Carmen Falcone on Getting Used to Revisions!

Let's extend our welcome to author Carmen Falcone as she talks about revisions!

Revisions: Get Used to Them

 

One thing that I both dread and crave is that e-mail from my editor with the edits. I hope I’m not alone in thinking we, authors, live for moments like this; the editor is the first gateway to the readers (who are waving at the finish line), so we learn from them, work with them and, at times, persuade them.

Before signing a contract with Entangled, I experienced getting feedback from critique partners, evaluations from freelance editors and whatnot. Those extra sets of eyes helped me a great deal – and still do, of course. I truly believe writing doesn’t have to be a lonely journey, and in fact it’s much better when it’s a joint effort. You write, but you get your writing buddies to assess your flaws and strengths, and sometimes even that supportive friend who doesn’t have a clue about writing in your genre can have a crucial part in your writing journey just by being there and cheering you on.

That said, as I learned the revisions from an editor are the ones where the stakes are really high. Why? Because it’s easier to bypass someone else’s opinion before your work is contracted, whether that person is right or wrong. I’ll never forget when a critique partner told me my story lacked emotion, and I thought, “Ah, maybe not.” And I was lazy and didn’t really implement all the changes she suggested because I was so connected to the story, I couldn’t believe she wasn’t. Yet, when my editor read my submission, she told me I had to up the emotion and conflict; otherwise, it was a no-go.

So. This is what I usually do when I get edits from an editor. First of all, I read the entire letter and comments. Then, I get some wine. Remember that Hemingway said one must write drunk and edit sober? C’mon, guys, editing drunk is just SO much fun. J

Anyway. Seriously now… I usually do three or four rounds before I send it back to the editor. The first one, I read everything like I mentioned above. Then, I make some notes with Post-Its of the general things I should change (the big-ticket items), and so I won’t be super overwhelmed, I go through the small stuff (like word choice, etc.) and accept changes. By the time I go back to the book, I have a better idea about what needs to be done about the big-ticket items (motivation, conflict, goal, characterization, etc.) and change them. Phew. Then I do a final read-through before hitting send and starting to bite my nails.

So there you go: a glimpse into my revision process. What about you? If you’re a reader, what do you imagine edits to be? And if you’re a writer, what is your process?

 

A NIGHT OF MISBEHAVING

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For just one night, Georgia Taylor wants to forget about her demanding job and the everyday struggles of being a single mom. Her track record with men is pitiful, but that’s fine because her responsibilities don’t leave room for love anyway. The new online dating site is perfect for what she’s after.

But Georgia’s plans are crushed when Brent Turner, aka Sexy Dad and father of her daughter’s classmate, turns out to be her internet date, therefore, eliminating any possibility for a night without consequences.

All of Brent Turner’s honorable intentions fly out the window when he sees highly strung “Super Mom” waiting for her date at the bar. Determined to win Georgia’s trust and show her a good time, their no-strings evening promises to become so much more…until, that is, she discovers what he's really up to.

 

BIO:

 

Carmen Falcone learned at an early age that fantasizing about fictional

characters beat doing math homework any day. Brazilian by birth and traveler by nature, she moved to Central Texas after college and met her broody Swiss husband, living proof that opposites attract. She found in writing her deepest passion and the best excuse to avoid the healthy lifestyle everyone keeps talking about. When she is not lost in the world of romance, she enjoys spending time with her two kids, being walked by her three crazy pugs, reading, catching up with friends, and chatting with random people in the checkout line.

 

 

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