Another Progress Report on Manuscript

I've completed making the line edits on my work-in-progress, the fifth book in the John Ross Boomer Lit series. 

While fixing the various and sundry marks noted in red ink on the hard copy, I also jotted down some additional work that needs to be done before submitting the manuscript to my Wings ePress editor by March 31. 

I noticed several scenes that need to be expanded. There were a few minor changes that I will address such as character names and background. I'll be doing that while giving the novel-to-be one final read over the next five days. I have a notecard listing the rewrites/edits that I will check off when completed.

I'm also working on a book title. I have a working title (something I do with every WIP). I've compiled a list of about 10 that I'll tinker with over the next five days. Much like a book cover, a title is important because an author wants it to provide a strong first impression on potential readers. As for a book title, that'll be taken care of in the next few months with the publisher's art director.

My only concern right now is that I had received my second COVID-19 vaccine this morning. The nurse told me that I could have some side effects from it, including flu-like symptoms. Friends have told me they ran low-grade fevers and felt lethargic for a few days. I hope it's no more than that for me.

As mentioned in previous posts, the novel will be published Oct. 1, eight months after the release of Make Room for Family, the fourth book in the series. For a list of my novels, visit my webpage. Other sites include Amazon and Wings ePress.

Until the next time . . .

More Progress on Manuscript and Recent Reads

 I've made more progress on my manuscript while approaching an end-of-the-month deadline.

For those who read my last post, you know that I printed out the novel-to-be for a hard read with red-ink changes, corrections, deletions, and revisions. For those who didn't read my last post, now you know (you can follow my blog by clicking on "follow" button in the lower right column). The next order of writing will be to make the changes to the manuscript. And then it's probably on to my editor at Wings ePress unless I decide to give it one more read (and I most likely will).

Marked-up manuscript

It's probably because of my background in newspapers in the pre-computer era (we used typewriters) as well as my years in high school and college that editing on paper seems more natural. It's akin to those folks who prefer reading a book in print, to where they can hold a book, turn and feel the pages, etc., then reading a book on a tablet, Kindle, Nook, or another electronic reader. I worked on the manuscript at the kitchen table to give myself a fresh view; the book in the right-hand corner is The Random House Thesaurus. 

Since my last post, I've learned the publication for this book will be Oct. 1, rather than Nov. 1. It will be the fifth book in the John Ross Boomer Lit series. 

Recent reads:

Toni Kief's Mildred in Disguise: With Diamonds could probably fall under the boomer-lit banner since the protagonist is 71-year-old Mildred Petrie. Rather than enjoy retirement, Mildred has to return to work after her husband's death. She takes a position as an undercover detective because of her previous police experience as a parking cop. Her observations and investigations after a robbery lead to some wild times for the wily septuagenarian. Kief has crafted a clever read with snappy dialogue, colorful characters, and a compelling storyline.

Susie Kelley's La Vie En Rose: Notes From Rural France is a fun read by a British ex-pat. Kelly shares anecdotes about her life in France and adjustments she and her husband had to make. I found myself laughing out loud at some of her entries. She writes about rude salespeople, quirky neighbors, different customs, gardening, contacts with animals and insects, and a few recipes you may or may not want to try. Kelly has a cute sense of humor who doesn't hesitate to laugh at herself. I found that refreshing. It's only about 100 pages and a quick read. 

Until the next time . . .

Progress Report on Manuscript and Recent Reads

 I've completed the first rewrite of the fifth book in the John Ross Boomer Lit series. I'll sit on it for a couple days, then get back in earnest to have it ready for my editor by the end of the month.

So far this is what I've accomplished:

• The first draft was written during National Novel Writing Month in November.
• Read the manuscript in January, making minimal changes (spelling, grammar, etc.) to see how flows. I also wanted to see if I like the story; if I didn't, then the readers probably wouldn't either. (FYI, I like it.)
• I returned to the manuscript for a rewrite in February, increasing the word count by about 3k words. I also deleted a few scenes and dialogue as well.

What I've done this time is print the manuscript. I'll go over it with red ink (much like the editing many of us experienced in high school and college), and make needed fixes while giving it a read from a different perspective. Believe it or not, I see and read things differently on paper than on the computer screen (much like a book and e-book). 

Then I'll go back to the saved manuscript on my computer and make the red-line edits and perhaps make a few minor changes that catch my eyes. Most authors will tell you that editing is a neverending task.

If all goes well, after all the changes, I'll give it another quick readthrough and send it on to my trusted editor at Wings ePress.  By the way, the manuscript is scheduled to transform into a book on Nov. 1 so stayed tuned for further announcements such as the title and cover reveal.

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A few book recommendations:

Chris Boucher's Pivot Move is a young adult novel that deals with basketball, peer pressure, bullying, and divorce. Boyd Kindle is a raw but talented basketball player who is dealing with several issues in his life. He has alopecia, a condition that causes the body to shed hair, which he tries to cover up by wearing a hoodie.  He's a confused and angry 14-year-old. Boucher writes in the first person to give readers a feel for the boy's angst but also provides empathy and humor.

Michael Jennings' Like a Wary Blessing is a collection of short stories that delve into the effects of war on individuals. Jennings, a Vietnam vet and former newspaper reporter, writes with precision and depth as he examines how soldiers and citizens attempt to cope with the ugly side of combat from different perspectives.  Some individuals succeed and others don't in these insightful stories that cover topics such as race relations, suicide, and post-traumatic stress syndrome. 

Until the next time . . .