It’s amazing how those few seconds of, “Gosh I feel great, so refreshed.” can turn into “Oh CRAP!”

In some ways, sleeping in was worth it. I awoke to a great half-dream that will make an awesome story. (now I just have to write down the premise before I forget it). It’s not so great because I want to get a few things around the house completed before I head over to hang out with some of my favourite writers for camaraderie and mutual cheer-leading.

I’m very excited because I set up the final two sections of my next novel to be edited. I have less than 8000 words left to proofread and then it’s on to the final polishing. ‘Hiding in Plain Sight’ should be online and ready for sale by the end of June. Whee!!

In the meantime, I’ve got 2 short stories almost ready for sale and two more about to be proofread. Smashwords and a few of the distributors have a short story sections in their online stores. I figure it’s time to start experimenting with them.

And of course, I’ll remind you that AESCIFI is still looking for sponsors and backers to help them get their online/print magazine off the ground. If you’re looking for an investment or advertising opportunity, take a look. They’re doing their fundraising through kickstarter, so everything is above-board and legitimate.

I’ve been in a writing group with Helen for a couple of years and have had several conversations with Duff about the project. They are real people and their plans for this magazine are bang on the money.

While they’re fundraising they’re running a Microfiction contest. Even if you’re not interested in entering, read the entries, some of them are quite good.

I have to say it was fun.

Not that I was expecting it to be boring or stressful, but new experiences can be tough, for everyone involved. I think we all passed the challenge with flying colours.

Even my voice held up – sort of. I sat down at the table armed with cough drops, gingerale and hot tea and some Kleenex… just in case I started stuffing up again… not because I was afraid they’d make me cry. No, really.

It was nice to see my theory validated. “Editing other people’s work makes it easier to spot errors in your own.” Ok, so maybe it’s just the first part that’s been validated so far. We shall see about the rest, but I have great faith. The force is strong with these two

*sighs* I have GOT to stop quoting Star Wars!

I’m very lucky. I have a group of amazing people around me who are supportive and encouraging. Some of them I’ve brought even closer and they’ve become part of my process. They not only keep me to task on my deadlines, they are active participants in my editing methods. They are the angels (or devils) on my shoulder as I go through my novel chapter my chapter polishing here and rewriting there.

I make it sound easy don’t I?

Being part of an editing group is perhaps the most stressful association I’ve ever had. Sure we laugh and joke and enjoy our time together, but it’s much harder to have someone you like and trust, point out your silly errors than a complete stranger, in a city far away, sitting at a huge editor’s desk, judging your work worthy… or not.

Line by line edits can be soul crushing.

Over the past months I’ve forgotten how hard it can be. The members of my group and I have grown used to each others styles and know how to give a critique without being rude or obnoxious or inadvertently push each other’s buttons. Over the past few years, other people have come and gone without much fanfare. They’ve been friends of the other members so for me, there’s been nothing personal at stake.

Now, I’m the one bringing in the friend. Suddenly I’m terrified, but in a good way.

It’s time for me to put my money where my mouth is, so to speak. Even though we’ve been writing pals for a few years and I’ve edited some of his stuff, this will be the first time he reads anything I’ve written. Not only will he read it, he will critique it as well.

I’m sure you can hear my knees knocking together in fright.

My pride hopes he doesn’t find anything really stupid mistakes in my prose. He’s more of an expert in sci-fi than I am. If some of my science doesn’t quite jive, I’ll be grateful for his correction. His background is very different from my other editing partners, which is a plus. My readers won’t be the same, so neither should my editors.

I know it’s illogical, but it will be harder to hit send on my submission this week. But what’s life without a few challenges along the way?

I have two books that we’re planning on getting online for sale at the end of November. I’m getting the final edits back from my editors tomorrow. Somewhere duiring the month of November I have to find time to incorporate the fixes into my manuscript and get it formatted and ready to go on sale.

We’re working with a couple of talented writers who are doing a bunch of short stories around an alternate world to Earth. We’ve read some of the stories and can’t wait to see the rest. They’ll be comin gout way in the next few weeks as well. (almost managed to resist the urge to dance around the room – almost)

I’m half way through editing the novel written by my business partner and fellow managing editor of Paperbox Books Publishing. It’s awesome, I keep losing myself in the story forgetting that I’m supposed to be checking it for errors and inconsistencies. Happily, there aren’t many.

Oh and I’m buildig a couple of websites for my other business, SNB Consulting Services too.

If it’s true that idle hands are the devil’s tools, he doesn’t stand a chance with me

I’ve always been a writer. I know that might sound a bit pretentious but it’s true. I’ve always told stories. I still have notebooks from creative writing classes back in elementary school and realize I was pretty darn good. Mom was right

Yesterday I was in a bit of a funk. I wanted to write but the business side of writing was rearing it’s ugly head and had to be dealt with. Some days that stuff isn’t my favourite, but it get’s me to where I have to go so I do it, even though I’d much rather be writing.

Today, everything is in line and I’m blasting through my to do list. My reward? Nano starts on Sunday. If you’ve never heard of NaNoWriMo.org here’s the deets.

We start November 1st and write a 50,000 word novel by the end of the month. It works out to 1666.67 words per day which is totally doable.

My first year doing NaNo I was completely behind. We’re talking by 12,000 words. I’d barely started my story and it was the morning of November 11th. I decided to shun housework, errands and my roommate (he’s my youngest brother, so that was easy enough) and write. After lunch I decided his tiptoeing around me was more distracting than helpful, I packed up my laptop and headed out to one of the coffee shops down the street.

By end of day, I’d written 9,000 words. I was back in the race.

Leson learned though. The next day I was completely brain-dead (yes, more than usual) so I’ve resolved never to let that happen to me again.

NaNoWriMo.org has expanded a lot even in the three years I’ve been participating. It’s not just about writing in November. Many of us have stuck together throughout the year, writing (although not at that crazy pace) and encouraging each other. If you love to write, I say Do IT. Even if you don’t make the 50,000 words the process is a true learning experience and chances are, you’ll exceed your own expectations.

Speaking of wwriting, it’s time to go back and do some more of the not as fun writing. Business processes and editing – whee!!