Michelle's corner

I got started on the Kindle version of Grave last night. A number of words were changed and I even caught a transposition, "it is," instead of "is it." ... or was that the other way around? I can't remember.

There is no doubt in my mind that things read differently on paper than they do on an e-reader. It wouldn't surprise me to find, years down the line when someone does the analysis, that there is a strong delineation between works that sell on paper, and works that sell on e-reader. I would expect the majority of experienced readers to look at the blurb for a book and decide, there and then, whether they want to buy it in paper or electronic format; probably without even thinking about it.

That is... of course... if my half baked theories are correct!

I was sat there in bed, kindle in hand and laptop by my side for the corrections. I was looking at the clock and watching my progress. I thought that if I pushed it, I could get the kindle version read before midnight and that would be another phase done, out of the way. Fat chance. I hit 28% at 7:30-ish, then shut everything down and went to sleep. I'm here at 5:40am having done another 2%, but my heart isn't in it.

Today, I have to sort my clothes out for the weekend, pack a small bag, check the car, double check my route and ensure I've got the contact details for whomever is going to be welcoming the traders at Wyntercon. With luck, I'll get the kindle version finished and I can then at least get the kobo version loaded and ready to go. Not that I will be able to do much, because I won't be taking the laptop with me.

No sense in taking high value items. Plus I'll be wound up anyway so I won't be able to make progress with anything creative. But there'll be nothing stopping me from reading the kobo version and jotting notes down on paper for any alterations; not that many should be needed at that point.

I look at the examples of manuscripts that some editors put up as the kind of work that needs to be done to some top name authors, and I have to admit that if I put that kind of stuff in the hands of my volunteer editor, I'd be ashamed. Perhaps it is the dyslexia that makes me work harder at it, I don't know. But generally, we manage a good ten minutes to go through the notes she leaves on things (stuff like commas in, or out are standard) and then I'm the one that decides on the ultimate pace and format.

I use terminology that isn't necessarily a part of her world, so she's got no clue as to whether some things are grammatically correct or not. Also, in editing Check Mate, in order to work out what was the correct military term, she would have had to do the kind of research that I did... and that is my job/responsibility, not hers. Plus, she edits with a light touch because she knows that if she edited heavily, she'd alter my, "voice."

Also, the things that she picks up on, are fed back in to my checking routines. Some things, I pick up quickly. Other things, I remain blind to, no matter how hard I try. In theory, it doesn't make sense. I should be able to learn the conditions; learn the rules and be able to apply them. But we are humans, not logical machines, and there are things I will just remain blind to; without knowing why.

Yes, it is as frustrating as all hell.

But my job is to get it as good as I can, before even handing it over for editing.

And all this is being done in volunteer time. Down time. Leisure and relaxation time; not only mine, but the people who are reading and checking.

This is a shoestring, indie operation here! Which is probably why I'll reach the seasonal holidays this year, look back to October 2014 when Companion was first released and think, "Wow. Five books averaging four stars in such a short time." and wonder how the hell it happened.

I was hoping that things might be different by now. Back in October '14 I thought that Companion would make a splash. Of course I now know why it didn't. I know more about the industry and am another year wiser. Any new business that is launching will take a few years of loss before starting to turn a profit... if it ever does.

But I don't want the next books to be created in such a rush. I had a bonus because I knew what I wanted to say; the message was clear in my heart and my mind. That isn't the case with the next ones; they're going to be 100k books each and, as I'm still working full time, will be twelve months in the creation. I hope that by February/March next year, I will be positioned closer to home, so at least I'll gain two hours a day by not doing the commute.

The Lucky Pig is already knocking on 2,000 words and The White Wizard is closing on 4,000, so they are off to good starts.

We'll see.