~*~
On this blog, I often use the
metaphor for my writing journey, as being a trek through a mountain range. I’ve
detailed hikes over tried and tested paths, sometimes even trying to clear my
own, through the Alps for years - 750 miles across eight Alpine countries. No
mean feat.
I related, in a previous blogpost, about the various stages of metamorphoses of becoming a writer, as being
akin to what animal spirit guides represent - starting out as a
lone wolf, and everything in-between, until eventually soaring as an eagle.
But I also said, that when I
reached the other end of the Alps, there were a couple of condescending Sherpa
waiting there for me - meaning of course, that the writing journey never ends.
I had yet to embark upon the precipitous terrain of the Andes.
That’s where I’ve been for the
past few months.
I left off detailing this
journey, here on this blog, with the news that I had decided to try and get a
publisher. And I did. For, despite my efforts at self-publishing, and trying to
keep up with the constantly evolving paradigm that the role social media
demands of most anything these days, I felt I was taking one step forward, and
two back, for that particular trek was all a bit arduous for my artistically-inclined
sensibility.
I’ve always known that the
business side of anything is not where my talent lies. I just can’t commit
myself to facts and figures and social media marketing etc. despite my best efforts. And anyway, there were too many other writers
doing the same thing. I needed help. Badly. Thank God for the Sherpa.
But let me tell you, the air up
there in the Andes is thin - and I’ve only just started out.
As you can see, my name (very proudly) appears
on this book cover here - a fantasy anthology, from Xchyler Publishing. The book release party will be held on 31st January 2014. My story, at 15,000 words, is the
last in the book, and is called ‘Black Ice.’ The eye in the sky - I dare to
think - might just have something to do with my particular story, and below, is
a quick blurb about it:
A murderer, sentenced to ‘infinity’, lobbies an
automaton society and the omniscient supremacy of three worlds in the hopes of
finally being put to death.
The process of editing wasn’t
easy for me. I will admit. But it took me completely by surprise at what a
prima donna I became during it – although my editor, self admittedly, did come in off the bat with a bleeding
red pen, which she had the good grace, and professionalism to apologize for, and pointed me to an article that she’d written about how devastating that can be to a new writer – or at least one embarking
the professional world – or, if you like, the Andes.
And after a mix of emotion, that
had my heart thumping, and my psyche going to dark places that I never knew
existed, and I thought I had been to them all, I nearly self-destructed - as my pride can sometimes make me do. I had so looked forward to this part of the
journey, but I came to realize that I was being weighed down with the baggage from the last one. In
the end, it was ‘all good’. We moved upwards and forward, and I told her to
‘bring it on’ - after being pushed in at the deep end, I felt I could handle
anything. And I did. But still, surprisingly, it wasn’t as easy for me as fellow authors with Xchyler had told me it had been for them. And so I couldn't help but feel rather inadequate.
Being British, was a little bit
of an obstacle, I think, for even though I’ve lived in North America for twenty years,
and thought I knew how to relate to both sides of the pond, there were so many
idioms from the UK that I had no idea were not used in the US. And here, rather suitably, is what
my editor said about that:
“Let's stick to the fish and chips
and dark ale, and steer away from the blood pudding and haggis.”
Lol.
But more, I think, while good
writing should know no borders, I do
believe that there is a distinct difference in style between British and
American writers, and that might have been at least a part of the issue for me. I hope so.
However, without going into it
all here, I am signed with an American publisher, and so fair enough; I should
try to adapt. Compromise.
My biggest fear, though, was that
my voice would be lost, the one that I took pleasure in yodelling across the
Alps. I did not want to, as I said to my editor, be yet another monotone voice
that simply follows a formula, be one of those writers whose voice blends in with every other. While formulas are necessary, I do like to
add my own ingredients. I like to make the recipe my own - like my world-famous
chilli, or my spaghetti.
I can be more aggressive than most. I know. I
am more willing to be slightly politically incorrect. Audacious. And I do like to inject a
generous helping of humour into my work. But I get it; it’s not always suitable. And so with the
assurance from my editor-in-chief, that she is not, by any means, a ‘MacDonald’s type
editor’, saying that the reason my story was accepted (when I pouted as to why exactly was it? Lol) was because it was ‘original, imaginative, clever,
intelligent and engrossing, but what needed doing is clarification and
communication.’
She assured me that I would be very pleased
with the end product, and that my voice would remain intact. I was. And it is.
And I am now very excited for the book’s release.
During this process I learned a
great deal about myself, and it elevated me to new heights on my writing journey. I won’t go into it all here, there’s
not enough space. But one day . . .
I do want to say, though, that a
lot of what I brought along from the Alps needed discarded. That it used up too
much precious oxygen. Short quick breaths are what are needed for the Andes. And while
it will take a great deal of time indeed to cross the longest mountain range in
the world – 120 miles long, 430 wide - I’ve learned to pause and take in the
views. I’ve learned to breathe new life into all of my writing - old and new - from the invaluable knowledge
that I’ve gained from reaching a new plateau. So a big ‘thank you’ to all my
editors.
If you’re reading this,
and have always believed that you have the ability to self-edit (and its way more than just correcting grammar
and punctuation etc.) if I were you, I’d really rethink that; you may have no
idea, like we do when we’ve been driving for years, just what bad habits you’ve
picked up, or think are acceptable. Habits that have never been pointed out to
you–e.g. by writer friends, who, in this self publishing world, may have the
same tendencies, or who may not know any different.
It may not be a picnic with a red
chequered blanket - rather bully-beef rations served up at base camp - but it
certainly helps to satiate the hunger.
Xchyler Publishing edit the works that they are publishing only, but if you are looking for the services of an affordable editor, I suggest you might try here: Jeri Walker-Bickett. An editor whose professional standards, in all aspects of writing, I've come to know over the last couple of years. You might be surprised at just how polished your ideas can become. I was.
