip to the NC mountains

Happy Friday, everybody! As promised, here are some photos from our trip last weekend to the North Carolina mountains. I went to college at Appalachian State University (WOOOOT!), so I just love it up there. I didn't open my laptop the ENTIRE WEEKEND. That was a first. I read & rested (and shopped & ate) and slept a lot. I cannot tell ya'll how much I needed this break. I am now a happy & relaxed writer person. Our good friends Amy (boxing coach and co-owner of NBS Gym in Raleigh) and Wes (boxing & fencing coach and the other owner) came with us. They needed to get away from it all, too.

(You can click on the photos to make them bigger for bettter viewing.)


Me and Derek (he's the hot, arm candy on the right) watching the bunny rabbit who pretty much followed Amy around all weekend posing for pictures.

A doe in a meadow about 50 yards from the cabin.



Grandfather Mountain.



Flowers and butterflies on the edge of the cabin woods.



Amy's photogenic bunny had a bout of shyness.




The bunny posing in the moss.



Cute little bird.

While Derek was sitting on the front porch, he saw a bobcat cross the road in front of the cabin. Naturally, Amy (who had been sitting there with her camera ready for eons) had just gone inside and missed it. Oh well, maybe next time.

Don't forget that today is the last day for the "Find Talon" contest. I'll be naming the winner tomorrow.

Have yourselves a great weekend!
Lisa

My next column in The Writer magazine is out.

My next column in The Writer magazine is out. It's on page 10 in the October issue. The title is "Sometimes you need to break out the editing chain saw to deal with a manuscript." It couldn't have come out at a better time, since I'm blogging about editing Bewitched & Betrayed. Before I turned in Armed & Magical to Anne my editor, I had to essentially rewrite the entire book. Kristin (my agent) read the manuscript and pointed out where the quagmires were (and there were a LOT). Yep, the book stunk that badly. And yep, when I was finished and the dust had settled, Armed & Magical became my first national bestseller. In my column this month, I dish the dirt.

Tomorrow I'll post some fabulous photos that my friend Amy took while we were all in the mountains this past weekend.

And don't forget to enter your photo in the "Find Talon" contest. Tomorrow is the last day for entries; I'll be announcing the winner on Saturday. Scroll down to last Tuesday (I think) for all the details. The prize is your choice of a TTWD t-shirt or an 11 x 17 TTWD glossy poster.

Lisa

Writer phobias -- Fear of edits

Today a question from Victoria that relates to my upcoming (starting today) posts on editing a manuscript once it's back from your publisher's editor. Since I knew a lot of you have the same concerns as Victoria, I thought I'd answer her question here.

I have had this fear...that even if I get an editor...I won't be able to fix what they want me to fix, that their expectations will be something I could never meet. I would love to see what editors actually expect and how you go about giving them what you want. Maybe then my fear of failing the editor will leave my mind...Has anyone else ever experienced this?

Oh yeah. Just every time I turn in a book. I don't know of an author who doesn't cringe when they see an incoming email from their editor with the subject line "Editorial notes on (insert name of book here)." I usually call it my "Oh Shit Email" because that's what I always think when get it. Even though Anne has always loved my books, and her suggestions are always right on target, and even though I've never had any problems doing the edits -- I still say "Oh shit." I think it must be some kind of writer reflex. That fear of rejection coming back (BTW -- a fear we never lose). As humans, but especially as writers, we fear rejection. It's human nature. Most writers fear rejection (even if they won't admit it) from their fans, editor, agent, publicist, publisher's production person's second assistant twice removed. You get the picture; we're a bundle of neuroses.

I'm on my fourth book now and I still wince when I get edits. Did Anne like it? Did Anne only kinda like it? Did Anne think it sucked and never wants to sign me to a book contract ever again? Then I open the email and everything is fine. Yes, she loved the book, but she has some suggestions to make the book even stronger. And those suggestions are always things I missed when writing it. Yes, I do get too close to my work and can't see a pair of conflicting plot lines if it wapped me between the eyes.

Since Anne has been my only editor (and she's fabulous, and I want her to be my editor for life), I can only speak to my experiences with her edits. They're always on target, they need to be done, and I have yet to have any problems making them. And if there are some that I disagree with, I tell Anne why, and she's cool with that. Or we get on the phone, talk about it, and come up with a solution that's best for the book. That's the most important thing: what's best for the book. The ideal working relationship between an author and editor is a partnership; you work together, not in conflict. I'm blessed to have that with my editor, and every author I know personally has the same working relationship with their editor.

So Victoria, there's nothing to worry about. Look forward to getting an editor.

Lisa

101 Best Fantasy Books contest & giveaway

Fantasy review blogs Ink & Paper and A Bibliophile's Bookshelf are hosting the "101 of the Best Fantasy Books" contest and giveaway. All three of my books have been nominated. Thank you!

Now for two weeks, until September 14, 2009, you will be able to vote for your favorite book.
A Bibliophile's Bookshelf will be hosting a giveaway for the #1 book. If you want to enter the giveaway, enter your name & email into the "other" box on the voting form. The winner will be announced on September 15.

Since I'm working on edits for Bewitched & Betrayed, I'll be starting to blog on the types of things my editor (or any editor) finds when reviewing a manuscript. I'll also discuss what I do to fix the boo-b00s.

Lisa