At Home in Packers Country - 17 September
@just4him (306054)
Green Bay, Wisconsin
September 17, 2018 3:26pm CST
I think I should stop putting the number on my whiteboard for what edit I'm on with Thread of Evidence. I hadn't come to the end and I'm starting over, looking for ways to shorten it up as much as possible and keep the integrity.
I got an e-mail from my publisher telling me what word count she would like to see. That blew my mind. It would mean deleting at least a third of my book. I told her I didn't think that was going to be possible, and she said to do what I could and she would work with the final word count.
So, I've started over, which is what I've been doing this morning, and feel I've made some good headway with the first two chapters.
I also took a break and went out to the bay. I hadn't been there yet this summer, and summer is almost over. I was surprised by how much they've cut down the bank. They took out all the plants and shrubs/weeds leaving only the trees. It feels more open.
Today will be the hottest day this week with temps reaching 85 with 90% humidity. I'll be glad to see the lower temps come.
One thing I noticed or didn't notice at the bay were flies. That's because they're all in my apartment. I'm going nuts with the hundreds, it feels like it, of flies in here.
I have a couple of hours before I need to leave for church. I obligated myself to prayer night at church but forgot last week. Not this week.
I was also up early and in the pool by 5, and took a nap this morning as well. It's a nice day, but I'll be happy when Fall gets here with Fall temps.
What have you been up to? Thanks for reading.
10 people like this
10 responses
@Marilynda1225 (79699)
• United States
17 Sep 18
Sounds like time consuming job having to cut your word count on your book but wish you the best of luck getting it all done.
I'm ready for Fall weather but along with cooler temperatures the days get darker earlier and I love when it's light until 8 or later. Guess we have to compromise when it comes to seasons
2 people like this
@just4him (306054)
• Green Bay, Wisconsin
18 Sep 18
Yes, I wish it would stay light later in winter, but yep, it comes with the seasons. It is time-consuming, but there is a lot that needs to be cut, and there are a lot better ways of saying the same thing that makes it better and shortens it up at the same time. That's what I'm trying to accomplish and keep the integrity of the book.
1 person likes this
@akalinus (40440)
• United States
17 Sep 18
I think you can tighten up the writing by eliminating many adjectives and adverbs and substituting descriptive nouns and powerful verbs. Also look for repetitions that you did not mean to make. I think those changes would make the book shorter and sharper. But I never wrote a novel so I might be talking trash and not know it.
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@akalinus (40440)
• United States
18 Sep 18
@just4him When I was writing, I relied heavily on the Thesaurus for word substitutions. You get so familiar with your work that you don't notice redundancies.
On an off-note, one time I was reading a book by Joyce Carol Oates. I noticed that she drew many ideas from the Book of Lists. I had been reading the List book and saw several plot lines from it in the novel. What do you think of that?
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@just4him (306054)
• Green Bay, Wisconsin
18 Sep 18
@akalinus It's done by many authors. I get some of my ideas from books I've read, though I don't make them obvious so there isn't any plagiarizing going on. I'm sure she didn't either, or the book wouldn't have flown with her editor/publisher.
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@just4him (306054)
• Green Bay, Wisconsin
18 Sep 18
Actually, you're right on. I don't have many adverbs, so that's good. I'm doing my best to find and eliminate all redundancies. The Thesaurus is great for powerful word substitutions.
@lovinangelsinstead21 (36850)
• Pamplona, Spain
19 Sep 18
Lots of flies here and infernal temps but will go down by next Monday.
Good luck with the book lot of work there.
Take it easy.
1 person likes this
@lovinangelsinstead21 (36850)
• Pamplona, Spain
22 Sep 18
@just4him
I sure hope that it all works out for you then.
Good luck with that.
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@just4him (306054)
• Green Bay, Wisconsin
22 Sep 18
@lovinangelsinstead21 Thank you.
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@Courtlynn (66921)
• United States
17 Sep 18
Goodluck with the re-editing. And sorry to hear about the flies.
I'm so glad we haven't had a bug problem this summer. Which is the first year in awhile.. they drive me absolutely nuts.
I've been blah the last week, plus don't think my nonexistent sleep is helping.. so never got out of bed until around 130 this afternoon but once i was up i did alot around the house. Then showered, and unfortunately washed my hair lol. So waiting for it to dry while figuring out if dinner is chicken, or spaghetti.
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@just4him (306054)
• Green Bay, Wisconsin
19 Sep 18
@Courtlynn I'm glad you had a bug free summer. Except for the flies, I have too.
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@Courtlynn (66921)
• United States
18 Sep 18
@just4him We've had spaghetti pretty often too, as that (and the sauce we use) and chicken are the cheapest things for us to get usually. So it really didn't matter by that.
But we had chicken, and my brother had an Oncor turkey meal. and we're probably having spaghetti tonight.
I usually love winter for having no bugs, but like I said haven't had bug issues so im like.. is winter here already? lol
1 person likes this
@thislittlepennyearns (58134)
• Defuniak Springs, Florida
18 Sep 18
I am working on writing right now. Because of the nature of what I am writing I don't edit it as harshly as you do, because it just gets posted on a Forum
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@just4him (306054)
• Green Bay, Wisconsin
18 Sep 18
I don't edit heavily for here either. Have a good day.
@just4him (306054)
• Green Bay, Wisconsin
19 Sep 18
@thislittlepennyearns If you self-publish, I'm sure you do some heavy editing.
@thislittlepennyearns (58134)
• Defuniak Springs, Florida
18 Sep 18
@just4him It isn't for here. I write here yes, but I also self publish, have a blog, write for TExtbroker and write fan fiction.
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@just4him (306054)
• Green Bay, Wisconsin
18 Sep 18
It will work out. We're going to work with whatever word count I come up with when I finish this edit. Thank you. I love to swim and doing so every day is good. I didn't go this morning due to the flooding last night. I'm sure it's better this morning, but I also need to let my brakes dry out. They seemed affected by all the water last night.
@RasmaSandra (73365)
• Daytona Beach, Florida
18 Sep 18
I always take the first day of the week to do some organizing online and write out goals for the week and of course continuing to work on my book.
1 person likes this
@NJChicaa (115983)
• United States
17 Sep 18
I just noticed quite a few flies in the birds room. They sneak in sometimes when the windows are open with just the screens in. The cats have scratched a few small holes in them. I will be happy when my husband decides to replace all of the windows and screens in the house.
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