July 15, 2010

Something's Burning

You write to communicate to the hearts and minds of others what's burning inside you.  And we edit to let the fire show through the smoke.  ~Arthur Polotnik
 I'm almost done reading through my REMNANT ms after being away from it for many months. As I edit, I am keeping my readers in mind, wondering what they might think of this next idea, curious as to what suggestions they will make, what they loved and hated. My stomach tightens at the thought, as always.

As soon as I'm done with that, I'll be going over The Orchard, due for release in Spring/2011, again for the first time in months. I'm anxious to look at it, see what I've learned since it was last submitted, go over it with a fine-toothed comb before my editor sinks her teeth into it. (Am I mixing my metaphors? Combs have teeth, right?) I have until the end of August. Then things may get moving, for reals. Maybe. I hope!

A lot of my friends ask about this publishing time line, expressing shock at how long it takes to put a book on a shelf (or, as I prefer, in my hot little hands), but at this point in the process, while I am anxious for all of it, I just want the fire to show through the smoke. My fire. The one fueling my hot little hands as they run over my keyboard. The one fueling these stories in my head.

I hope my readers feel the burn.

Is your fire showing?



4 comments:

ali cross said...

I love that quote (hadn't heard that one before) and LOVE what you added to it.

I hope my fire is there to warm my readers. I hope.

Kimberly Vanderhorst said...

I am in LOVE with that quote! Brilliant! Perfect!

Burn baby, burn!

Mary Gray said...

Ah, it IS fire that keeps us going. I can just see your hot little hands scurrying across your keyboard. :)

Jayne said...

Hello! I came by from the lovely KarenG's blog. :)

I think as writers we absolutely have to be passionate about the story we bring to life, and as readers that really shows! So I am sure your readers will feel the burn. :)

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