Happy Tuesday to you all on this twenty-fourth day of March. I hope the last flakes of snow are melting where you are. We are experiencing spring showers and I am confident they will bring flowers. Heck, our bulbs were up weeks ago since we kind of skipped right over winter here in Olympia.
What’s new in my world? My novel, “Shadows Kill,” is being revised once again. I received some great feedback from my friend Cristen, and her feedback was right on. Now I have some writing to do. Some of the changes are minor and easy fixes. One change involves one of the main characters and will require some serious work.
The thing is, I could have ignored Cristen’s advice. The book was pretty good already, and I suspect I could get an agent to go for it without making the changes. I’ve certainly read worse books during my lifetime, and those were published, so I feel pretty confident that mine would be published without making any more changes….but…
It wouldn’t be my best work then, would it?
When I finish “Shadows Kill” I want to be able to walk away from it knowing I have nothing left. I want to look at it and be able to declare that it is my best work, that I gave it everything I had, that there was nothing left in me to add to it.
And that’s exactly what I will do.
QUOTE OF THE DAY
“The quality of a leader is reflected in the standards they set for themselves.”
Ray Kroc
THOUGHT OF THE DAY
One of the things I enjoy most about being a writer is that I have no boss hovering over me telling me what to do. It is also one of the dangers of being a writer. Quality control begins and ends with me. Only I can determine when my best effort has been given.
TIP OF THE DAY
Before you publish your next article or book, ask yourself one question: is this the best I can do on this particular piece? If the answer is yes then hit the publish button and be done with it. If the answer is no….well, I think you understand.
SITE OF THE DAY
“Top 30 Writing Sites” is an interesting online site you might want to visit. I don’t know who this Edgar guy is, but his list of writing sites is a valuable one. If you are looking for a writing community that can help you grow, then I suggest you browse through his list. You can find it by following this link.
SECOND LINK OF THE DAY
Check out Cristen and her blog….well worth reading. You can find it here http://irisdraak.com/2015/03/the-answer-is-no-until-you-ask/
WRITER OF THE DAY
Take a few minutes and go visit a friend of mine. Patricia Scott is her name and you can find her here.
Patricia writes from the heart, and it is a huge heart to write from. I love passion in a writer and Patricia is filled with passion. Stop by and say howdy!
MORE NEXT WEEK
We’re all busy and that’s why I keep this blog limited to one post per week. Thank you for spending part of your Tuesday with me. Have a great week of writing.
Bill
“Helping writers to spread their wings and fly.”
Billybuc
Artistry With Words 
I like that – quality control begins and end with me! That is what I believe as well. I like to read my writing aloud before publishing. When I do, I usually find typos and issues with grammar.
Very true, Denise. I find that to be an excellent method for finding mistakes. Thanks for mentioning that.
First!! I was just thinking about the editing issue today in one of your mailbag posts–and here you are responding to it–at least in part–Happy Tuesday Bill!
Audrey, I’m going to write a hub about it just for you. It’s the least I can do for a friend.
Hi Bill… as always packed with information and as well inspiration… well done my friend.
Stay high and dry my friend and pray the Ark you built out back floats, if not head for higher ground like me… I have plenty of room if you need a landing place… lol
Hugs Bro
Rolly, we just have to hang in there two more days and then we are promised seventy degrees and sunshine. Good thing because we are smelling a bit musty right now. LOL Blessings my friend.
Great post Bill! I just know your newest book is going to be great. Great find on the top 30 writing sites too. I am not familiar with Edgar, but it is a great list. I am busy at this moment…just received a contract to do the content for a website, and also trying to build that new website up. Feel free to invite people over my friend. Have a great day and wish my best to that wonderful wife of yours.
By the way, that is lancerlife.com.
Thank you Greg and best wishes on that new website and all those projects of yours. My best to Maria.
I take it Cristen is one of your beta readers? I value her opinion because she’s not afraid to be honest. This reminds me of a recent post of yours that has to do with reviews. When all we get is strokes on the back, something surely smells rotten in Denmark (or Olympia or Longwood)!
You’ll know when your book is ready. You’ll feel it and be proud knowing you’ve given it your blood, sweat, and tears.
Thanks Sha! Yes, I guess you could call Cristen a beta reader, although I suspect she’s a bit more than that. 🙂 I’ll let everyone know when I have finally finished this bad boy. 🙂 Thanks for your support.
Bill, I read your post just before I posted mine today. I had been going back and forth on something in mine. It just didn’t feel right. You told me to ask myself if it was the best I could do. It wasn’t. I cut a big section out and tweaked a few things. Now it’s good. 🙂
Thank you.
Your quote of the day is very powerful. It’s why I find working with you so easy. It’s also why I always get excited when I see the notice in my inbox of a new Artistry With Words post. I know that you’ll offer me something that I can actually use to help me be a better writer.
And Shadows Kill is so good. 🙂 I absolutely cannot wait to buy it and read the final draft. It’s really fun and inspiring to watch the process. I was so blown away with the obvious craft of it. I expected that from you, but I was just so struck by your gift to weave a fiction story and the work you put into making it great. I suppose I’ve gushed enough. I need to save something for the Amazon review.
Have an awesome, productive week!
Cristen, if there are awards for gushing comments then you just won the Gold. Thank you…the thing is, I have to sell that baby first before you can buy it, and then I won’t let you buy it because I’ll give it to you….so it gets a little complicated, but we’ll work it out. LOL Thanks for all you have done, and all you will do in the future. You and I have just begun.
Indeed we have, Bill. And I’ll let you give me that book, but only if you sign it. 🙂
Consider it done, Cristen!
Bill thank you for that list, invaluable. You are loved by so many people who are rooting with huge enthusiasm for the success of your great book. Blessings Sparklea/Lea
Thank you so much, Lea, and you are welcome. Blessings always my friend.
Although I agree that it is important to put out the best work that we can create, there is also the other extreme where we become so much of a perfectionist that we don’t get anything “good enough”. Yes, we do need to put out our best work and we need quality control measures like spell check, editing checklists,editors, and beta readers, however, it is also so easy to go the other extreme where we never get anything published because it could always be better.
Donna, all true, and I have known writers like that. I’m not one of them, thank goodness. I’ll publish but not until it passes my quality control check. 🙂 Thank you for your thoughts.
Hello Bill, happy to hear that your new book is going well. I’m sure that it’ll be great. I downloaded “Resurrecting Tobias” a few months ago and I still haven’t had time to read it yet. Thanks for all of your advice. Best wishes!
Melissa, thank you so much for downloading Tobias. I hope you enjoy it as much as I enjoyed writing it. Again, thank you so much.
O Bill,
It can be revised as many times as you decides before its published. To have that option is always great, as time permits. Some – most of ” production” does allow to prolong, and here is a must to stand by quality standard set by “me” I must do my best the first time , it’s my only chance… In my first vocation during the steps of creating the “orthopedic shoe ” every minute I had was challenged by quality control of my doing my best ; there wasn’t going back, it would be impossible due to consequences: I would never be a master of my art, I’ll be out for good. The same is in nature of you expressed in writing what you are applying throughout all you career , contributing to the society while earning peace of bread. That’s why you have set up a high- highest standard for byllibuc creation in writing. You have hit me here very hard with ” to declare it is my best” ( I just ain’t there yet): My best in writing isn’t good enough after almost three decades abstaining. .. You are witnessing my struggle coming back reading my shortcomings… One thing you are first to know – next to my family – only short while ago I made decision to quit my three-quarter of century in labor force and going back to my first love writing. How far a distance to reach an acceptable point – its hidden to me. By that time your many novels would become famous and that would be my reward knowing you, keeping in memory all what you have done for me.
God bless you my friend.
Michael my friend, blessings to you and much thanks. Quitting your job? Writing full-time? Bravo I say! You have paid your dues and now it is time to pursue your next love, with vigor and a young heart. If I can be of any assistance, you only have to reach out and ask me.
Bill