I'm going to start my morning with edits and see where the rest of the day goes.
If you have questions about writing or publishing - @ me!
#LianaEdits #AmEditing #Editing #Writing #AmWriting #Fiction #MidnightWriters
@lianabrooks.bsky.social
@lianabrooks.bsky.socialI'm going to start my morning with edits and see where the rest of the day goes.
If you have questions about writing or publishing - @ me!
#LianaEdits #AmEditing #Editing #Writing #AmWriting #Fiction #MidnightWriters
@lianabrooks.bsky.socialI'll be honest, a lot of the struggle with writing the first draft of a scene with Big Emotions is just screaming in your own head in a small panic as you try to get coherent words on the page.
Books are hard to write.
@lianabrooks.bsky.socialWriting books takes longer than some people think. The reason your favorite author is talking about a book they're finishing that doesn't come out until next year is that they are going through edits and setting up promotions.
@lianabrooks.bsky.socialAre you stuck on a scene? Don't know how to write it? Don't know how to fix it? Try these options:
~ change your setting (new room, different computer, write by hand)
~ talk it out with a friend
~ skip ahead to the next scene
~ hire an editor to help
~ take a break
You got this!
@lianabrooks.bsky.socialHow long does it take to edit a novel (100-400 pages)?
First Editing Pass: 1-2 months
Crit Partner Edit: 2-8 weeks
Dev Edit with editor or agent: 3-6 weeks
2nd Pass: 2-12 weeks
Line Edits: 1-3 weeks
@lianabrooks.bsky.socialThink of setting the scene in a book like setting a stage. If you don't mention it, no one in your audience can see it.
Describe what is there as soon as your POV chatacter is aware of it and your reader will see the full stage.
@lianabrooks.bsky.socialStart with lower stakes and then escalate as the book progresses. Forcing the characters to choose between their original goal and a new one creates the friction of indecision that you can use to power the plot.
@lianabrooks.bsky.socialWriting books takes longer than some people think. The reason your favorite author is talking about a book they're finishing that doesn't come out until next year is that they are going through edits and setting up promotions.
@lianabrooks.bsky.socialI'm going to spend the afternoon reading for a client.
If you have writing or editing questions, you can ask and tag them with #LianaEdits. I'll do my best to answer when I get back online.
@lianabrooks.bsky.socialPart of being a successful adult is making time to reset, refuel, and recharge. When you're working, take hourly break to stretch, hydrate, rest your eyes.
Take several daily breaks to get food, refuel the brain, and do something not work related.
Take weekly breaks from work.
@lianabrooks.bsky.socialEver thought about writing your own book?
Ever wondered how a book gets written?
Let's talk about it!
@lianabrooks.bsky.socialWriting a series? A big, epic book? Now is a good time to write a Book/Series Bible.
Here's how!
@lianabrooks.bsky.socialAre you stuck on a scene? Don't know how to write it? Don't know how to fix it? Try these options:
~ change your setting (new room, different computer, write by hand)
~ talk it out with a friend
~ skip ahead to the next scent
~ hire an editor to help
~ take a break
You got this!
@lianabrooks.bsky.socialMy mid-September client had to cancel so I have an immediate opening for a new editing client.
@lianabrooks.bsky.socialIt's what the viewers want to see, but it comes from an unexpected angle that still makes sense.
That's what every good plot twist needs.
@lianabrooks.bsky.socialThe writing goes from a very tense scene where we're expecting some outside force to save the character's at risk.
The cop's protege calls for three ambulances, and you think, "Ah! He can save them!"
Then we see Baby Sis take down the villains herself.
Very satisfying.
@lianabrooks.bsky.socialBecause other characters are given the Big And Strong spotlight, we don't pay much attention to Baby Sis. She's just there as a background character for most of the show. An important one, but not in the spotlight.
There are other ways to save her, so she doesn't need to save herself.
@lianabrooks.bsky.socialThis only works *because* she's not only set up as a cutie, but throughout the show we've seen her doing things like:
- picking up heavy boxes
- being the one asked to open jars
- helping move furniture without complaint
She's shown as strong without anyone highlighting it.
@lianabrooks.bsky.socialWhen the bad guys jump Baby Sis we're expecting her friend to show up, or the hacker to do something...
... and she flips the guy over her shoulder and crushes him as the words "National Judo Team All-Star" pops up on the side of the screen.
@lianabrooks.bsky.socialWhat sets up the twist so well is:
1) we have an established level of violence and we know the killers might win because even main character's aren't spared
2) we know Baby Sis as a cutie and her date is a hacker not known for his fighting
3) there are plausible rescue scenarios