Hey Peeps!
I've had some questions from peeps on how my experience was/is co-writing with the amazing Kali Zunn. Or... just co-writing in general. 1st off, co-writing is addicting! You have your own little cheer partner and the word count seems to build faster with two writers, bring the overall positive energy and excitement into the whole experience. There are a few ways to know if you'd be good at co-writing/authoring. These are just my thoughts and suggestions. Some may not agree with what I have to say, while others will be nodding their heads. In a Manto single-raised eyebrow fashion: Truth. 1. It should NOT be your first published work. Why? A few reasons. A: Because you need the experience of writing on your own- first. B. This is your dream (I'm just assuming, but on some level it must be) and you want the pride of knowing your first work was all you. (Wink) C. As I said above, co-writing and authoring is addictive! If you start off writing with two instead of just the amazing you, when you go to try and write on your own, it's gonna suck with how sloooow it will go. Lol 2. Prepare for the fact that your co-author might make changes or suggestions on what you wrote, or trail off at, clothes flying off horny bodies and sexy time engaged, leaving you a note just before the good stuff starts with a: TAG, YOU'RE IT! below. Not. Cool. 3. So, you've written your rough draft and the second draft. Now comes the self-edits! A: Decided on who will take the lead with self edits. It should only be one of you! Why? If you're both doing it at the same time (That sounds so dirty) you don't know where your co-author has changed areas and some areas might have been gone over while others haven't. If you both insist on going over it at the same time, I suggest both of you picking a color to write your self edits in, so you can see the changes as both of you go through the document. B: You're ready for edits! There are edit phases, as I like to call them, and each phase costs $$$. * Note: all cost should be split down the middle. This goes with covers and all edits. First Phase: Developmental edits This is where your editor will go through your document and find plot holes, look at pacing and flow, add suggestions on where you could add more to the story, changes, and over all tone. At this point in time, you can talk with your editor about his/her suggestions and choose to take them or not. I always take in account that I might be reading over my wonderful work with perfect writers syndrome or (Beer Goggles for the Writing Muse) on and try to take in account that my editor is looking at my perfect work of art with fresh, new, and SOBER editing eyes. ♥ Second Phase: Copy and Line edits In this phase, your editor will go through your document and look at tenses, sentence structure, and the dreaded commas. *Note: I am a comma happy freak, that leaves them all over the place! YOU ARE NOT ALONE. At this point in time, you get your edited document back and look over it. Remember, only one of you should be doing the edits. IF, if you find that no direct changes has been made to your overall plot story, with the line and copy edits- Peeps, do yourself a favor and click "ACCEPT ALL CHANGES" and go back to look at the comments your editor made. I swear to you, they are trying to make you look as AMAZING as possible. If that Their, There, and They're and Lie, Lye, and Lay, don't sound right, move on. You probably still have the goggles on. *Also, just for reference, I work in google docs. It's better for co-author writing, but when editing, Word Doc is the way to go. They have a program to track editing changes (this goes back to my select all changes suggestion) and is an overall better program to use in your final stages of perfecting your manuscript. Again, others might have different opinions, but this has been my experience. Third Phase: Proof Editor This should be someone new. A fresh new pair of eyes on the manuscript to catch all the small little things your other editor might have missed. We're all human, and it happens. This is why a Proof editor could save your bacon! 4. Publishing! Find out which co-author will be the publisher and that person will be the one dividing out the royalties and will have to create a 1099 tax form for you at the end of the year. There is another way... If you are doing a series, you can trade off on books with who will be the publisher and get the royalties. Finally, don't panic! And congratulations! You've made it through my whole post! Give it a thumbs up that you were here and made it to the finish line! More advice... Never look at your book reviews, it's hazardous to your muse. Happy muse, Happy writing! This is all for tonight. I'm tired and have to pretend tomorrow that I'm a mom who knows what the hell she is doing. Think of me. Nikki Bolvair
1 Comment
11/5/2022 02:30:52 am
Land feeling window room no of. Very both will expect by something. Note hit floor deal last.
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