Last night was another of those go-to-a-concert-and-get-only-an-hour-of-sleep-before-I-have-to-wake-up nights.
So please excuse my lack of posting yesterday. I know there were more than a few people who were looking forward to the next installment of my this writer's life comics. Well, I have more on the way... but I got too busy and eye-blurred yesterday.
I was reading through an edited version of next year's offering: Stick, which, I have to say, is a beautiful book. And not like me at all in its... er... optimism?
Actually, the book was made more beautiful through the guidance of my editor. Last week, my friend Brian James wrote a post on his blog about the importance of the editor's contribution to fiction, so I can't really add to what he expressed. But, let me tell you... it makes all the difference -- having a real editor who is not so much concerned about merely printing legible pages of paper as opposed to extracting the best possible work out of a writer.
I don't know... probably the only people in the world who really understand the true value and contribution of editors are editors themselves or writers. In any event, editors are generally unsung heroes in my estimation.
So I was caught up reading.
Which reminds me, too... I got caught up reading an Advance Copy of a novel that is going to be released by Candlewick Press (a publishing house I am not associated with) next year. I was contacted by the editor and a literary agent to see if I'd be interested in potentially writing a blurb for this book.
And, I'm, like, me?
I thought, what a cool thing to be asked. So, anyway... I'm not going to say anything about the book, or its title and author. But, I really really like it a lot.
And I'm nearly finished reading it, so I will send my blurb in to Candlewick when I close the book on the book, and I'll even talk about it here, too.
Cool story.
Dark.
How I like 'em.
One other thing, and then I'll start drooling from lack of sleep: I never listen to music when I write. When I write, I need absolute quiet. Just the sounds of nature. No TV on downstairs, no talking in the house, just the sound of the wind outside and the animals, maybe one of the neighbors chopping up corpses... I don't know... (there are no traffic noises where I live).
However... I did listen to a lot of one particular artist when I wrote Stick last winter. You know who? Neil Young. Lots of Neil Young. There's even a quoted line from a Neil Young song in the novel.
I don't know why, but for some reason, I've really been dwelling on that line lately.
Anyway, I am delirious. Must go.
9 comments:
I wish I had a good editor. And some blurbs. Sigh.
One thing that I did this go-round was I actually let three friends -- scattered around the world -- read STICK before we went into the editorial rounds. I absolutely NEVER do that with my books -- even my wife and kids have to wait until ARCs are published before reading anything. Anyway, the edits and changes on STICK were incredibly minimal, but they do make a huge difference. I'm going to give those friends ARCs when they come out, and I'll be interested (an this is a hint, you three) in seeing what impact they perceive from the process.
Possible future blog post from spring of 2011...
*and
--sleep deprivation
regardless of the lack of sleep, typos make me ill.
I don't have an editor yet, but I do have an agent. And she is most definitely an unsung hero in my mind. :) Agents and editors do so much work, but the authors end up getting all the credit.
And I'll be interested to see what your three friends have to say about the process, too.
Tabitha --
Definitely, agents have so much expanded influence and responsibility these days in terms of editorial input and advice. And yes, my agent -- and my film agent -- have really contributed to the product.
And you are right in that authors tend to get more than their fair share of credit, because this really is quite a coordinated team effort.
When I do school visits (high schools), one of the talks I frequently give deals with all those players on the team -- the people who actually play a role in getting a book onto the shelf of a library or bookstore.
Kids (and almost always adults, too) usually have no idea how many people actually help to shape the final product, so thank you for mentioning that.
My agent is an amazing talent.
Once upon a time, I was promise a ARC of one of your future books (with the promise of sharing it with friends) so I'm crossing my fingers.
I love hearing all this talk about how a book starts as an idea and the whole process of writing, editing, agents etc. Maybe you should consider a video journal chronicling your writing process for future documentaries.
Connie
I think you will like STICK, Connie. I will let you know when the ARCs come out. I am really hoping to get to the Texas Library Association conference this coming year.
Also, as far as the writing process documentary is concerned: Today, it would look like this --
1. Stay out all night at a concert
2. Go to bed at 1:30 a.m.
3. Wake up at 3:00 a.m.
4. Wander around all day asking deep, probing questions about how stupid I am for living like I do.
5. Stare at my computer screen, thinking "I am too tired to write."
6. Rewrite the same sentences over and over and over again.
...And don't even say it. I never take naps. Not ever. If I ever took a nap during the daytime, I would probably wake up inside a body bag because everyone would think I must be dead for having my eyes shut during daylight hours.
I will never be a writer because:
1. I can't write.
2. I like to sleep and take naps.
3. And most importantly, I really rather read the book.
4. Concerts - NP The ringing in my ears drowns the whine at school. ;)
Connie
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