If you visit this blog you probably already know that I write books. I’ve written about three and a half novels so far, and it’s a lot of fun. I don’t think I’ll stop writing any time soon. There’s a sad and sick little part of me that wishes I was still in law school because for some reason I had more time to write then…
My first book was about a girl that discovered she was a fairy godmother. It wasn’t very good.
I keep telling Tonya that one day I’ll revise it. She just shakes her head and says, “You gotta get rid of those forest chapters.”
Tonya is a pretty good editor–she’s actually very awesome. It’s tough to get feedback and criticism on a creative work. And when you’re married to the person giving that feedback with a critical eye it has the potential to create problems.
I remember when I asked Tonya to read my books, I only meant to have her casually read them, not go through with a red pen and tell me how I could improve them. It’s funny, when you read blogs online with agents and stuff, they tell you not to trust the opinions of family members when they talk about the quality of your work. They’re biased, etc., blah, blah, blah.
The agents have not met my family.
Everyone was pretty honest about Wishes when I sent it out.
But then it’s been getting better. I remember asking Tonya to actually edit my second book, Mythstones, before I sent it out to agents, which was a very good idea. The first time we sat down to hash out a chapter and go over things though, I instantly got defensive.
I think that’s natural. You create something really cool, and even though a rational side of you knows it has flaws, it’s your baby. Think of how you would react if you went to church, someone looked at your child and said, “Her nose is too big. She’ll never get any dates when she grows up.”
It’s kind of like that when people give criticism over something you’ve written. (Clearly not the same, but you get the idea.)
Tonya liked Mythstones, but she didn’t really believe in the story. I learned a lot from that edit too. For starters, I learned it’s a lot of fun to edit a book with your spouse!
There are obviously phrases and word choices we never convince each other on–“This character would never say that,” Tonya says flatly–but it’s fun to talk about each paragraph and sentence that sticks out in a re-read. There are other benefits too: I’ve learned when to use an “n” dash and make compound words, I now know how to use a semicolon, and I get why parallel structure is important. And although I don’t always get any of those right in my first draft, Tonya helps me clean it up in the second.
By the time I wrote Shadowhero, Tonya had helped improve my writing quite a bit. I’m actually really happy she didn’t just tell me my first book was good and give me a pat on the back. She actually likes Shadowhero, and I believe her when she says it–I know she wouldn’t say it if she didn’t mean it. There’s still a measure of defensiveness I feel when she gives me edits, and some banter about word choices, but I can look back and know that my writing has gotten better.
I can take criticism of all kinds when it comes to my writing a lot easier than I used to.
I started working on my next book, Teen Exorcist, when I decided to publish Shadowhero on Amazon the other day. Sales are actually going pretty well, and I just have to give credit to my editor. I mean, I haven’t made a million bucks or anything crazy, but I got dinner and a movie covered.
But beyond that, I’ve received a few positive reviews of the book from complete strangers, and I’ve sold enough books to know that I’ve exhausted my initial ring of friends and family that I told about the book. I’m pretty sure that without Tonya I wouldn’t be getting the same result.
Which reminds me, I really need to revise those forest chapters in my first book 🙂
6 Responses
Shea read the book and when I asked him how he liked it he said he liked it and “[he] couldn’t put it down!” I want to read it, too, but I’m so excited that your book is so good and especially that a lot of people really like it. Congratulations! (PS Shea and I edit, or, used to edit, for each other as well, and I think its a lot of fun!)
Also, I think a story about a girl who discovers she’s a fairy godmother sounds really good! Just get rid of those forest chapters….just kidding.
I gave Tonya one of my English papers to look over before I turned it in, at the beginning of my Senior high school year. I was expecting a fifteen minute read and mini discussion. Two days later, I got it back completely covered with comments. 🙂
That year I ended up writing my best essays.
There is something terrible and wonderful about getting helpful criticism. It is so annoying but in the end it facilitates so much growth.
I am glad to hear Shadowhero is doing well!
I consider myself incredibly lucky to get to read your novels. I just downloaded Fighting Darkness and I’m really excited to read it. Thanks to you and to Tonya for the great stories!
You two make a good team. Let the sales roll on!:-)
It takes two to tango and two to get the creative juices going ,
It takes two to eat mangoes and two to keep rowing,
It takes two to reap and two to do the sowing,
It just takes two, and that two is YOU TWO!