I love and hate getting galleys. My new one for TAKE ME IF YOU DARE (Harlequin, Feb. 2010) came in yesterday. The love comes in the fact that it makes it feel real. It’s my first chance to see what all those words look like in book form. It’s exhilarating in many ways, and absolutely horrifying in others.
I’m not one who second guesses herself too much, but it’s the very fact that this is final look at the book before the public sees it. Why didn’t I do that? I should have thought to? I can drive myself crazy with it. I do have the opportunity to make small changes at this stage, but the publisher generally frowns on it if you want to revise huge chunks.
But the truth is, I have to make myself look at it and ask myself, “Did you tell a good story?” The answer, so far, has thankfully always been “yes.” There might have been some tweaks here and there, but overall I ended up telling the story I wanted to.
I’m often asked if I could go back and write those first books in the “Charmed & Dangerous” series, would I want to? Part of me says yes, but the other part realizes that I told the story I wanted to in that moment of time. All of my life experiences up until that moment made that book what it was. Have I grown as writer since then? Goodness, I hope so. But I’m okay with what I’ve created.
It’s that idea of living with no regrets. That’s sometimes a hard for me, because there are lot of moments in my life I’d like to do over. Those moments usually have to do with something I said, that I wished I hadn’t. I have a big mouth, and it often gets me into trouble. But even those moments have made me more aware of how I want to act in the future. Hopefully, they made me a better person.
And I’ve discovered I can “do over” things through my writing. Many times the scenes and dialogue come from very real experiences in my life that I wished had gone a different way. Those witty comebacks are so much easier when you’ve had a day or so to mull them over. And in a book you can punch someone and or in Bronwyn’s case, blow them up when they’ve done you wrong.
So what do I wish I could do over with “Take Me If You Dare”? So far, nothing. I’ve found a few tweaks but nothing to major. It helped that I have an amazing editor who caught those moments in the revision process. She made it a stronger book and I’m grateful for it.
My only regret with that book is that the hero isn’t real. I’m telling you, he’s my ideal man. Sigh.
So I want to hear from you. Any thing you’d like to “do over”? Is there a witty comeback you wish you’d said at the right moment? Tell me. I want to know
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Hi
Yay for getting the galleys for Take Me If You Dare!
Thank you for the great post.
As for wishing I could “do over” conversations…. all the time!
Too bad I can’t signal a time out, write in a notebook the best possible comeback, then return to the conversation.
All the best,
@RKCharron
xoxo
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I think being able to stop time would be most helpful.
Especially today! Things are a little hectic around here.
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My FIRST galleys are due any day now – - – and I’ll find out what you mean. As far as that IDEAL man . . . yeah. I’m with ya’.
Thanks for the post, Candy!
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Drue,
You should tell use the title of your book and when it will be out. A little promo never hurt anyone.
What an exciting time for you. I remember when I received that first set of galleys. It was an exciting day. And it did make it all so real.
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If I could go back in time, I’d go back tell myself to read up
on rookie mistakes before ever letting a ms see the light of day. You live and you learn. Always, right?
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Yes to the living and learning comment. But the more we write and hone our craft, often the more realize how much we don’t know.
I sort of miss those blissfully ignorant days.