13 Comments

That's a great way to describe editing -- although I have no experience with music theory!! I love the photo montage! It totally draws me into your book!

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Thanks Val! Speaking of photos, we never did get one of us together at Boucheron!

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How in the world did we forget to do that??? I'm so bad at that sort of thing! Ugh -- must do better!

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Oct 5Liked by Tracey S. Phillips

When I see my editor's reply with ALL the changes. I wait 24 hours before I look at them. I need to leave my ego at the door. I remind myself that my editor turns my coal into diamonds. I accept 99% of them and am a better writer becasue I can take constructive criticism as help not as the harsh nun cracking my knuckles with a ruler.

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Good point, John. I used to fear the developmental editor. Now I know they're going to help the story shine.

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You didn’t lose me with the music metaphor. Admittedly, I had to dredge up memories of my college music theory class. But that was actually kind of fun. Thanks!

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Glad you stopped by, Anne! And you're welcome!

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Love the connection to music theory. There is also a theory in music that what you leave out of a composition or harmonic structure is important too.

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Yes. As we leave out some description to let the reader's imagination kick in!

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"FOREWARNED" — If it was a four-syllable "I" word I'd steal it in a heartbeat!

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I plan to use all words that begin with Fore- Foreseen, Foresight, Foreboding, Forecast- you get the idea. I may have stolen the idea from you :)

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The analogy between editing and music theory is apt. Grammar is the mathematics of words. Most people, like you, don't care a lot about grammar. They just know when a piece of writing sounds right. I applaud you for wanting your words to sing. The premise of FOREWARNED is excellent. It deserves the best engineering.

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Thanks so much, Saralyn. The important thing is i care enough about the "math" to get it right. 😄

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