Update 2 of 3 sections editing complete in Operators Book 1

I hesitated to share updates publicly as writing is a hobby that can quickly turn into a chore, but I am finding that sharing these is holding me accountable for completing the hard part of writing, Editing.

The secret to editing is that sometimes you change people’s names, even what they do, as it makes more sense when the story is complete.  Is that person an orphan?  Are they an athlete?  What name did you call them eight months ago when you wrote the first paragraph?  All of these things can change over time.  

It gets more complicated if you write with an unreliable narrator when the person lies to themselves and the reader.  Spoiler alert: These stories may have one or more unreliable narrators.  

Often you get to the then end of 100 thousand words and realize a pivotal scene goes better if the person says one thing, but you referenced the exact opposite twelve times earlier.  It is time to start searching and fixing.   Then you have to be sure and go through it again reading.

How do you read a novel looking for mistakes?  It is tedious, but I often read it backward.  One sentence or paragraph at a time.  It is a lot like watching a video in reverse, and it makes you concentrate on the things that stand out.   Give it a try, and you will see why editing takes me so long.  Reading a novel backward takes about three times as long, not counting the stops to edit.

For anyone who has read my previous work, you must now be thinking, “How bad was this before he edited it?”  The answer is “Terrible.”  My writing quality would improve significantly if I had an editor, but that is not likely to happen.  For now, we will all be happy with Grammarly and what it can do to help.  I swear I once knew where to put a comma.  Grammarly is making me think I am glad I want to public school.  I would need a refund if I paid for my English grammar education.

Update: Editing the Operations Series

The first three novellas are in editing.   They will be available separately and then combined in one print novel.  I am eager to get these into people’s hands, but I don’t want to rush and refine parts of the stories.  The sad truth is that the writer’s idea of what should happen can change when writing a series of stories. Names change, places change.  Even the histories of characters change.

The fourth Novella, which is the first of the second trilogy, is completed and ready for editing. 

The current plan for this series is to write in groups of three novellas and combine them.  If one of the stories requires more or fewer stories, I will adjust accordingly.  Each block of stories will focus on one operator and the world around them while advancing a general narrative of their world.

One should not become too attached to a character.  This is a brutal world, and if one were to feel that any character had “plot armor,” then it would take away from the realities of life where killing and breaking things is the norm.

I have always found it unrealistic for a show or movie to center on a character or team, and no one ever dies.  It is a harsh reality of violence that cuts both ways.  A stray bullet or wrong turn around a corner can end badly for the best soldier. 

Threads

I have been spending a lot of time on Threads. It seems about as efficient as early twitter. There are some basic features we expect missing, but since this is less than a week live I expect they will be added or proven unnecessary.

It is currently difficult to find content from people you follow. We need a filter for this at tte very least.

The lack of trending or hot content may not be needed but it currently feels like the algorithm is hiding the ranking system. More transparency would feel better.

I am sure the algo will get refined and we will be able to filter to see people we follow on Threads one day, but right now the best I can say is there are no ads.

Mrs. Davis on Peacock – Spoiler-Free Review

I rarely see a show I can’t fully explain but can wholeheartedly recommend.  The plot is revealed very quickly, but the details get more and more interesting as the story unfolds.  An AI running the world sends a nun on a holy quest to find and destroy the holy grail.  

I think I will stop that with the plot—no need to dive deeper.  If you can deal with that as an idea, you enjoy the show.  If you are easily offended by religious shows that may represent something different than your perfect view of your religion, you need to tap out.  

I want to praise the writers and showrunners. They did not lose the plot.  They kept the themes tight, and the characters had agency and growth.  Well, those that were allowed to have agency by the AI.

There are a few reveals that I would have taken a different direction, but that is because of who I am.   The writers brought their experiences and choices. This is perhaps the best speculative fiction series created for streaming. One of the best complete stories ever put on television.  If you wish to debate the show’s merits, watch it and contact me.  

No Agenda Themes in My Writing

No Agenda did not affect my early writing.  I was writing before Adam and John Started.  Is there an effect on my more recent work?  Certainly, the Operations series has themes from No Agenda:

  • The CIA controlling the world
  • Social Media is a tool for control of the masses
  • A secret cabal is controlling the world
  • Israelis moon bases (Just kidding.  Or am I?)
  • The Federal Reserve controls the world via the Economy
  • etc…

The world around them influences writers.  There is no doubt that media deconstruction and critical thinking of No Agenda affect my writing.   I suspect it is no more or less an influence than anything else.  I have also had characters influenced by discussions from Compound Media Shows.  I have never lived in New York City.  I don’t know anything about Long Island other than what I have learned by listening to Anthony Cumia talk about his life for years.

Writers are sponges.  We do things to add experiences and knowledge to our writing.  I have been married for Thirty-Six years at the time of this writing.  We were married when we were eighteen and just out of high school.  Everything I know about other people’s relationships is from listening and watching.  

The most significant influence of NA on my writing is my desire to find a way to bring value for value to writing. We will get there one day, but writers do not get the value for the time spent working.  I used to keep track of hours, days, and weeks spent writing.  I am a nerd, and I love data.  When I realized I was making pennies per hour spent, I stopped writing.  I started writing again after a few months off.  Not for the money, but because I missed it.  More on value-for-value ideas in another post at a future date.

Holiday Giveaway response

I really appreciate the response to the holiday giveaway. All of my published novellas and novels will be available between now and July 4th. Find the links to what is free on Kindle and when in the blog below.

FYI I leave my work available for Kindle Unlimited at all times, and if you just want paper, Empire: Overthrow and Honor Bound are both available in print. If you want a signed copy, let me know.

Happy reading on the 4th.