a bridge to the quiet planet

The Editing Haul

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(This column is posted at www.StevenSavage.com and Steve’s Tumblr.  Find out more at my newsletter.)

OK folks, I’m in the end run of editing A Bridge To The Quiet Planet.  This is a long haul, and there’s a lot to do, so I might not be posting here as much for November . . . or I’m going to be making all sorts of bizarre and incoherent assessments.

It’s weird to finish up a novel.  It’s been awhile since I’ve done fiction, and I forgot just how much it differs from nonfiction.  Fortunately with my great pre-readers and my fantastic editor, it looks pretty good.

However, I’m also a perfectionist, so I’m taking an extra run to get this right.

Stay tuned . . .

Steven Savage

Steve’s Update 10/27/2018

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(This column is posted at www.StevenSavage.com and Steve’s Tumblr.  Find out more at my newsletter.)

Sorry I missed my last update, things got a bit busy.  So let’s go

So what have I done the last week(s)?

  • A Bridge To The Quiet Planet:  Editor comments addressed, Grammarly check run, and two chapters through the next-to-last readthrough!  Plus the cover layout is done, I just have to work on turning it to a final draft!
  • Way With Worlds: So close to being done here.  Still not sure if it’ll be out in November or December; that depends on editing.
  • Other: I had a lot going on, with a wedding and more, and a lot of work to boot.  Still, back on top of that!

What am I going to do this next week?

  • A Bridge To The Quiet Planet: I want to try to complete my first readthrough.
  • Way With Worlds: Finish writing this, perhaps think over my next plans.
  • Other: We’ll see how the week goes!  I do have some other projects beside the above I’d like to get back to.

Steven Savage

Steve’s Update 10/13/2018

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(This column is posted at www.StevenSavage.com and Steve’s Tumblr.  Find out more at my newsletter.)

My weekly update.  Sadly not too exciting because . . . well, editing.

So what have I done the last week?

  • A Bridge To The Quiet Planet:  Editing away, and two more chapters to go!
  • Way With Worlds: Writing away as well on the organization book (still due November, but we’ll see).  This one is turning out surprisingly good as, well, I manage professionally.
  • Other: Not too many other updates here because of my focus on the novel.  More on that below.

What am I going to do this week?

  • A Bridge To The Quiet Planet: Finish editing the chapters and probably posting most of them for betas.  Then gear up for a “polishing” readthrough.
  • Way With Worlds: Writing of course!

Long-term, I’ve learned a few things on my writing from the novel.  I share this as my status updates make them clear:

  • First, I do best with a good outline – then just vomiting things onto the page.  This works in fiction and in my nonfiction.
  • Secondly, things like Grammarly and other editing programs are absolute godsends.  They are best used as early as possible.
  • Third, I think in the future I will alternate between “doing several things” and “focusing on one thing,” not one or the other.  For instance, the novel would be better written in a fast vomit draft then edited, but except for that “vomit phase” I’d be better off doing two things at once to keep my mind fresh.

Steven Savage