Anybody get the new Paul McCartney album? I’m hearing pretty good things about it.Anybody get the new Paul McCartney album? I’m hearing pretty good things about it.

Anybody seen anything good this summer?

[i]Knocked Up[/i] has been my favorite by far. If you liked [i]40 Year-Old Virgin,[/i] you’ll like this. It’s just laugh out loud funny all the way through. I’ll definitely be buying the DVD of this one!

Also, [i]Ocean’s 13 [/i]was pretty entertaining. Just light, breezy fun. I’m not saying it holds up well logic-wise, but who cares? It’s mindless and an easy good time.

Other than that, haven’t seen much. I still haven’t seen [i]Spiderman 3[Anybody seen anything good this summer?

[i]Knocked Up[/i] has been my favorite by far. If you liked [i]40 Year-Old Virgin,[/i] you’ll like this. It’s just laugh out loud funny all the way through. I’ll definitely be buying the DVD of this one!

Also, [i]Ocean’s 13 [/i]was pretty entertaining. Just light, breezy fun. I’m not saying it holds up well logic-wise, but who cares? It’s mindless and an easy good time.

Other than that, haven’t seen much. I still haven’t seen [i]Spiderman 3[/i], and I hear [i]Pirates of the Caribbean 3[/i] is just awful.

A few days ago I was talking to someone about my editing process on Finders Keepers, and while it?s normal for me to work the way I do, he thought it sounded a bit unusual. And that got me realizing that what I do process-wise seems normal for me because I spend so much time doing it, although I never think about what the writing?or editing process?might look like from someone else?s eyes.

So … I thought I?d share my editing process with you, giving you a peak through the window. I want A few days ago I was talking to someone about my editing process on Finders Keepers, and while it?s normal for me to work the way I do, he thought it sounded a bit unusual. And that got me realizing that what I do process-wise seems normal for me because I spend so much time doing it, although I never think about what the writing?or editing process?might look like from someone else?s eyes.

So … I thought I?d share my editing process with you, giving you a peak through the window. I want to add up front, though, that this is just my process. Every writer edits his or her own way, and there?s no one best way. This is what works for me:

Now that the manuscript is finished?it?s been finished for quite a while now?I decided to take another look, having put it aside for six months while I built the Web site and sent letters to agents. It?s a decent sized manuscript?about 120,000 words?and it has a lot of chapters. A lot. But that?s only because they?re very short.

What I?ve been doing is breaking the manuscript into 50-pages chunks, and then giving it two full reads. So I print out 50 pages, as I don?t like to edit on screen in large chunks; I?m a paper guy. It?s easier for me to read and I can take pages with me. And then off I go.

[b]First Read[/b]:

On this first read, I?m looking both for little things?grammar, awkward phrases, etc.?but also for overall flow. Does the 50-page sequence work well? Is the pacing right? Does it move along too fast? Too slow? Is there repetition among the chapters? Did I leave out something important? Does some piece of plot or dialog need clarification?

In doing so, my editing process is to make edits, in pen, on the pages. Once I?m done, I sit at my computer, and input those changes on screen, circling each change on the page as I make it. For example, if there was a sequence on the page that said: The wind swept through the valley … but I didn?t like it, on page I would strike a line through those words in pen. When I delete those words on screen, I then circle the edited text on page, telling me that I made the change.

Once I?ve inputted all of my changes on screen and save them all, I take a break?at least an hour, or days, if I can?t do more in that session. Then I go back to my edited pages and make sure that I inputted those changes correctly.

This is an [i]extremely [/i]important step. It is very easy to make a mistake, especially if you?re inputting several changes. So I check to make sure that I actually made every change I intended to make.

Going back to the wind swept through the valley example, on my desk will be the page with those words, which at this point should have a line through them from my initial edit, and they should also be circled, noting that I inputted the change. I then read that section on screen to confirm. If I inputted the change correctly, I strike a line, in pen, through that circled phrase?usually in different color ink. This tells me I inputted the change correctly and can move on. If I didn?t make the change?if I missed it for some reason?I do it then.

If this seems like a tedious process, well … it is. But it allows me to catch a lot of little editing mistakes that are inevitable.

[b]Second Read:[/b]

The second read is where I like to mix things up a bit. It?s not a common process?at least not to my knowledge?but I find that it?s a very big help. Rather than re-reading that same 50-page section for a second time?in sequence?I read the chapters out of sequence, in some random order.

So instead of reading chapters 1-4 in that order … 1, 2, 3, 4 … I?ll read them 3, 2, 4 and then 1.

Why? Fair question.

When I read anything in sequence, multiple times?whether it?s a page, a single chapter or a chunk of chapters?I start to anticipate the words and their flow. I start skimming. Since, in my mind, I?m really thinking?I know what comes next?I?m not as focused as I could be. Instead, if I?m reading chapters out of order, my brain kinda says: Dude, whoa, that?s not right. Wait. Let me take a closer look at this. Which is my point exactly.

Reading out of sequence forces me to look at each individual chapter, the pages?and even paragraphs?more closely than I normally would have. And since at this point I?m more focused on nuance than flow, that focused attention again helps me catch little things?words, phrases?that maybe I overlooked the first time. It?s a new way to look at something I?ve already done.

And then I edit on page as I?ve described above.

Once I?ve wrapped up a 50-page section, I start with the next 50 pages, and do the process all over again. And on and on until I?ve then re-edited the entire manuscript, which I?m doing now.

So this is just a little peak into the world of this writer, trying to bring the ideas swirling in my head to you.

An interesting thing happened to me?writing-wise?and it?s been one of those really unexpected blessings that came in disguise.

As I wrote about recently, I had a fairly prominent literary agency respond to my new query letter, requesting–pretty energetically–to read the first 50 pages of Finders Keepers. Naturally, I was pretty jazzed up about it. So I went back to my manuscript and gave it a thoroughly read-through, and to my surprise?and delight?I was able to snip and prune those pages An interesting thing happened to me?writing-wise?and it?s been one of those really unexpected blessings that came in disguise.

As I wrote about recently, I had a fairly prominent literary agency respond to my new query letter, requesting–pretty energetically–to read the first 50 pages of Finders Keepers. Naturally, I was pretty jazzed up about it. So I went back to my manuscript and gave it a thoroughly read-through, and to my surprise?and delight?I was able to snip and prune those pages so that they were tighter and cleaner than ever.

I haven?t spent much time on my manuscript in about six months, so I?ve got a little more perspective now. Fresh eyes. Even though the agency ultimately passed on my manuscript ($%#@!), it motivated me to read not just the first 50 pages, but the entire book.

So for the last two weeks I?ve been reading and re-reading pages, making mostly minor edits, just giving Finders Keepers a nice polish.

And then it happened.

After zinging along as a reader, I started to notice that there were some scenes?while I felt well written and accomplishing what I initially intended?were redundant. It?s like a movie director looking at the entire film, sitting in the editing room, and saying?you know what? As much as it kills me to do it, I think we can cut this scene.

I?m still editing, and probably will be for about another two weeks, but I?m finding a chapter here, a chapter there, that can probably go. It?s allowing me to trim the manuscript down so that it?s really tight and clean, which is always the goal. It also helps with pacing, keeping the plot moving along.

So once again, something really positive comes out of a seeming setback. And Finders Keepers is better for it.

Hi Gang,

Sorry for the lack of posts the last few days. Had some computer issues, but they seem to be all better now.

Blogs coming …Hi Gang,

Sorry for the lack of posts the last few days. Had some computer issues, but they seem to be all better now.

Blogs coming …

Okay, so I wasn’t in my best mood yesterday, and here I am, back it, getting back in the groove. I admit, I’m still a little stung by that last rejection letter, but already I’m better and getting my mojo back.

In fact, I’ve been editing like crazy, tweaking and slicing, to get Finders Keepers into the best shape its ever been in. Granted, I could spend a lifetime editing, but I feel really good about this round, as I’m not doing any major rewriting or changing. Just a nip there, a tuck theOkay, so I wasn’t in my best mood yesterday, and here I am, back it, getting back in the groove. I admit, I’m still a little stung by that last rejection letter, but already I’m better and getting my mojo back.

In fact, I’ve been editing like crazy, tweaking and slicing, to get Finders Keepers into the best shape its ever been in. Granted, I could spend a lifetime editing, but I feel really good about this round, as I’m not doing any major rewriting or changing. Just a nip there, a tuck there. It’s like pruning a plant. Every now and then it needs a little attention so that it can bloom.

And so I’ll be spending about the next two weeks giving it a spit shine while I prepare for the next batch of query letters which I’ll be sending out soon.

Sometimes you just gotta take one on the chin. It ain’t the worst thing that ever happened, and it’ll certainly happen again, sooner or later. It’s all part of the process. Sometimes it’s better to get roughed up a bit so that you’re game tested.

Now that I’m all Rocky Balboaed up, let me get back to the work and get this baby out there …

The best part of being a writer, perhaps not surprisingly, is writing. You?re invested, you’re creative, you get to express yourself and have fun. As a writer, you are the lord of the page. What you say, goes. It ain’t half bad.

What can be less fun is the business side of publishing. Finding an agent, getting published. Given the nature of publishing, there?s just an inherent mound of rejection that comes with it, just like with actors or musicians or any other arts-type activity. Getting The best part of being a writer, perhaps not surprisingly, is writing. You?re invested, you’re creative, you get to express yourself and have fun. As a writer, you are the lord of the page. What you say, goes. It ain’t half bad.

What can be less fun is the business side of publishing. Finding an agent, getting published. Given the nature of publishing, there?s just an inherent mound of rejection that comes with it, just like with actors or musicians or any other arts-type activity. Getting accepted into the club often depends upon the whimsy of others?and oh, what fun that is.

When you get in … it is fun. Way fun. Getting rejection notices … less fun. And like most writers, I?ve got a huge pile of them, sort of a badge of honor, so that when you finally break through you can say, ?see, I made it through all this and now I?m here.?

I?ve had a few things published over the years, and it always feels good. And I certainly have my stack of rejection letters. Truthfully, none of them are fun to get, but they don?t all sting that much. Sometimes you go approach an agent or a publisher thinking that it?s a long-shot anyway, or it?s probably not a great fit, but, oh, what the hell, go for it anyway.

But sometimes it stings. It can really take the wind out of your sails now and again. It just happened to me. After sending out my revised query, and feeling good about it, a fairly prominent agency asked me to see 50 pages of Finders Keepers. And it was a neat little letter, too, with exclamation points and everything.

So there I was, all excited?trying not to get too excited?spending several days feverishly re-reading my manuscript to make sure it was as neat and tight as I could get it. And then I dropped it in the mail, really wanting this to be the one, and then hoping for the best. Feeling like, maybe this one could be it. Don?t want to get too overanxious, but I?m feeling the vibe. It’s the most optimistic I’ve been through the entire process.

And then the email came. That dreaded note with the phrase ?… but unfortunately, we didn’t feel your project would allow us effectively to represent you …?

… Sigh …

I know that every [i]no [/i]just gets me one step closer to a [i]yes[/i], but right now?in this moment?it stings, I?m a bit deflated. I hate this part.

By tomorrow or the next day, I?ll be just fine. I?ll be right back at it, as always, getting those letters out and doing what I love to do most?writing. I mean, [i]man[/i] I love to write. It?s a part of me. It?s who I am. And no amount of ?unfortunately? letters could ever take that away.

Getting published and writing are mutually exclusive. You don’t have to get published to keep writing. And I’ll write no matter what. It’s just that times like these remind me of those differences–that writing is one thing, getting published is another. And if I want both, I have to be willing to deal with both. The ups and downs. The excitement and bummer.

Today was a bummer.

Tomorrow’s a new day.

Within the last few weeks I sent out a bunch of queries with my revised letter, and so far I’m getting a few nibbles, which has me feeling kinda good. So my plan is to do another mass mailing over the next few weeks and get those letters back in circulation. It’s funny just how much the query letter–the pitch–can make all the difference. My novel hasn’t changed on bit. It’s Finders Keepers as it’s been.

But now it seems more appealing to [i]other [/i]people. And quite frankly, to myselfWithin the last few weeks I sent out a bunch of queries with my revised letter, and so far I’m getting a few nibbles, which has me feeling kinda good. So my plan is to do another mass mailing over the next few weeks and get those letters back in circulation. It’s funny just how much the query letter–the pitch–can make all the difference. My novel hasn’t changed on bit. It’s Finders Keepers as it’s been.

But now it seems more appealing to [i]other [/i]people. And quite frankly, to myself as well. I’ve been working with Finders Keepers for so long, been so close to it, that I lost a little perspective. And now I’m re-energized, filled with more passion for it than I’ve had in quite a while. Not that I wasn’t passionate before, but I’m seeing Finders Keepers and it’s possibilities in new ways. I’m seeing in a way that I can present to others that they get. Where I’m seeing that [i]whoa! [/i]in their eyes.

And yet there’s work to be done. I know there are no guarantees, no automatics in publishing, so I’ll be digging in and promoting, promoting, promoting.

As always, I’ll keep you posted.

A few years ago during a biz trip to San Francisco I was staying at the Westin St. Francis near Union Square. I was dying for a steak, and asked the concierge for a recommendation. He pointed me to John’s Grill, not far from there.

Last night I had yet another dinner at John’s Grill, my third or fourth by now, and every time it’s a winner. It’s a pretty small place, but it’s also been designated as a literary landmark, as it was the impetus for some scenes in the Maltese Falcon (the book),A few years ago during a biz trip to San Francisco I was staying at the Westin St. Francis near Union Square. I was dying for a steak, and asked the concierge for a recommendation. He pointed me to John’s Grill, not far from there.

Last night I had yet another dinner at John’s Grill, my third or fourth by now, and every time it’s a winner. It’s a pretty small place, but it’s also been designated as a literary landmark, as it was the impetus for some scenes in the Maltese Falcon (the book), which for me is kinda cool, being a writer type and all.

Last night I went with the jumbo shrimp coctail, a porterhouse steak and a cold beer. Nice.

So if you’re in San Francisco and you’re looking for a meal that will not disappoint, check out John’s Grill.

My personal favorite.

I’m out in San Francisco right now wrapping up the last leg of my spring work tour. I stayed an extra day to just chill out and relax, and I’ve gotta say, I can’t remember the last time I just had a whole day to myself, away from it all, with no plans or responsibilities. It’s kinda nice.

So far this morning I went for a swim, had waffles and bananas for breakfast, found my way to an arcade and played killer games of Ms. Pacman and Galaga, and did a little browsing in the Virgin Megastore.I’m out in San Francisco right now wrapping up the last leg of my spring work tour. I stayed an extra day to just chill out and relax, and I’ve gotta say, I can’t remember the last time I just had a whole day to myself, away from it all, with no plans or responsibilities. It’s kinda nice.

So far this morning I went for a swim, had waffles and bananas for breakfast, found my way to an arcade and played killer games of Ms. Pacman and Galaga, and did a little browsing in the Virgin Megastore. And all before 11 am. Now [i]that’s[/i] my kinda morning!

Not exactly sure what I’ll wind up doing today, although I suspect I’ll be making my way to movies–I think it’s gonna be Knocked U–and the day will very likely end with a steak and a beer at John’s Grill, which over the years has become one of my favorite restaurants anywhere.

Even though it’s June 1 it’s only about 60 degrees here, and it’s pretty overcast, so it’s not quite the stellar weather I was hoping for, but still … a free day in San Francisco just ain’t half bad at all.

That’s about it for now. Looking forward to a relaxing day, and then heading back to the Big Apple tomorrow.

Ooh. I hear the trolley bell ringing. Gotta go!