Spring \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 Bloodroot Moon<\/p>\n
Up early and down to the western burbs to the beautiful home of Lonnie and Stefan Helgeson on the banks of Minnehaha Creek. \u00a0Stefan expanded on his written critiques of Missing, all helpful. \u00a0Each beta reader has had a different perspective, offering me a valuable look at the manuscript, that of the reader.<\/p>\n
Here’s an example. \u00a0Each time I had a clearing in the forest, it had a stream. \u00a0Trouble is, as Stefan points out, streams don’t often flow through clearings since trees and shrubs tend to grow up along their banks. \u00a0What I had done, invisible to me, was provide a stream with a clearing each time the horses needed to stop for water. \u00a0In solving one problem I created another. \u00a0This kind of thing does not become obvious without help.<\/p>\n
Others found the frequent use of the first person distracting from the story; Stefan found it engaging for exactly the reasons I had wanted to use it. \u00a0Perhaps the best solution lies somewhere in between.<\/p>\n
This is the last but one of the beta readers to check in and I’m almost finished with my read through. \u00a0Probably this week. \u00a0Then, I begin revising in earnest, going back over everyone’s comments one more time, getting a preliminary strategy and starting the rewrite.<\/p>\n
With five other novels written I know this revision process is the piece that has stood between me and publication. \u00a0Well, I can hear Kate say, there is that marketing piece, too. \u00a0And she’s right. \u00a0But the two together. \u00a0Then I can start working the various markets. \u00a0With the short stories, too.<\/p>\n
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Spring \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 Bloodroot Moon Up early and down to the western burbs to the beautiful home of Lonnie and Stefan Helgeson on … Continue reading Rewriting<\/span>