Advice from an aunt to its niece

Ten years ago I wrote this post for my toddler niece.

She's not a toddler anymore but while the times may have changed, these tips (edited for relevance because I Am A Professional Now) stand the test of time.

Dear Hailey, 

Are you excited to be a teenager?

Since you are going to be the big sister on campus soon, I thought you might benefit from a few more tried and true tips on how to stay awes. 

1. Eat Dessert First Dog food might smell great...Dog food might taste great, but it is not for giving to your little sister(s) no matter how much it looks like Coco Puffs. 
2. Socks not Rocks. Please, don’t throw balls of socks for Catie or Kelsey to catch. Do you have any idea how much those black and grey tube socks look like rocks?
3. Sharing means Caring. In a year’s time, your little sisters will be in love with EVERYTHING you use, wear, touch, eat, poop, and look at. Just please use a little more discretion than your mommy did in which you decide to let them have.
4. Patience is a Virtue, Sort of. For the next few months eighteen years, your house is going to be what we in the “real world” call busy-busy --a word here meaning: twice as much crying, whining, complaining, tooting, stinking, and tantrum-throwing. And when this does happen, just give your parents time to chill out, especially if you are studying/FaceTiming me.
5. You do You. When I was your age, I not ready to be a teenager. Turns out, that's okay! You grow and learn and shop and do science experiments at your own pace. Send anyone who has a problem with that my way, please.
6. Lead by Example. Catie and Kelsey are going to be watching you, learning from you. But I’ll eat my hat if they ever listen to a word you or your parents say. So be mindful of what you do, how you walk, where you go, and what you touch, because they’ll be watching. Always watching. And if they see you sharing your toys with Brooke, they’ll do that. If they see you slipping Ashley a fiver to your laundry, they’ll do that. Except that they’ll pool their money so then Ashley has twice as much profit from doing half as much laundry since being the youngest AND twins they’ll share all the hand-me-downs, anyway. 
7. Share your Feelings.  That [insert positive pop culture icon like Kermit] knows what they're talking about, but it's ok to have your own opinions and express them in your own way. Just not on MySpace.

Love you to the moon and back!
Auntie Erica

Proofreading is a twitbucket

My writing process reveals Itself to me slowly, but I think I have a few things pinned down. I see it in chunks or levels.

Photo courtesy of Google Image Search

These levels help me stay focused on one WIP at a time.

The Outlining Level happens in my head or on paper.

This is not unlike brainstorming for some folks. It's often unintentional. And if I remember this level's musings by the next level (drafting), it moves forward with me. Anything else is jettisoned.

If it was good or important, I'll remember it.

The Drafting Level is where I generate new content on a blank page or screen. This is by far the easiest of levels for me.

I have no shortage of ideas. Not all of them will see the light of day, but my brain has been in story mode since the early 80s.

It's like WIP Central Station up in here (Up. In. Here.) at all times. This is also why I don't drive or write or walk or hang out with music on. It's already too noisy.

Once I've done the WIP due diligence by letting it Stew In It's Own Filth, I will tackle a revision.

Photo courtesy of Google Image Search

The Revising Level is a many splendored thing including, but not limited to: 

• reading the WIP in one sitting
• re-reading the WIP in bits and pieces
• leaving notes/comments to future Erica
• drawing maps
• re-outlining
• Murder She Wrote marathons
• day job, 
• Blogging
• coloring
• cleaning
• snacks

Anything goes at this level because I burn out quickly because I'm on overdrive. However, I am learning not to feel bad about it. 

Why? 

Because Not-Writing is a part of my process. I can't pour from an empty cup. 

The Proofreading Level is a twitbucket and can kiss my printer.

I hate this level with the burning intensity of a hundred-dozen D+ essays. Let me be clear: I am a decent proofreader. But I am just not wired to see my own WIP objectively.

Of course I've tried proofreading for myself, but when I do all that happens is that my revising-self steamrolls in and drops these plot twist ideas that should be squashed down long ago.

Photo courtesy of Google Image Search

This Blog is Not Precious And So Can You!

Greetings from the epiphany I had last night.

Once a month I carpool to my Jane Austen Appreciation Group with a brilliant writer. We talk shop. Let's call her Jane-Austen-Writer-Friend.

On our ride yesterday, Jane-Austen-Writer-Friend told me about how she's produced "...over a thousand pieces of published writing since college. Nothing ground breaking. But still...they're published," she said.

And before I could ask how she thought she was able to produce so much, she answered me.

She shrugged. "My writing isn't precious. I don't treat it like it's something special. Because it's not. It's words. Any my words are not precious. If they were, I'd never write anything. There'd be too much pressure."

What I took from that is this:

Jane-Austen-Writer-Friend's ability to let go of writing or, more specifically, to see it through a detached but respectful distance eliminates any opportunities for self-doubt.

And with that nugget in mind I finally update this blog. Why? Because Jane-Austen-Writer-Friend was right. Regardless of where I go in my writing and editing career, this blog is not precious. But I'd been procrastinating on posting because I didn't have anything amazing or hilarious or inspiring to say. And that's OK.

Anyway, here's a picture of my dogs.

Henry, Finnegan, and Ridley. April 2018.

I do the words.

It's about dang time for some good news.

I booked my first client. I am now available for freelance editing.

While I'm still working out my full menu of services--even editors have their favorites: I HATE GRAMMAR-- I know I want it to include those services I needed when I was starting out with my own manuscript. 

In that perfect ericacentric model of the universe in which I live some of those services would include:

Full In-manuscript comments...$.007/word

Gut Reaction To Your Title......$3

Talking You Out Of Quitting.....$Unicorn stickers

Talking You Into Quitting For the Right Reasons.....$nuggles

Is This Chapter Ending In The Right Place?.....$New Tea Mug Filled With Junior Mints!

As I started writing this post seven minutes ago, the above menu items were, of course, a joke, but something is ringing true for me here. I have hired editors in the past two years and what I can say is I got what I paid for, in the best way possible. But I just wasn't ready for it. Maybe I should have started with a chapter critique. I just didn't feel comfortable reading from someone else what was NOT working with my manuscript.

I wonder if parents feel this. I wonder if MY parents felt this... 

"Welcome, Mr. and Mrs. Davis, thanks for coming in. Erica is great to have in this story, but she's just not making sense--as a person. Maybe you could delete her and have a horse farm instead? Or maybe she' be better off in a flashback you only think about at Samhain?"

So maybe there's something there. At any rate, change is in the air and I am ready. 

If and when you might be ready for a fresh set of eyes on something, send me a message at erica.secor@gmail.com or via DMs on Twitter @TheDavisGirl. 

If I don't offer what you need just yet, we'll figure it out together.

Stay classy cookie pantsers.