Pulling it all apart!

It is that time. I’ve written Tallis, which is the next book in the DI Grace Tallis series and now it is back from my editor, I have to do the real work.

Some writers sit down, put their fingers on the keyboard and find that a story just comes to them and all they have to do is put down what comes to them. Others like to plan the book, in varying degrees of detail. I’m in the latter group. I like to plan my book out carefully, so I know, each time I chisel time out of my day to write, that I know where the plot is going.

Either way works, in a creative world there is no right and wrong, whatever is the easiest for the particular writer. Regardless of the way the book has been written, by a pantser, letting the story flow randomly, or a plotter who has the story worked out beforehand, the characters have a way of taking over and doing their own thing.

Once the book is finished the loose ends, unanswered questions, story line flaws have to be ironed out. This is the work of an editor. They are the uninvolved eye that sees all of the errors, those clumsy sentences and awkward flaws that an author cannot see.

Some authors hate working with editors, their work is too precious to be taken apart by someone else. I love it. I enjoy the whole process, going deeply into the plot and working out those glitches where the story doesn’t work, the characters aren’t true and the plot doesn’t make sense.

I’m halfway through the first edit, sorting out some minor and some pretty major issues with the story. Once this is finished I’ll go back and review some of the comments I’ve made while doing the first edit, some questions I haven’t yet answered.

Once that is complete the book will be ready to be proof read and then will finally be ready. It’s a work in progress and I’m making progress. Slowly.