On Friday, my lovely editor sent me a revision letter for Girl from Mars, so I’ve got to drop everything (including YouTube soaps) and get to work on that now. Of course, down deep, as an author you always want your editor to tell you “This is great, a work of genius, don’t change a single thing” but actually, it’s much better to have revisions to make the book stronger.
In this case, nearly all of her revisions focus around doing something that I know I wasn’t capable of doing when I wrote the book originally. I’ve spent so many years being so focused and disciplined in my stories that the idea of breaking out a little bit makes me hyperventilate. However, distance, time and having written another book makes me more confident of being able to do what she’s asking. It’s exciting.
Today, I started reading the manuscript, which I haven’t done since last spring. I sat on my bed with it spread out around me and attacked it with pens. I got about a third of the way through. My best guess is I’m going to have to write two or three new scenes, and change the focus of several more.
Tomorrow, though, I have the day off because I’m going to the RNA Awards Lunch in Kensington to see my lovely agent and lovely editor and lots of my lovely lovely fellow romantic novelist friends. More snow is predicted (the south of England is brought to its knees by an inch or two of snow) and I’m coming down with a cold but I will not be deterred! I have a new dress and I will wear it!!!
Happy editing…happy lunch
Enjoy the lunch