Ink Tip: But That's Not What I Meant! (Working With An Editor)

There are days when I wonder how anyone is able to communicate with one another... most of those days happen when I'm doing edits. 

Maybe I meant to say he grabbed a bear and took a drink!  It could happen!

Words are supposed to be straightforward.  Say the right ones and other people will grasp the information you are conveying.  This is the myth that we cling to and it's probably the basis for all civilization and culture.  But it's not quite entirely true, as is obvious to anyone who takes half a minute scrolling through the arguments on social media.

There's a lot of variation in interpretation of the words we use to communicate.  And often what we think we've said is not what we've actually said.  Editors and beta readers can help an author to narrow that gap, but it is an ego-shredding process.  

My rule of thumb is that I will not argue with my editor about a problem that she has identified, though I may not agree with her about the way to fix it.  This has saved a lot of headaches and arguments on both sides.  If she is asking why a character isn't jumping through the window to save the day, then I can't argue that I've laid out a dozen reasons already.  Either potential readers aren't making the connection with the previous reasons or those reasons don't seem like a sufficient excuse to avoid window-jumping.

That brings me to a choice: I can take out the window-jumping scene, I can tweak previous scenes to emphasize the reasons, or I can add a direct thought about why they're not window-jumping.  There are lots of options, I just need to figure out which one works best for my story and my style.

Sometimes there are other issues which can start to infringe on an author's voice.  Personally, I love using unusual words and descriptions but I know it can become off-putting for a reader to constantly have to guess what I mean.  So when my editor starts indicating that I need to take them out, it can feel like a personal sting.  But it forces me to consider each one: do I really need this? does it match the pacing of the story or am I slowing the reader when I shouldn't be?  I fight for the ones I really want and that I think are critical, but the vast majority get simplified.  By making me face how many times I've used the word "eeled" in a manuscript, I'm forced to hone my writing and avoid repetition.

One of the biggest reasons I use an editor is to ensure consistent writing style, i.e. use of commas, tenses, and italics.  There's a fair amount of variation in what is actually "right" in the English language (I have friends who will live and die in their defense of the Oxford comma) but it's inconsistency that makes most readers cringe.  My editor keeps my style consistent and I am eternally grateful, even if I sometimes go wide-eyed at the number of commas that I apparently missed.

None of these things are easily handled by an author on their own.  I know some authors who pay for three or four editors in the developmental stage, just to make sure they get a variety of viewpoints looking at it.   I know authors who do multiple line edits to make sure all of the typos, grammar and punctuation errors get caught.  (Though if you are going to do this, make sure that each line editor is familiar with the style that you have chosen: Chicago, Strunk and White, etc.)  An editor isn't your friend, but he or she is absolutely necessary if an author wants to move past the amateur stage.  It is a partnership and both sides have the same goal: to make sure a book is the best possible book it can be.  

My next best possible book, Judgment, will be coming out on May 14th and you can pre-order it now.  Sometimes the most ordinary people are capable of extraordinary things and you should never underestimate a mom with a mission.

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Weekly Update: Double Week Edition (July 16th to 29th)

Combined weekly word count: 4200

In the last two weeks, I learned a few invaluable lessons:

1) Make sure your backups are working properly and recording all of the <insert profanity> information that you wanted them to actually back up.

2) My child (and probably most other children) can strip the protective covering off of a power adaptor cord in less than 30 seconds.

3) That protective covering is important because without it, the <insert more profanity> little wires break and then your power adaptor doesn't work and the laptop dies.

My laptop which held all of my information for my blog and website, as well as my WIP and reference notes, became a piece of abstract art early on July 17th, sparking true panic.  I immediately went out and bought a universal charger that turned out to be not so universal.  Its plugs would not match the holes, no matter how much I threatened and cursed and cried.  (Lesson 4: technology is surprisingly resistant to emotional blackmail.)

Okay, plan B.  Switch to my old laptop and use the backup information, while ordering the exact cord I need from eBay.  Discovered the eBay cord could arrive any time between the next week and two months from now.  Cried a little more.  Got my old laptop out and started to access the backups.  Discovered most of what I needed was there, but not all.  Cried a lot more.  There was swearing and possibly some kicking of things which were not impressed by my tantrum.  Least of all my toes, which hurt.

Then it was time to pull up my big girl panties, acknowledge that I did not prepare or handle this as well as I could have and try to get some work done.  I wrote 2000 words last Friday, the first time I had a decent writing day in a long time.  

The next two weeks are the annual company shut down for my day job.  It's two weeks where I can actually live as a full time writer.  Part of my panic was knowing that these two weeks can make or break my writing productiveness.  Last year, I wrote 40 000 words, which is between a third and a half of my novels.  If I was stuck without being able to move forward, then my ability to have a book ready for next year would have been in serious jeopardy.

But I've pulled things together and if it's not ideal, that's how life is sometimes.  The mark of success is not making it work when things are easy.  It's making it work when the universe seems to be against you and climbing over all those obstacles to prove how much you want your dream.

Conference Etiquette: Guests and Vendors

Since I was at Can-Con last weekend, I've found myself thinking a lot about conference etiquette.  (And allow me to say that Can-Con was an excellent conference and few to none of these challenges occurred there.  I have seen them at other conferences, though, and it is amazing how quickly a few breaches can make the atmosphere toxic.) Conferences can be a lot of fun for guests and professionals alike, but a few simple tips and guidelines can help to keep things running smoothly.

Guests:

Fan conferences, no matter what type, are fueled by the enthusiasm of the guests.  There is something intoxicating and magical about being surrounded by people who are all sharing their enjoyment and passion for a particular topic, which leads directly to my first guideline.

Be respectful of different views.  Not everyone likes the same things or all aspects of the same thing.  In case people missed this particular lesson back in kindergarten, it's okay to disagree and like different things.  I'm more of a Marvel fan than a DC fan, but it doesn't mean that I have the right to run down DC comics or say their fans are somehow stupid because they don't agree with me.

Debate is great, but it should be done respectfully.  And if the positions are too greatly separated or too vehement, then don't waste your time.  I had one man tell me with great confidence that all romance was garbage.  I nodded and shrugged, saying that I enjoyed it and that I guessed my books wouldn't be enjoyable for him but that I hoped he had a good day.  He walked away feeling superior and I got to get on with my day and my sales.

I could have argued with him.  I could have brought up any number of sources and references.  But I let it go because the odds were we'd just both end up miserable.

Be respectful of panelists and vendors.  Most of the time panelists are simply enthusiastic amateurs.  They're not professional speakers or scholars, so they are sharing their opinion, not absolute facts.  There is usually time reserved for questions in a panel, so if a guest feels that something has been missed, question time is a good time to point it out.  It is not a good time to engage in a spirited debate on why the panelist is wrong.

Similarly, there may be vendors who are selling things that a particular guest isn't interested in.  Or supporting a charity or genre or series that the guest doesn't endorse.  A face to face confrontation in the vendor room isn't the best way to handle it.  If a guest feels strongly, then they should speak discreetly to the conference organizers.

Vendors pay a fair amount of money to be at conferences, which is why they can get upset at people selling things outside the vendor room.  Trying to redirect customer traffic away from the vendor room to purchase products from someone who is ostensibly a guest is disrespectful.  Now, I'll admit, that I usually bring a copy or two of my book along with me to conferences, just in case someone is really interested and wants it on the spot, but I try to be discreet.  Most of the time, I'll provide a card with my book's information so that they can pick it up later.

And a final, should-be-common-sense piece of advice.  Don't stalk people.  Don't follow them to the bathroom.  Don't prevent them from going to panels or events in order to talk to them.  Conferences are small and there will be plenty of time to bump into people later.  If they're in a hurry, respect that.

Contain fangirl/fanboy moments.  I'm not cool and I probably never will be.  I cannot do blase when I'm excited.  But I can keep myself together for short periods and then discreetly exit and have my geek out moment in private.  I adore meeting people who have inspired and entertained me at conferences but I always try to respect the fact that they don't know me and that what might have been extremely important to me may have only be one job among many for them.

Vendors:

Getting ready to sell your books (or other products) at a conference is exciting and challenging.  Vendors, even those who are past the first-time status, spend a lot of time wondering how much stock to bring, what price to sell at, etc.  It can be difficult and nerve-wracking, wondering if anyone will visit the table and buy a book.  But there are some basic courtesies which can make it easier.

Be respectful of your fellow vendors. One of the worst experiences I've ever had at a conference was when I had to deal with sharing a table with a woman who kept making degrading comments about my books and romance as a genre.  (To be clear, she'd never read my books, but if someone showed interest in them, she would make a rude comment and try to get them to look at her books instead.)  To add insult to injury, when she finished for the day, she left all of her garbage for me to deal with.

Recently, at Can-Con, there was one vendor stopped by my table and made a few dismissive comments about genre fiction, saying it was poorly written and formulaic.  He condescendingly said he preferred to read quality literary fiction.  I will admit to a certain satisfactory enjoyment when I sold out and he was packing up most of his books.

There's no need to put other people and their work down.  Guests have a wide variety of interests and they're all worthy of respect.  Be kind, even if something isn't your cup of tea.  If nothing else, vendors are stuck with one another for hours and days in fairly tight quarters.  Tensions can build quickly in such an environment and that leads to tension which can turn off all potential customers.

Be friendly and approachable.  It always shocks me how many people pay money for vendor tables and then sit there, scowling with their arms crossed, making it very clear that they are not happy to be there.  I'd be hesitant to approach such a table, even if I was a rabid fan with money to spend.

Similarly, it's not helpful to be too desperate.  If the only words out of a vendor's mouth are "Buy My Stuff" then guests will instinctively move away.

Find an icebreaker to get a conversation going.  People like to talk about themselves to an interested party.  (Incidentally, this is where I originally had a challenge.  I would have long conversations and never work up the courage to share details about my book.)  If someone is having fun and has pleasant memories of being with someone, they are more likely to be interested in buying a book.  A vendor has to sell themselves first and their goods second.

Make sure all body language signals openness.  Standing up, keeping the arms loose and at the sides, and smiling all tell guests that a vendor is approachable.

Practice your pitches.  Break down your series to a 5-10 second elevator pitch.  Mine is "Paranormal romance and urban fantasy about a secret society of superheroes living among us."  If a guest looks interested, then I can go into more details about the specific books.  Don't overwhelm with details right away.

Be prepared.  I was mortified at Can-Con when I had to keep a customer waiting to call my husband to get the login information for my credit card swiper.  Luckily it was a friend and fellow author who understood I'm not usually that disorganized (Thanks for being patient, Nathan!).  Have the necessary items (pens, cashbox, swag, etc.) conveniently laid out so that everything is easily found.  Make sure any computer programs or technology is running smoothly before the conference begins.

I like attending conferences, both as a fan and as a vendor.  Most of the time, it's a lot of fun.  In the end, it boils down to common sense and politeness.  We're all there to enjoy ourselves and share our passions.  Surely that's enough of a common ground.

Professionalism: Not Just for Weekdays

Life doesn't always work out the way we want it to.  It's hard to take the slings and arrows of outrageous fortune sometimes, but cultivating a professional mask can keep us from making our situations worse.

Whether it's dealing with critiques and comments from an editor or critique partner, facing dismissal or scorn from the public or other professionals, or coping with errors and slights, I feel it's important to avoid the temptation to strike back.  Now, there is a balance between maintaining a professional attitude and having a backbone.  Being professional doesn't mean simply ignoring what is unpleasant, but it does mean taking the time to decide on your course of action rather than reacting emotionally in the moment.

I have a series of questions which I usually make myself go through when I'm feeling angry or upset.  Once I've gone through them, if I still feel the need to speak up, then I do.  But they've kept me from digging myself deeper on a fair number of occasions.

Is there any truth to what the other person has said?

Sometimes people will give you useful information in a horrible way or they will share something which you didn't want to hear but needed to know.  A bad review can highlight areas for improvement.  A complaint or criticism about an event or behaviour can do the same.  Even if I disagree with what someone has said, if there is some truth to what they've said, then I can't dismiss everything out of hand.  I can dislike how they've chosen to share it, but their words deserve some consideration, no matter how much they might sting my pride.

Is this possibly a misunderstanding or misinterpretation?

If I had the psychic powers to always accurate predict someone's intentions, I would quit my job and start working for Psychic Friends.  Even with the best intentions in the world, things get misspoken, misheard and misinterpreted.  Maybe it's because I've done a lot of work with people on the autism spectrum, who have trouble picking up social signals and often unintentionally give messages of impatience and lack of caring to those around them, but I try to give people the benefit of the doubt.  I try not to assume a deliberate slur or attack, giving the other person a chance to clarify their intentions.  Sometimes it is deliberate, and then I have to consider my last two questions.  

Is this someone I need to deal with again?

Idiots are idiots and there are always people who take joy in being offensive bullies.  It is not my job to educate or improve them, so if I don't need to deal with them again, then walking away with my dignity intact is the best outcome I can hope for.  It's not always successful, but I try not to take random opinions seriously, particularly if they are hostile.  Engaging with them will only prolong the hurt and give them the satisfaction of knowing they've struck.

If it is someone whom I'll need to interact with in the future (for example, a coworker, family member or business associate), then it's time to figure out the answer to my final question.

What is my goal in confronting this person?

What am I hoping to do?  What outcome do I want?  Am I hoping for an apology or do I want to enact a change?  For business, I will usually begin by seeing if there is someone else I can work with.  My experience is that if they are large enough, most organizations are willing to quietly make alternate arrangements to avoid a personality conflict.  Sometimes there isn't an alternative person inside the organization, so I have to search for an alternate service.

If I want an apology or a change from the other person, I've learned to be cautious in my expectations.  Bullies do not become bullies because they are accustomed to considering other people's feelings.  I can say to someone: your behaviour was not acceptable.  But they may not be ready to hear it and I need to be prepared for a backlash.

That's my process and while it seems simple, taking the time to go through each question allows the immediate emotional impact to cool.

Realizing that I can only control my own actions and not the reactions of others has helped me to develop a thicker skin when dealing with others.  Some people might find my approach to be naive, but I don't find a lot of virtue in assuming hostility and insult in the world.

That doesn't mean that there aren't hostile people out there.  Recently the Ottawa Romance Writers had an extremely unpleasant situation at Prose in the Park.  A woman who was not an ORWA member bullied her way into our tent and then proceeded to block a number of our authors by preventing people from going down the narrow aisle.  She actively harassed people who were looking at our books, dismissing them as poor quality.  She was rude to our authors and then left abruptly before the event was finished, leaving her garbage for us to clean up.

That entire performance was the antithesis of professionalism.  She actively insulted and alienated a number of people who frankly have the power to block her career.

Added to the mix has been the reaction of one of the organizers, who has been hostile to our concerns.  Initially, I was prepared to go back to Prose in the Park next year but his vehemence and aggressiveness is making me think twice about it.

Unpleasant situations happen, but I believe that how they are handled shows the quality of someone's character.  I'd rather not allow the bullies and petty people of the world to dictate my actions but I also will not subject myself to their venom if I don't need to.