Takeaway from the Workshop: Tips and Free Editing Advice

One of the most helpful things I got from the Writer's Workshop in Midland last weekend, was editing advice.

So, I will be rewriting the first chapter of Nate's Gold.
While, I drove to my parent's home on Monday I reworked the chapter. In my head of course. Well some of it was out loud and since I don't have a Dictaphone yet I called my daughter and made her take notes. Daughters are good note takers.

While I was in line, waiting for my grandson's to get out of school, I wrote about four pages of my rewrite. My daughter was sick so I picked my grandsons up. I enjoyed spending time with them. They are great boys.

Back to the rewrite.
I had a lot of great ideas. I don't think I discarded any of them. Monday afternoon I will get them written in Microsoft Word and see about meshing the rewrite with the current chapter.
I was asked, by the Agent I pitched too, if I could add another 30,000 words. Here is a great start.

I also listened to the lectures about POV, which means Point Of View. And I think there is quite a bit I need to rewrite and or polish.

So, I am ready to work on Monday!

After glow of the Permian Basin Writers' Workshop: A Writers Review

Nothing energizes a Writer as much as a Writers' Workshop. 

The volume of information is stunning and I hope to retain 10% of it. But I took copious notes so I have a lot to look back on. Nothing is free but note taking during a paid workshop makes some of the information feel free.

The first day we had a Writers' Boot Camp. All day long with Chuck Sambuchino. He was magnificent. Hours and hours of information. We even had a one page Critique Fest. He went through every singe page that was passed forward.

I took detailed notes on each one. I listened intently for ever drop of wisdom he imparted. Then he came to mine...

EEEEEK...  He said that my story started in the wrong place. GREAT feed back. Now I know to rewrite the first Chapter or most of the first chapter. He pointed out where I repeated unnecessarily. I can fix that. He also said, "Interesting". Hopefully, that was positive. He liked a turn of phrase. All in all great input.

The second day I went to several workshops. The first one was Mastering suspense, Structure and Plot Part 1 and Part 2. I have lots of notes to go back over and learn from.

The next workshop was How to Get an Agent. Most of that I had researched on the net but it was nice to get reinforcement.

Right after lunch we were invited to an extra non -scheduled work shop by Dana Smith. She talked about researching your novel. All I can remember was that she was funny, so incredibly funny.

The third workshop was extraordinary. It was called Writing Your Inner Child. Sara Barnard gave a very interesting demonstration on how to think like your younger character. Who knew it was that simple yet complex. There was a lot for me to remember and learn.

Next I went to What Makes a Western a Western. Fascinating. A lot to think about.

Sunday the first workshop I went to was It's All About Character. Rapid fire information. It will take me weeks to go over and digest. 

My BIG excitement was my scheduled Pitch session with Cynthia Ruchti. She is a literary agent for Books & Such.

I was so nervous and nauseous all at the same time. But I spent a week trying to nail down my pitch. I worked and reworked ten sentences until I had them down to a short crisp six. 

Yes, it did still sound memorized. But better to sound memorized than muddled.

Then I was so thrilled that Mrs. Ruchti  spoke at the last workshop of the conference. I was just amazed at how funny and informative she was. A slower pace but I absorbed more.

I met some wonderful people and made some great friends!

2017 Permian Basin Writers' Workshop

I am so excited about the workshop this weekend.
Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Sunday I get to pitch my story! I have been practicing all day. I think I have it down and won't have to use note.
It is my understanding that they are more impressed if you don't use notes.

Last Editing Run through

Yes I know it has been quite a while since I have written and proofread my book.
Now I am doing my final polish and getting ready to write a query letter. Such a scary thought, a query letter. But there is a Writer's Conference in Midland this month so I am going to take it with me to see what help I can get with it.

I know that you have to take a chance or the book will never be published, but DANG it is scary.

I have read a suggestion that the final draft needed to be retyped word for word to catch problems so that is what I am in the process of doing. I did a bit of rewriting of the first chapter. I thought it might have repeated in one of the sections.

So here goes nothing. All they can do is reject it and I send it to another publisher.