Saturday, January 14, 2012

What I'm NOT blogging about!

Today I'd planned on doing my first review of a novel for the Australian Women Writer's challenge. I'd planned to review (or write what I liked about it cos I'm not really comfortable reviewing a) as a writer and b) a friend's book) Loretta Hill's The Girl In Steel-Capped Books.  I decided I'd do a write up of one Aussie women's fiction book every two weeks, but maybe this'll have to start next week. I have started Loretta's book and I'm REALLY loving it, but there's a number of things that have stopped me reading as much as I'd like this week.

1) Copy-edits landed for JILTED - these are not actually that bad and more involve going through the document and accepting or rejecting minor changes my editor as made. I'd say I'm accepting 99% of such changes because let's face it, he's the editor and he knows what he's doing. Every time I read his changes I think - WOW why didn't I think of that. They're mostly minor - deleting a word here and replacing it with something else or even just shifting around the words I already have but its amazing how such small changes can really improve the writing. So, I'm very grateful to have worked with two fantastic editors on my books. For JILTED my editor is a man and this has been particularly useful in making sure the male pov in my book is spot-on!

2) It's school holidays here. Not only is it school holidays, but we are away from home in Perth for two weeks, which equals daily swimming lessons for the boys, social outings to catch up with friends and a whole load of fun school holiday type activities. So far in six days we've been to AQUA (WA Aquarium), a really cool play centre, a park with a massive fake volcano that actually ruptures, San Churros (to eat loads and loads of chocolate), the Zoo, the drive in movies (to see Alvin and The Chipmunks Shipwrecked), I've had a pedicure and my Mum also took the boys to see Happy Feet 2 at the cinemas. THIS is only the first week. My men have been good and have let me have a bit of me time but most of this precious time has been spent on copy-edits.

3) Before the copy-edits landed - I'd been trying to get stuck into my current wip (working title MAN DROUGHT). I love the concept of this story but am at the stage, where I'm just writing myself into the story (anyone else do that?) and hoping like hell it all works out!

So, unfortunately I'm gonna be late with my first installment for the Australian Women Writer's challenge, but I promise there'll be a write up on The Girl In Steel-Capped Boots. Soon!


9 comments:

Scarlet Wilson said...

Keep having a fabulous holiday Rach!

Rachael Johns said...

Thanks Scarlet!!

Jenn J McLeod said...

LOL Pedicures and Happy Feet!!!!!!

Romance Reader said...

Your kids look so adorable!

All the best with edits, Rachael!

Jackie Ashenden said...

Rach, you are the busiest woman in the world! I'm exhausted just thinking about it. My kids watched TV, played on the computer and, oh yes, watched some more TV while I wrote. Yep, bad mum central. :-) They do look like happy men though. They're lucky to have such a lovely Mum!

Lacey Devlin said...

What cuties!

I hope the rest of your holiday is just as fabulous. Happy editing.

Rachael Johns said...

My feet were VERY happy Jenn!!!

Thanks so much Romance Reader - they're pretty cute most of the time :)

Jackie - I'm sure I'm not as busy as SOME people. But thanks for the kinds words anyhow! x

Lacey - thanks! Right now it's just exhausting :)

Anonymous said...

Enjoy your family time!!!
Xx

Rachael Johns said...

Thanks Michelle :)