May 29, 2010

The joys of editing...

Writing is definitely a love/hate relationship. Editing, on the other hand, is a hate/hate relationship. So just to make it official, I hate editing!
Why can't Draft 1 ... or even Draft 2... just be perfect the way it is? It would make life so much easier for the writer. I can hear Heather and Trav out there saying 'I told you so' so I will admit that yes, most of it I brought upon myself in my frenzy to complete Draft 1 by 12/31 last year. Still, dissecting every little scene and conversation trying to determine if I chose just the right word to describe a character's expression or action, trying to determine the best order to put the scenes in for story flow, trying to figure out if the character dashed into the room or if he just hurried into the room...
But, I can't complain too much. Editing is just another part of helping the reader experience the world I've created. It's part of helping them get to know my characters. Really, it's part of getting my work accepted and published so that readers can experience it at all.
So, with that in mind, I'll stop my complaining ... and get back to editing Son of The Shield.

May 24, 2010

Book Review: Fable Weaver, by Carlie Gernhart

If you are looking for a fun, exciting, and unorthodox adventure, this book is a must-read. Winner of the 2008 One Year Adventure Novel (OYAN) contest, Fable Weaver combines the story of a modern teenage girl with a generous helping of fantasy adventure.
Linnet, the main character, is a Fable Weaver, responsible for making sure that all figments return to Tierra Fabula (the place where characters go after their stories are over) from their vacations on earth. Always around to guard and assist her are Sekker, Arkose, and Izar - a trio of changelings with an obsessive love for cinnamon and video games.
The best thing about this book is the fact that it literally give you the best of both worlds, from car chases to sword fights, attic crawlspaces to Camelot, security systems to enchantments, and struggling to outsmart everyone from the local police to Morgan le Fay.
Really, the only thing that the book left me wanting (aside from a sequel) is a bit more explanation regarding how Linnet became a Fable Weaver in the first place, because other than a brief mention of it in passing at the beginning of the book, we really don't get a lot of information on that.
Otherwise, this is a fun and fabulous story that you can enjoy over and over (although I recommend having a plate of snickerdoodles handy when you do - you'll understand why when you read the book).