tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7631440977149023635.post8340013097596425860..comments2022-12-10T06:16:11.961-08:00Comments on Caroline Wilson Writes: When to edit...Carolinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04311977559726972526noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7631440977149023635.post-72233537765303737872011-05-28T14:15:48.264-07:002011-05-28T14:15:48.264-07:00I've only been critiqued a couple of times, bu...I've only been critiqued a couple of times, but I've found (and I've heard other people give this advice too) that after reading a critiquie for the first time you should set it aside for a while before making changes. It can be really overwhelming - you've just been told there are all kinds of things wrong with something you thought was perfect, and you can't imagine any other possible way to do it! Speaking from my own experience, anyway. :) Taking a little time to think about it and decided which suggestions are on the mark helps.<br /><br />I write historical too, but I usually take the opposite approach to using contractions - I almost never use them in prose unless it's expressing a character's thoughts, and in dialogue I make the choice just depending on which way the sentence sounds better.Elisabeth Grace Foleyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02073159989691222645noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7631440977149023635.post-62547363384679246052011-05-27T07:50:23.299-07:002011-05-27T07:50:23.299-07:00Good advice from both Rebecca and Jennifer. I actu...Good advice from both Rebecca and Jennifer. I actually talked it over my beta, and she said the same. I have it out with another beta and she has said that while it is formal, she would expect it to be that way. I am considering creating a second version using contractions in the prose (not the dialogue since that wouldn't be appropriate). I might query five agents using the formal version, and another five using the more relaxed version and see what happens.Carolinehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04311977559726972526noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7631440977149023635.post-39151238113105288122011-05-24T15:19:02.965-07:002011-05-24T15:19:02.965-07:00If you are unsure about making changes just yet, h...If you are unsure about making changes just yet, hold off. I also would put it down for a little while. Get caught up on laundry, go for a walk, whatever it takes to give yourself a good week away from it. Another option would be to have another read it. I have two really honest beta readers who differ in their approaches to reading my work. Good luck and keep us posted!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7631440977149023635.post-764255981612688012011-05-24T09:12:03.257-07:002011-05-24T09:12:03.257-07:00I shelved my first novel because I didn't want...I shelved my first novel because I didn't want to go back and edit. Lol but, I will revisit it at a later date. I know it's good to put the MS down for a time. Of course, when you need to meet a deadline, that's not easy to do. Have at least 3 betas read your MS. That's what I do. Then hit the edits, but don't over edit because of your doubts.Miranda Hardyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17880449368013410349noreply@blogger.com