The HEA Cafe

It’s spring time. At least for now. I’ve learned not to get too attached to the season as it tends to be a little like a wandering dog—here today, gone tomorrow.
With springtime comes yard work.
There used to be three huge trees in the center of my lawn. When we moved here they had been reduced to three large stumps. I never minded the stumps. They served as a place to sit or to park planters. Others, though, are anxious to get rid of them and twelve years later, they are getting a little rotted so my son has attacked them with the chain saw and now I have three large holes. Yes, sooner or later someone will fill them with dirt and I’ll plant grass. It will look nice in the end.
It reminds me of what I’ve been doing with my writing. I got a revision letter a few weeks ago. Basically, I had to rewrite the whole story because one of the characters didn’t work. I felt like I had to chop out a stump and expose a big hole.
I worked very hard. Lots of bik-hoking. And I’ve rewritten the story. And like my lawn once the holes are replaced with grass, it really is a lot better.
Now for the polishing. I spend a lot of time going over my manuscript making sure it is as smooth and error free as possible. I use Autocrit (http://www.autocrit.com/), and a Textaloud (NextUp.com/) program. And then I read the story out loud to my hapless client. Poor man doesn’t have a choice but to sit and listen. (He does say he enjoys it but still….)  I have to confess that this stage—the polishing, fine editing—is my least favorite part.
How about you? What is your most favorite/least favorite part of the process?

But in the end it is all worth it when I see my baby in print. The Road to Love, my first Love Inspired Historical, hits the shelves this month.