Maureen Bush

Page Proofs

I’m pouring over the page proofs for The Veil Weavers, making sure every detail is correct. It’s shocking how much still needs correcting – errors that slipped by in the editing process, late changes that weren’t reviewed, and new errors introduced in the page layout process.

I have my last version of the manuscript and the page proofs spread across the kitchen table, as I go through them, page by page. And I take frequent breaks, as my mind goes numb focusing on details

Maureen

More Editing

My editor found another error in The Veil Weavers. She called last night, concerned about a chapter opening near the end of the story. ‘Who did this?’

When I answered, she said, ‘but she’s dead’, and I realized I’d written it before I’d decided to kill her off. Oops. I’ll do a little rewriting today…

Maureen

Editing The Veil Weavers

I’ve just finished another round of editing for The Veil Weavers, and my brain is fried.

Following Art Slade’s suggestion, part of my edit involved reviewing it by reading the chapters in reverse order. This is painful and strange, something I wish I’d never heard of (thanks, Art) – and yet it’s really effective. It helped me see the story with fresh eyes, even though I’ve been immersed in editing it for a week.

I could follow threads backwards, from the end to the beginning. It also gave me a different sense of the pacing and rhythm of the story.

My last pass before sending it back to Coteau was to read it out loud. I find this remarkably useful for hearing the rhythm of the words, and catching any awkward bumps.

Now I’ve sent it off, and I’m glad to have it off my desk. I need to wade through all the debris there I’ve been ignoring, and then I can get back to my true love, writing something new.

Maureen

The Veil Weavers

We have a title: the third in the Veil of Magic series has been named The Veil Weavers, following The Nexus Ring, and Crow Boy.

I’ve finished the current round of editing, and emailed it to my editor.

Now it’s off my desk for a little while and I can catch up on all the paperwork that’s been piling up. Except I’d rather be writing.

Maureen

Muddling Along

I’m supposed to be editing, but I’ve had no brain for it. I’ve been pulled in a million directions – summer and family and renovations and planning for fall (both daughters heading to university, one out of town). The garden has been growing voraciously, and we’ve been fighting back. I dug out a clematis bent on world domination, getting stronger every time I cut it back. We’ve taken out at least three compost bins worth of trimmings and weeds.

I have odds and bits to do for the Banff course in September, admin work I’m simply ignoring, and I just remembered the pending deadline for a grant application.

What I really need to be doing is editing the third in the Veil of Magic series. It’ll be out in the spring, so the pressure is on to get the manuscript ready for publicity before the release date.

We’re still editing for content, although I’ve been assured the remainder won’t be extensive, as the manuscript is quite clean. For now, the focus is on working threads a little deeper, intensifying, adding tumult and more magic. I love all that, couldn’t possibly argue against more magic, and yet… my brain has had no sparkle, no creativity to launch in and tackle this.

Until this weekend.

I was woken in the night by drunks partying on the street (hot night, open window), and instead of settling back to sleep I found myself sitting in the living room with a note pad, writing out the changes I want to make.

I’m hoping I can find a quiet time and quiet mind to finish this round of editing without having to write in the middle of the night.

Maureen