Setting

When I start writing a new book, I love to think about setting, and immerse myself in the story world. Right now, I'm thinking about wide-open spaces and vast, colorful skies. 

Falling in love with a new story is the best feeling.

Done!

So this is my theme song for the week:

I'm DONE with my second round of Black Ice edits! Already, I'm starting to feel like a sane and normal person again. Like, I showered today. And I went running (before showering). And I ate actual food for lunch (not Peanut M&M's). I responded to a few emails (only 974 unread emails left in my inbox. Hey, if I keep it under a thousand, I feel like all's well in Beccaland). And - ta da - I'm blogging!

Of course, finishing this round of edits doesn't mean the book is ready for publication. I still have a third round of edits, copyedits, first-pass pages, and possibly second-pass pages.  I've made it over two very big hurdles, but there are still a few left to jump. I get asked frequently if there is any chance that Black Ice will be published this year. In short, no. I spoke with my editor today, and the 2014 publication date is firm.

If you're wondering what I'll be doing while I wait for my editor to send me my next round of editorial notes, the answer is I'll be working on my next book. Why, didn't you know that's how authors celebrate turning in a book draft? I've had this story in my mind for a couple months and I'm very excited about it. It's a YA romantic suspense set in a small town in Nebraska. Little town, big secrets. I hope to take a road trip to Nebraska soon to scout out locations and take lots of photographs that will help me create the story world in my mind. I think I've mentioned this before, but I love story beginnings. I love the possibility, the potential. For me, there's a certain magic in a blank page. Anything can happen.

xo
Becca      

There's No Secret Handshake

Today Shannon Hale blogged about how every story must sell itself—that there is no secret Publishing Club and once an author is in, they're in for good. I want to add to her thoughts. I've had people suggest (some lightly, some not) that I belong to a secret publishing club, and that I have given my editors advice on which prospective authors to publish. This just isn't realistic. I don't have that kind of power, nor would I want it. My editors have never contacted me to ask my opinion on an author they're thinking about working with. They don't care what I think, and rightfully so. Because the thing is, I don't have to have a great working relationship with the other authors on my editor's list—I only have to have a great working relationship with her.

So if you're a writer and you're working toward publication, please know this. Your story sells itself. It's as simple as that. There is no secret handshake into the publishing world. It's not a popularity contest. When the rejection letters keep rolling in, it's easy to want to blame someone else. It's natural to want to understand why editors keep saying "no."  Trust me, I know. I've been there. But the truth is, established authors aren't conspiring against you. No one is conspiring against you (except maybe yourself). Editors are continually hopeful that the next manuscript they pick up will be the one. They want to love your story.  When they're reading your book, it isn't about you.  It's about the story.  

As Shannon said, it's a pretty level playing field out there. And that's the way it should be. Because when you do get published, you'll feel an immense sense of achievement and satisfaction knowing your book is getting published because it's a darn good story...and not because of external forces you had no control over.

-Becca

Let's Talk Covers

Hi all!

I learned this week that my design team at Simon & Schuster will (hopefully!) start working on BLACK ICE's cover in June or July. In the meantime, my editor asked for any thoughts/input I have. While I don't have a specific design vision, I am going to send her a list of book covers I find deliciously provocative. Below are some of my favorites.

What are some of your favorite book covers?

Long Time No Blog...

Sorry about that. I could give you lots of excuses, but instead I'll give you...a BLACK ICE update! A few weeks ago I sent the first draft of BLACK ICE to my new editor, and now I'm working furiously on her revision suggestions. My due date for these revisions is May 13th--which explains the "working furiously" part!

At book signings, readers will often ask how much power or authority my editor has to make changes to my books. The simple answer is that my books are mine, and I ultimately get to decide what goes into them.  But (and this is a very big but!) I trust my editor's fresh eyes and keen insight, and except for a few rare instances, I've tried to incorporate her suggestions. Sometimes my editor's suggestions are a springboard for new ideas, and I end up taking the story down a path I'd never imagined. I love/hate it when that happens. I love making my story stronger, but like most humans, I'm lazy, and sometimes I dread the idea of writing lots of extra pages. Writing equals work, and don't you forget it!

With this first round of revisions for BLACK ICE, my editor sent me a twelve-page letter detailing all of her concerns with the book. Confusing character names, weak character development, plot problems, logistics of the crimes, and her suggestion to completely remove the small, albeit present, paranormal element. She followed up the letter with a three-hour phone call, where we picked apart my characters' motivations and tried to nail down what each character wants, and what stands in their way. By the end of the phone call, I think we were both very excited to see a glimmer of a darn good story floating out there on the horizon. And editing is the process by which I try my best to make that distant vision something real.

I am all about checklists (I have a love affair with crossing things off in pink marker), so one of my editing strategies is to print off all of my editor's notes, and as I go through my story making revisions, I rather gleefully check off my to-do/to-edit items. It's one way to keep things organized and to track progress. 

What about you?  Do you have any editing tips/tricks?

Becca