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Wednesday, August 29, 2007

Thursday Thirteen #18


Thirteen Things You Need To Know About The EDITS CAVE

I'm in the Edits Cave at the moment working on edits for my next book for Samhain Publishing.

Authors, here's what you need to remember when you're heading into the edits cave. (If you have any other tips, feel free to share.) Readers, here's a look inside the glamorous world of writing. :-)

1. You need plenty of dark chocolate (or snack of your choice).

2. You can be in there a short time or a long time, depending on the length of the book and the amount of edits to be done.

3. It’s lonely in the edits cave.

4. Being in the edits cave is a good thing. It means your book is closer to a release date.

5. Remember to stand up and move around occasionally, otherwise when you finally stand up you won’t be able to walk without hunching over.

6. Wear comfortable clothing. You’re going to be there a while.

7. Remember to drink plenty of water.

8. Rotate your wrists occasionally so you don’t get “mouse” wrist, which is really stiffness and slight pain in your wrist.

9. Put your dictionary and thesaurus within easy reach. You will use them both—frequently.

10. Remember to take bathroom breaks. Don’t keep telling yourself that you will go just as soon as you finish this section, chapter, etc…

11. Don’t try and do it all in one sitting, even if there aren’t that many edits.

12. Take frequent breaks. If you’re tired, you may rush and make mistakes.

13. Did I mention that lots of dark chocolate is a must!

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26 comments:

  1. Anonymous8:41 PM

    LOL! Great list, NJ! I also tell friends and family to forget they know me for a few days.

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  2. Anonymous8:57 PM

    Great list. I love my computer thesaurus.

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  3. charleneteglia11:14 PM

    You forgot #14: Email friends every five minutes with questions such as, "Help, NJ, editor says pg. 26 is too late to introduce ugly dog. Where can I put him in sooner?"

    Yes, I am in the editing cave, why do you ask? *grabs the dark chocolate*

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  4. N.J.Walters7:53 AM

    Doesn't do any good to tell my family that, Nic. LOL Although, hubby is always fantastic, reminding me to step away from the computer occassionally.

    It's funny, but I still use the old-fashioned paper dictionary and thesarus, Michelle. LOL I'm a dinasour.

    Amen, Charli. Every book has different challenges. I swear that the word "that" should have been taken off my keyboard for this book. What the heck was I thinking?

    Good luck in the edits cave! I have to run to the store at some point today--need more dark chocolate. :-)

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  5. charleneteglia8:20 AM

    Different challenges, yep. Because we learn from our mistakes, but every book gives us the opportunity to make new ones! *ggg* Enjoy your chocolate.

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  6. Rhian9:02 AM

    oh this is great! so that's what i have to look forward to. On the bright side - excuse to eat mo' chocolate...rich, dark, yummy chocolate... ahhhhh - excuse me - running off to find the hidden candy bar.

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  7. Tilly Greene9:37 AM

    Yup, think you hit most of it...although I include red vines with the chocolate...mix it up a bit :-)

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  8. Ann9:45 AM

    Great list, but you forgot the coffee, must have coffee. And iced tea. *runs to fridge*. Happy TT.

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  9. LA Day9:48 AM

    Great list NJ! I'm in there right now with Zarius. Hmmm, I wish Zarius was in there with me.

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  10. Erin the Innocent10:21 AM

    Good luck with the edits :)

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  11. N.J.Walters12:35 PM

    LOL There's always a good excuse to eat chocolate, Rhian. :-)

    Whatever you need, Tilly! It's all good.

    I don't drink coffee, Ann. Gave it up over two years ago. Water, lots and lots of water.

    LOL Good luck in the edits Cave, Laura!

    Thanks, Erin!

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  12. Ann Aguirre12:47 PM

    Charlene, that's so true. Hehe.

    I don't like dark chocolate, though.

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  13. Anonymous1:06 PM

    Aw, I always take my cat into the cave with me.

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  14. Joely Sue Burkhart2:43 PM

    I buried my sister with frantic e-mails on my first round, but she was out of town and I had to talk myself down off the ledge. :-) Happy TT and congrats--you're right that the release is that much closer!!

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  15. Mechele Armstrong2:47 PM

    Ah yes. Nice list. Especially the snack of choice and getting up frequently. LOL my foot goes to sleep a lot.

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  16. Daisy Dexter Dobbs3:22 PM

    Your list is right on, NJ! I don't mind editing too much except when it pulls me away from another manuscript I'm working on. Having to jump back and forth drives me crazy. Worse yet is if you've got edits from 2 pubs going on at once. Can you say insanity? Oh, mama! Bring me a truckload of chocolate! :-0

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  17. N.J.Walters4:01 PM

    Good to have company in the cave, Ciar.

    Hey, Joely. The first ones are always the hardest. Although, my hubby is used to the screams demanding help. LOL

    Snacks of choice are a necessity, Mechele. I find the backs of my legs get numb.

    That is insanity, Daisy! I'd just started a new book and I'm so out of it now it will probably take a few days to get my head back into it when I'm done with edits. I'm expecting edits from another publisher any day now as well. But, it's all good. Means release days are closer!

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  18. Denise McDonald4:32 PM

    SO funny and so terrible dead on!

    best of luck w/ the edits!

    Happy TT

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  19. Unknown4:51 PM

    I've been in the writing cave all month it's about the same. lol Great list and good luck with those edits! :)

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  20. Unknown5:15 PM

    HEHE I hope you have enough dark chocolate!

    Happy Thursday.

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  21. MsSnarkyPants5:37 PM

    I hope you have a comfy chair! Shouldn't writing spaces have a replicator like on star trek so you can have chocolate at a moment's notice!

    Finally got my internet back! My Cable man is my hero!!!

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  22. Tink5:47 PM

    I do #10 all the time when I'm on the computer... even when I'm just surfing or whatever. Stupid me! Lots of success in the edits cave; I hope you'll be free soon. :-)
    Thanks for visiting my activities TT.

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  23. N.J.Walters7:51 PM

    Thanks, Denise.

    They're not so different, Samantha. Although, when I write, I'm not usually on such a tight deadline. Good luck in the writing cave.

    LOL Is there such a thing as enough dark chocolate, E?

    Glad you got your cable back, Lesley! The chair isn't bad, but no desk chair is comfy after a couple of hours. LOL


    Hey, Tink. I do that all the time too. I'll just answer one more email, or do one more thing. LOL

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  24. L^29:58 PM

    Good luck with the editing. Chocolate always makes the task more enjoyable. :-)

    Thanks for visiting my TT!

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  25. Robin L. Rotham10:37 PM

    I always look forward to edits, believe it or not. I hate not knowing what's wrong with my manuscript and I love someone else telling me how to fix it, LOL!

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  26. N.J.Walters7:51 AM

    Thanks l^2! Got lots of chocolate!

    I enjoy edits, Robin. They can be overwhelming at times, but I love making the book better and bringing it closer to release!

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