THE CRITICAL EYE
I’m at the point in my WIP when I need to reread with a critical eye. Where did I leave that thing? I’m out of town on family business, stealing a few hours here and there to work. Because of this, I can’t print the thing out, which is what I really need to do. Reading on screen is more difficult for me, because I can’t move back and forth between sections easily, can’t flip a few pages to find what I’m looking for to check for consistency, for gaps, for repetitions.
I’m working on a update and revision of The Book Trailer Manual. One goal is to expand the section on how to write a book trailer script, including recommending some software and detailing the process more clearly. Another goal is to update the recommended software for actually producing the video, including adding about a dozen new, free resources. Finally, I”ll be looking at all the examples of trailers and updating the list of trailer to study.
Doing this revision all on-screen means I have to find new strategies for working.
- Search. The search function or search and replace lets me find repetitions or find pieces to see where they are fitting in. I love how it takes a tiny snippet and finds it for me.
- TOC. The Table of Contents allows me to check the structure of the piece, to see gaps and more easily find sections I need.
- Rereading everything. I also find myself re-reading the whole manuscript every day. Geez, I wonder, isn’t there a better way? Well, no, not this time, because I can’t hold the mss in my hand and flip around, I don’t know how else to get back into the flow. In some ways, this constant rereading is good, though, because I’m polishing things every time I do this.
What techniques or tips do you have about editing on-screen?
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It's Monday, which means I'm tired and sunburned from watching the Kansas City Chiefs put a whooping on Jacksonville, 42-20. I'll admit there was a little nail-biting in the third quarter, but after a pick six by Derrick Johnson, the hammer was most effectively brought down.
Okay, enough sports blah-blah-blah.
1. A Repeat
Friday night (I had the day off after a marathon twelve-hour parent/teacher conference day on Thursday), we held our second trying-to-be annual "drive-in" movie night in our backyard. It was load of fun as you can obviously tell in this out-of-focus and rather dark picture:
Last time around, we watched Scooby-Doo. This year, it was Shaun the Sheep, Little Sheep of Horrors. Claymation fun for everyone! (Yes, we projected the movie on a sheet attached to our roof.)
2. A List
The table of contents for Day Terrors (from The Harrow Press) is official, and it includes:
Ataraxia — Scott Brendel
Sea of Green, Sea of Gold — Aaron Polson
The Wish Man and the Worm — J.M. Heluk
The Woman in the Ditch — Scott Lininger
And the Crowd Goes Wild — John Jasper Owens
No Sin Remains A Secret — Jack Bowdren
The Heat Has Fangs — Trent Roman
In Lieu of Flowers — Chad McKee
Down Where the Blue Bonnets Grow — Daniel R. Robichaud
The Infatuate — Adam Walter
Fiddleback — Lorna D. Keach
Daddy Long Legs — Harper Hull
Miss Riley’s Lot — Gregory Miller
Closing the Deal — Lee Clark Zumpe
Customs — Mark Rigney
A Day at the Beach — Lawrence Conquest
Uncle Alec’s Gargoyle — Rebecca Fraser
Carrington Cove — Davin Ireland
Lollipop — Jason Sizemore
Companion — Rob E. Boley
Sands of Time — E. C. Seaman
The TOC with story blurbs can be found at The Harrow. I had fun with my story because it let me make up more crazy sh*t about Kansas. I sure like to make up crazy sh*t about Kansas...
10 Comments on A Repeat, a List, and an Echo, last added: 10/27/2010
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The drive-in idea sounds cool...it would be something I would consider if my kids could sit still for more than 2 minutes at a time.
Also, congrats on the acceptance!
Congrats on the acceptances! I'm going to have to start submitting to anthologies; there's a listing with deadlines on Duotrope's Digest, I believe. Anywhere else I should look?
Barry - It's a lot of set up but so much fun. We knew it was going to rain that night, so we were in a bit of a hurry.
Milo - Thanks. www.ralan.com has a nice list of anthologies (and even breaks them down by FTL and pay). Some listed there never make Duotrope. Good luck!
Congrats on the sale! And I love the idea of a drive-in movie night (and Shaun the Sheep is awesome).
Day Terrors and your 52 Stitches were my first rejections. They happened on the same day if I remember right. Congrats on making it in :)
I've looked back at the stories I wrote for them and have to agree with both assessments. They were pretty poor. Coming back from 4 years of not writing does that though.
Thanks, KC. I like how none of the characters in Shaun the Sheep speak (in words at least).
Thanks, Tony. It's funny how a little distance can give us better perspective.
Congrats on those anthologies. At first I thougth you were going to say movie night was Shaun of the Dead. Hmmm...maybe the boys will be ready for that in about 10 years...and I've noticed that you like to make up crazy sh*t about Kansas...
Gosh, that Day Terrors looks awesome!
Congratulations on that and Midnight Echo. Can't wait to see both!
Thanks, Katey, Alan.
Congrats. Fantastic news.
And the drive-in idea is great. I wish I had a big enough backyard.