things I’ve learned from the second pass of edits

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(and I’ve had two of them now, which makes four passes in all)

 I use these words too much:
     “continued” (we’re talking 123 times, but I managed to cut it down to 44. No easy task.)
     “scoffed” (I fear I use it incorrectly, as well)
     “paused” (my new go-to is “hesitate.” I might be deleting that one during the third pass.)

I expect people to be mind-readers. They’re not. Not even my editor. Who should be, right? 

I am absolutely rubbish at the proper use of the em-dash.

Speaking of punctuation and over-usages, I also overuse (and misuse) ellipses. We’re all shocked. . . . .

I can’t count – if the way I numbered my chapters is any indication.

Cutting word count is effing hard. I’m much too long-winded for that. Ask anyone.

Evidently, it doesn’t faze this writer when I use the same word four times in one paragraph.

Oh well. Moving on. Here’s to Round Three!

things I’ve learned from the second pass of edits

3 Comments

(and I’ve had two of them now, which makes four passes in all)

 I use these words too much:
     “continued” (we’re talking 123 times, but I managed to cut it down to 44. No easy task.)
     “scoffed” (I fear I use it incorrectly, as well)
     “paused” (my new go-to is “hesitate.” I might be deleting that one during the third pass.)

I expect people to be mind-readers. They’re not. Not even my editor. Who should be, right? 

I am absolutely rubbish at the proper use of the em-dash.

Speaking of punctuation and over-usages, I also overuse (and misuse) ellipses. We’re all shocked. . . . .

I can’t count – if the way I numbered my chapters is any indication.

Cutting word count is effing hard. I’m much too long-winded for that. Ask anyone.

Evidently, it doesn’t faze this writer when I use the same word four times in one paragraph.

Oh well. Moving on. Here’s to Round Three!

Music Monday – "Garden Party"

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Happy Monday. Here’s some music and a musical tale.

The story goes that in 1971, Ricky Nelson was asked to play at Madison Square Garden – along with some other early rock n’ roll acts. When Nelson showed up with long hair and wearing a purple shirt and bell bottoms, the audience was confused and didn’t recognize their dreamy, clean-cut teen idol from the 50’s.

After playing a few of his old hits, he covered the Rolling Stones and introduced some of his new songs. When the audience started to boo, Nelson left the stage and refused to come back on for the finale. Their loss. Then he penned this little ditty. Our gain.

“It’s all right now,
I learned my lesson well,
Ya see, you can’t please everyone
So you got to please yourself.”
~Rick Nelson

Music Monday – "Garden Party"

1 Comment

Happy Monday. Here’s some music and a musical tale.

The story goes that in 1971, Ricky Nelson was asked to play at Madison Square Garden – along with some other early rock n’ roll acts. When Nelson showed up with long hair and wearing a purple shirt and bell bottoms, the audience was confused and didn’t recognize their dreamy, clean-cut teen idol from the 50’s.

After playing a few of his old hits, he covered the Rolling Stones and introduced some of his new songs. When the audience started to boo, Nelson left the stage and refused to come back on for the finale. Their loss. Then he penned this little ditty. Our gain.

“It’s all right now,
I learned my lesson well,
Ya see, you can’t please everyone
So you got to please yourself.”
~Rick Nelson

on being brave, again

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“’Say yes, and you’ll figure it out afterward’ has helped me to be more adventurous. It has definitely helped me be less afraid.”
~Tina Fey 

Whenever I read this quote, I can’t help but think of that LIST I did in preparation of/to celebrate my 40th birthday back in April. 

Man, what a beating that was.

But, ya know what? Sometimes I miss it. I know, I know. . .Writer Chick has finally gone cray-cray, right? But listen. Even though I’m blissfully busy with my various writing projects now, still. . .when I was working on the 40 items on that list, it was like I always had something to do–to engage my mind, something totally exciting to accomplish–even if it was just planning on which list item I was going to tackle next. 

It was an incredibly happy, exhilarating and sometime terrifying time in my life. And I absolutely loved it.

Lately, in quiet moments (ha-ha), I’ve toyed with the idea of making another similar list, 41 items this time, maybe? 

But then I shake  my head, laugh and say: “You be thinking cray-cray again, Writer Chick,” and then I go back to my manuscript like a good little author.

My point is, it’s good to be brave, to take chances, and I guess we don’t need an official list to do that, right?

Stay thirsty, my friends.

on being brave, again

3 Comments

“’Say yes, and you’ll figure it out afterward’ has helped me to be more adventurous. It has definitely helped me be less afraid.”
~Tina Fey 

Whenever I read this quote, I can’t help but think of that LIST I did in preparation of/to celebrate my 40th birthday back in April. 

Man, what a beating that was.

But, ya know what? Sometimes I miss it. I know, I know. . .Writer Chick has finally gone cray-cray, right? But listen. Even though I’m blissfully busy with my various writing projects now, still. . .when I was working on the 40 items on that list, it was like I always had something to do–to engage my mind, something totally exciting to accomplish–even if it was just planning on which list item I was going to tackle next. 

It was an incredibly happy, exhilarating and sometime terrifying time in my life. And I absolutely loved it.

Lately, in quiet moments (ha-ha), I’ve toyed with the idea of making another similar list, 41 items this time, maybe? 

But then I shake  my head, laugh and say: “You be thinking cray-cray again, Writer Chick,” and then I go back to my manuscript like a good little author.

My point is, it’s good to be brave, to take chances, and I guess we don’t need an official list to do that, right?

Stay thirsty, my friends.

Cover reveal – CONJURE

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It thrills me whenever I get to participate in another cover reveal for an Entangled Publishing novel.

Pretty cool, right?
Now, read all about it!

Be careful what you search for…

Emma Guthrie expects this summer to be like any other in the South Carolina Lowcountry–hot and steamy with plenty of beach time alongside her best friend and secret crush, Cooper Beaumont, and Emma’s ever-present twin brother, Jack. But then a mysterious eighteenth-century message in a bottle surfaces, revealing a hidden pirate bounty. Lured by the adventure, the trio discovers the treasure and unwittingly unleashes an ancient Gullah curse that attacks Jack with the wicked flesh-eating Creep and promises to steal Cooper’s soul on his approaching sixteenth birthday.

When a strange girl appears, bent on revenge; demon dogs become a threat; and Jack turns into a walking skeleton; Emma has no choice but to learn hoodoo magic to undo the hex, all before summer—and her friends–are lost forever.

CONJURE on Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/
13425130-conjure
Lea’s website: http://www.leanolan.com/ 
 

Cover reveal – CONJURE

1 Comment
It thrills me whenever I get to participate in another cover reveal for an Entangled Publishing novel.

Pretty cool, right?
Now, read all about it!

Be careful what you search for…

Emma Guthrie expects this summer to be like any other in the South Carolina Lowcountry–hot and steamy with plenty of beach time alongside her best friend and secret crush, Cooper Beaumont, and Emma’s ever-present twin brother, Jack. But then a mysterious eighteenth-century message in a bottle surfaces, revealing a hidden pirate bounty. Lured by the adventure, the trio discovers the treasure and unwittingly unleashes an ancient Gullah curse that attacks Jack with the wicked flesh-eating Creep and promises to steal Cooper’s soul on his approaching sixteenth birthday.

When a strange girl appears, bent on revenge; demon dogs become a threat; and Jack turns into a walking skeleton; Emma has no choice but to learn hoodoo magic to undo the hex, all before summer—and her friends–are lost forever.

CONJURE on Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/
13425130-conjure
Lea’s website: http://www.leanolan.com/