Being Edited

I am currently working through the line edit of my Science Fiction thriller Haunters (blogged about before as ‘The Ghost Effect’ and due to be published by the Chicken House next May). For those who don’t know what a line edit is, it’s the part of the editorial process that involves the most red ink, the part where the text is scrutinised line by line in search of errors, inconsistencies and crapness. My editor has cut 6,000 words. That’s a lot of crapness. Here is some of it:

1. Purple prose. Of the ‘behold my literary sensibilities’ variety. I don’t know whether to be grateful or embarrassed about this, so I shall be both.
2. Repetition. Saying it clearly the first time means not having to say it loosely again and again.
3. Waffle. My book isn’t set in Belgium. And even if it was, characters should never be allowed to sit about in comfy chairs, explaining the plot to each other. At least not in front of the reader.
4. Un-warranted non-verbal communication and other narrative ticks. Such as staring, gasping, sighing, eye-rolling and arse-scratching. Actually, no-one ever scratched their arse in my book, but if they had, they wouldn’t be doing it now.
5. Seeming. When things patently are.   
6. Many instance of the word that. On the whole I think that this is a good thing.
7. A policeman. Yes, a whole policeman. He was a rubbish policeman anyway. I like to think that he’s now in the next street, scratching his arse.
8. Repetition. Oh…

I’m told some writers actually go ahead and publish their own e-books without any input from an editor. Don’t do that. 

Harry Potter and the Good Cause

Okay, okay, I know. But at least this time it’s for the benefit of others. I have donated a book with a signed sketch in it to Team Hannah. Please take time to visit the site.

I've seen these sell for 4 figures in the past (not for my benefit, I should add), and since I don’t often do this kind of thing, there could be the chance of a rare and unusual Christmas bargain here. And if you can’t bid, you can always spread the word…

Thanks.

Covers My Book Won't Have

Borrowing an idea from top comic book artist Dave Shelton, I thought I’d post one of the many cover concepts that won’t make it to the finished version of my illustrated comic novella Dan and the Dead.

This image was thrashed out between the designer and myself, using elements from previous roughs and new sketches made both in and out of Photoshop. I really liked it (as an idea), but those who will be marketing the book thought it looked a tad too ‘young’. And so, for once, ‘back to the drawing board’ wasn’t a cliché. 

This book was created with reluctant boy readers in mind so anything that might put them off has to be addressed. The story is voice driven, so there’s much more emphasis on Dan’s character and attitude in the new version. I’ve just sent it off. Let’s hope they like it.

Finding Yourself When You're Five

This is a map of my son Benjy's imagination. He asked me to "put it on a machine and on the internet please, Daddy". So I have.

One Reason Why Picture Book Publishers Still Don’t Like Rhyme

Just a short post today, as an addendum to my ever-popular – at least according to the stats --  rhyming picture book posts.

Next year I have a new picture book out called The Pets You Get, illustrated by the unstoppable Adrian Reynolds (this, to the left, is one of his thumbnails). It’s in rhyme, and the first verse text I’ll have had published since Jack’s Tractor rumbled out. But just when I thought all my work was done and the edits finished, my editor called to ask if I could write a prose version as well, saying that ‘the rights team find picture books with rhyming texts are impossible to sell abroad and so rather than give them an excuse for not selling the book, I think it would be a good idea if we could provide them with a prose version.’ 

I’ve never been asked to do such a thing before, but it makes perfect sense. And apparently it works. It was hard, though, taking carefully constructed metrical writing and slapping it down into unadorned prose. But it just goes to show the extra lengths you have to go to when dealing with verse. Aspiring picture book writer beware!

The Pets You Get is available for pre-order. Just saying...

The Big Draw at the DLWP

We had lots of fun at the De La Warr Pavilion yesterday, at their Big Draw event in support of the Campaign For Drawing. The underwater theme was explored in everything from sand marks to felt-tipped oyster shells. There were pebbles to decorate, ultraviolet lights to play in, origami fish to fold and -- for a lucky few -- a limited edition Molsekine Sketchbook as a prize. No excuse not to draw, and even grown ups were allowed to join in. Needless to say, my two little boys LOVED it. And the special edition sketchbook? Um... well, I might share it...