re: 3rd Draft . . . Last draft?
posted 12/30/10Dear Editor…
Now I’m ready to work on the third draft of my YA novel. I’ve never been here before. How do I do this? Should I start over for the 3rd time or just edit parts of it that need work? Is this still the cutting down on characters/bettering the plot time? How do you know when you’re done?
Sincerely,
Melody
Click here to read the answer...re: Lie, Lay, and Other Grammar Issues in Dialogue
posted 12/27/10Dear Editor…
I (now) know the difference between lie and lay, but I was wondering if this grammar rule had to be followed in dialogue? I would like my character to talk about “laying out” and tanning but trying to say it grammatically correct seems too stilted and wrong. What’s the verdict?
Sincerely,
Rachel
Click here to read the answer...re: Happy Holidays
posted 12/20/10Dear Readers…
With Christmas just days away, I am officially doffing my editor’s hat in favor of a warm, red Mrs. Santa cap. I will switch hats again on Monday and field a new writing question. Until then, my best wishes for a happy holiday full of family, fun, and stockings bulging with writing supplies.
The Editor
Click here to read the answer...re: Submitting a Memior that “Doesn’t Conform”
posted 12/17/10Dear Editor…
I’ve finished my manuscript. It’s about all the drunks, nuts, and abnormal individuals I worked with during thirty years at the Postal Service. Since it doesn’t conform to traditional topics of manuscripts, who do I submit it to?
Sincerely,
Lenny
Click here to read the answer...re: Word Counts for Published Novels
posted 12/13/10Dear Editor…
How do you find out how many words are in a published novel? You mentioned that Bud, Not Buddy was 52,000 words. Did you estimate from the number of pages in the book or is there somewhere we can find out that information?
Thanks,
Becky
Click here to read the answer...re: Is My MG Manuscript Too Wordy?
posted 12/9/10Dear Editor…
Is a 50,000-word MG novel too long? If I send a query to an agent with the word-count, will they be likely to dismiss it based on the word count?
Thanks!
Heather
Click here to read the answer...UPDATE: Podcast Interview with The Editor Now Posted
posted 12/8/10Dear Readers…
As promised, here’s the podcast link to hear The Editor field phoned-in questions about publishing…
Click here to read the answer...re: But Aren’t Proposals for NON-Fiction?
posted 12/7/10Dear Editor…
Please settle a point for me: Don’t proposals only apply to non-fiction? Thanks.
Sincerely,
Robyn
Click here to read the answer...re: Scenes, Chapters . . . What’s the Difference?
posted 12/2/10Dear Editor…
I give up. My writing group keeps telling me that my chapters are really just scenes. I don’t get it. What’s the difference?
Sincerely,
Randalf
Click here to read the answer...