Monday, June 22, 2015

Peeking Out of the Editing Cave

*Blink blink.*

Holy cow it's bright out here.

*Blink blink blink.*

People, things are going rough on my end. I'm having to prep both my books for publishing and grow my business at the same time. Which is why I've been so very conspicuous in my absence this past week.

I'm pushing to get final submission for both done this weekend, though. This is for two reasons: I still have a Europe trip looming sometime around the end of June and I want to give my reviewers a month's time at least to read the books before the official release date.

Right now, I'm doing the final hard-copy proof-read of The Heir's Choice. Basically to check if there are any edits that I've missed or any formatting for the paperback that's gone wrong. Then I just need to implement the fixes and edits. After that, it's the final formatting and adapting the covers to the paperback template, and I'm done.

Sounds easy enough. Just... not so much while my business is taking off at the same time. Because where I used to have plenty of quiet afternoons, now I don't.

Of course, I'm not complaining. It's good to have a thriving business again. And it's amazing to see my books starting to sell once more.

I'm just feeling the pressure right now.

I don't regret it, though. The sooner these books come out, the better. And the sooner I can get back to writing again. I really miss it. Haven't written any fiction since the beginning of May and it's really bothering me.

I just can't focus on writing with my publishing to-do list lurking in the back of my mind.

A bit of good news is that things are currently going very well on Wattpad. Right now, I have two books on writing and The Vanished Knight ranking in their genres. (One book on writing is in the top 100.)

So yeah. That's me in a nutshell right now. How are you doing? Anyone else prepping to self publish? Or entering the query and/or submission trenches?

15 comments:

  1. Yes, there is only so much time in the day...or week to accomplish everything. Hang in there are press on where you're able. You'll eventually have time to 'write' again.

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  2. We know your feel. We're getting ready to send our latest novel off to our agent, and yes, the perils of editing are upon us. It's not something we dread, or something that's hard. It's just time consuming. If only this useless body of mine didn't need to sleep, I'd get so much more done...

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  3. I'm struggling to motivate myself to work on revisions. My least favorite thing to do... I've got the time so there's no excuse.

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  4. I'm not currently editing or prepping for publication, but I was there once, so I know exactly what you're going through. Hang in there—it'll be great.

    Congrats on the Wattpad rankings. That's awesome!

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  5. I really need to spend a little more time on Wattpad. I've been posting a chapter or 2 a week there from an on-line novel, I've been writing. I just feel so overwhelmed sometimes. I think you do, too.

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  6. Basically, you've got two businesses that are busy now! Don't let it overwhelm you.

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  7. Congrats on the Wattpad success! That's great!

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  8. Wow, sounds like you've got your work cut out for you - don't get too stressed, and just try to enjoy it :). I made my own writing schedule last week of all the things I want to accomplish over the summer holidays/by the end of the year...which includes writing and finishing four novels. I'm already behind and stressing about summer, but at the same time, I'm eager to get back into writing properly. Really hope everything goes okay for you - and congratulations on your WattPad success! That's fantastic news!

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  9. Way to go with the success on Wattpad!!! I’ve never done anything there and actually don’t know much about it. As far as editing and prepping for publication, hang in there! You’ve got this and then you have a nice trip waiting for you when you’re done. 

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  10. It sounds like things are going well for you, despite being really busy. Good luck with everything!

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  11. You're doing really well with Wattpad. I've just not had time to explore the site.

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  12. Sounds like you've got your hands busy with many things. I wish you success in all your endeavours.

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  13. Don't beat yourself up about not writing - you seem to have your hands completely full! It will ease up soon enough, then you'll be able to breath, relax and start something new :-)

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  14. Your Wattpad success is awesome, so revel in that while you get through the business of editing and formatting. You will reach the end of that and have slivers of time to write again. And yay that your business is doing well. And double yay that you are going to Europe. Have fun. Maybe inspiration will strike while you are there!

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  15. Terry, that's true. Right now, I'm working through my posts for my blog tour. As soon as they're done, I'll be relatively free to write.

    Hi Beer Guys! Yeah it's true. Editing is actually a great thing to do, but as you say, it's time consuming. And recently, it was the first time in forever where it annoyed me because it kept me from writing so much longer than expected. Good luck with the agent submission.

    Best of luck, Karen!

    Bish, sometimes, the best thing to do is realize that we don't have excuses so that we can actually just get going.

    Thanks, M.J. :-)

    Shelly, Wattpad can be a lot of hard work. And if you do what I've done just now and took a break from it for a few weeks, it feels like you have to start all over again.

    Alex, it's actually three. (Two export businesses and my writing career.) I don't seem to believe in doing things the easy way.

    Thanks, Kelly! ^_^

    Good advice, Rachel. I'm now back to enjoying it. It's less stressful now that I've submitted my final docs.

    Thanks, Chrys. I think Wattpad is a bit of an acquired taste, but it can be worthwhile if you stick it out.

    Thanks Cherie.

    Diane, it's definitely not the sort of place to join if you don't have enough time.

    Thanks so much, Blogoratti.

    Almost there, Annalisa. :-)

    Thanks, Shell!



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