Last Updated on June 3, 2020 by ThoughtsStained

Hello, lovelies!

I’m really excited to continue writing the next installment of my new series, Writer Wonders! I’m answering questions about writing and it has been SO much fun to write about and work on. This month, I share the 3rd installment. Check out the first installment here and the second installment here. I’m going to try and do this once a month, as long as there are questions! 🙂

I think a thing I’d love to learn more about, is your editing process, maybe? If you feel like talking about it? — Marie @ Drizzle and Hurricane Books

This is such a great question! And such a unique one, since I think it is constantly going to change and evolve the more I write. When I first started writing, I counted editing as reading through a completed draft and looking for typos and calling it good (oh, how I was so young and foolish, once). I’m very happy to have matured and learned that editing is so much more complex than that, but I also recently learned that I still have plenty of growth left to do.

Now, my usual method is to have a “draft zero,” or the first draft where I am writing a completely new story and getting words on the page for the first time. On this draft, I focus the most of just getting the story told. I try not to care about anything else than getting words down. Then, after I have a completed draft, I go back through and read it through once, editing for new scenes, new plot lines, trying to make it actually make sense.

Then, I send it to trusty betas for their feedback, before I start the second round or third draft, where I edit to incorporate their feedback. Sometimes, I’ll ask for a second round of betas or for a new group to read it, especially if I make substantial edits. Then, I’ll edit again after their feedback, so usually doing four-six rounds of edit before querying.

However, I’ve recently gotten editing advice from a professional for the first time and my editing is going to change a little bit, I think. While I still think my editing style is much more constructive than just looking for typos, I think this new method that I’m going to try this month will help me truly look at it from a structural standpoint. I plan to write a blog post about it at the end of the month, so stay tuned for that! 🙂

“Which is your favourite character in your WIP and what is the most fun part of writing them?” — Victoria Corva

Wow, do I LOVE this question. I am currently working on a duology, BLOOD PRICE and WAR’S PROMISE. And I think I’d have to say that my favorite character is Natanni, the lead warrior, because she’s just so complex. She’s motivated by guilt and the desire to be accepted by her clan, which leads her to become the best warrior they’ve ever seen. Yet she still struggles with self-acceptance and being “good enough” to be the protector of her people. So, when they suddenly outcast her, it’s been really amazing to write about not only the quest she goes on for redemption, but also to see how her own beliefs change and shift after she goes through so much. To write a character who has so much strength, but also isn’t afraid to show weakness or experience pain, has been so challenging and rewarding.

I want nothing more than to do her story justice.

A little shorter of a post today, but I hope you all enjoyed it! It was really fun to write. I’d love to hear about your own editing processes and your own favorite characters from your WIPs! Do you have any questions for me? Let me know in the comments below and perhaps I’ll answer your questions next month!

Cheers.