The Importance of Good Beta Readers and Ruthless Editing
Jan
27
2006

Right now I’m working on edits for Giving Chase, a contemporary erotic romance that I’d like to send to Samhain when I finish. So I wrote it and edited it and sent it to my beta readers and realized that the pacing was off at the beginning.

Now, this book is sweeter than my usual stuff although there is something dark in the storyline. I did realize though, through talking with Tracy (beta reader extraordinaire) that I needed to extract some major stuff about a character who while important, wasn’t as important as the other people in the book. That character overshadowed the beginning of the book.

So I cut. Man, I was ruthless. I used to whittle. Just a smidge here and there. I’d be so in love with some dialog or a scene that I hated to lose it and I’d lose sight of the big picture, the novel as a whole.

But now I’ll just hack it up, LOL. And I have. I’ve cut about eight thousand words (yeah, it was long too). And I’m nearly done and the book is way better for it. I do miss one scene in particular, but I’ll use it someday in something else.

So I’m going to do a big push this weekend to finish up and get it ready to get out the door. And then back to Tri Mates, which should be finished by the end of January – yes, that’s how close I am.

So things are cooking after stagnating for a few days with my husband away and my kids sick.

5 comments to “The Importance of Good Beta Readers and Ruthless Editing”

  1. Charlene Teglia
    January 27th, 2006 at 2:20 pm · Link

    Go Lauren! Hack and slash! I hacked the bejeesus out of chapters 4-14 of The Gripping Beast, gutted and rewrote, and I’m glad I did. You gotta do what you gotta do for the book.

    I also tend to save cut scenes for possible future use elsewhere. ; )



  2. Robin49
    January 27th, 2006 at 7:25 pm · Link

    I’m sure by the time we get to see it that it will be awesome as always!!



  3. Millenia Black
    January 27th, 2006 at 10:55 pm · Link

    Good for you, Lauren! Snip, snip. Hope the kids are feeling better now!



  4. Charlene Teglia
    January 28th, 2006 at 9:26 am · Link

    Ooooolala, the new look is stunning! Love it!



  5. Lauren Dane
    January 28th, 2006 at 9:33 am · Link

    Thank you, Charli! I love the look, too.

    And Millenia thanks, the little one is still suffering but slept better last night (thank goodness!)

    And Robin, you’re so sweet. Thanks! I hope you’re right.