How are things going with the edit?

Thought it was about time I brought you up to date with how my ‘BIG’ edit is going. Well, so far the first eight chapters have gone out to my ever-so kind readers, who right at the moment, are ploughing valiantly ahead through the fog and mire of my writing. Honestly, if there were some kind of award that I could give for this service, I would. At least with a couple of them I have the honour and pleasure of returning the service.

I’ve found that when I open each chapter again, it’s like settling back into conversation with old friends. It’s not exactly been months since the words were written, but it’s the same kind of feeling you get when you’re walking down a street you’ve not been down for a while and approaching from the distance is a shape that’s familiar, yet at the same time somewhat of a stranger. So, open arms and embrace time.

Reading the words aloud gets me looks from my work colleagues when I do this at lunch-times, but I think most of them know what I write by now and have given up asking me where all the blood and gore is. That may be in the next one which is in the early planning stages – hello Mills and Boon Medical! And please don’t ask me where that idea came from. Actually, I think it was a song? BBC Radio 2 has a lot to answer for as I was driving in to work a while back and there was a Tina Turner song – Private Dancer – playing and I had to scribble down another idea when I got to work before I forgot.

Sorry, off track again. So, open arms…well, I’m relearning things about my characters and my ‘Cuttings’ folder is growing daily. Only small sentences for the main, but the feeling that things are getting tighter and that it’s reading better is already coming on. Whether that means it’s any good or not, well, that’s not up to me because no matter what I think, it’s what happens when it’s finally ready to go off to the RNA NWS reader. But, so far, so good. I’m noting down every little characteristic and other noteworthy issue for each and every character and situation to make certain things do tally. Slightly surprisingly, I haven’t made too many mistakes so far – but now I’ve said that I’m bound to find some humongous ones!

Is this an enjoyable activity? Nope and I challenge you to find (even a mega-successful) author who says it is. Doesn’t change anything though so, off I now plod to bring up chapter 9, but at least I’m over halfway there.

BTW. HarryPotterWorld at Watford is awesome fun even if I had to ‘patiently ask’ some school children if they would mind not crowding onto the Knight Bus so my lady wife can take my picture! Butterbeer anyone?

Every fortnight, Mick will be chatting about his experience as a male author in the romantic genre. Mick is a forty-something member of the Romantic Novelists Association, New Writers Scheme. He lives in Northamptonshire and is the proud keeper of a cat bent on world domination.When he’s not trying to write books, Mick has a deep-seated love of reading that he’s brought from his teens to the current day with no signs of waning. He’s also mad on the music of the Beach Boys and enjoys the theatre and humouring his Manchester United supporting wife. Mick can be followed on Twitter. 

by

Mick Arnold

Mick reviews books and will also be chatting about his experience as a male author in the romantic genre. Mick is a member of the Romantic Novelists Association, New Writers Scheme. He lives in Northamptonshire and is the proud keeper of two cats, Gus and Elphaba. When he’s not trying to write books, Mick has a deep-seated love of reading that he’s brought from his teens to the current day with no signs of waning. He’s also mad on the music of the Beach Boys and enjoys the theatre and humouring his Manchester United supporting wife. Mick can be followed on Twitter: @mick859