The Waiting Game

I’ll finally sleep tonight. I’ve been waiting to see what my editor and agent thought of my new book. They’ve both called in to say they loved it. My editor suggested changes that I’ve already started on. Once in a while someone is surprised that I have to do rewrites. They say something like, “After 30 books I’d think you’d have it right by now.” In truth I need an editor as much as ever. I see writing as a team career. I might be able to write alone, but to have a winner I need both my editor and my agent.

As a reader I see many books I think are perfect. As a writer I always wish I had one more day to make it better. I think most writers feel the same. A friend of mine always worries about my writing on deadline, but it seems I always have. Even before I sold I’d give myself deadlines. I’m one of those people that if it wasn’t for the last minute I’d never get anything done. I fuss with the first chapter sometimes for weeks and then write the last chapter in a night. In that first chapter I have to find the character and sometimes he or she doesn’t make it easy.

Have a great week end. For my friends in England---I’ll trade one of those rainy days for one of our Texas days at over 100.