Potpourri #amrevising #amreading

July 30, 2022 by Julie Holmes, author 5 Comments

A little of this, a little of that. There’s been a lot going on lately (at least in my mind, but it’s considerate enough not to keep me awake at night 🙂 )

On the writing front, I turned in my revised revision of Book 2 to my agent this week. Crossing my fingers it’s in good enough shape that she’ll be able to take it to publishers. One thing I always seem to discover is just how much I can edit out when I remember what one of my critique partners said: If it doesn’t need to be there, get rid of it.

Which, yeah, duh, that’s kinda the point, and a vital part of the revision process, especially before sending it off to my agent. For some reason, though, when my critique partner said it (we were critiquing my submission for the month) something “clicked”. Or maybe it was that combined with my agent’s request to cut 10k words (from a 91,300 word mss). I managed to cut half of that, but as I was going through the book, I shook my head more than once and mumbled, “What the hell was I thinking? This doesn’t need to be here.”

Started the harvest season in earnest this week. Did one batch of pickles (7 quarts fit in the canner). I could have done probably 3 or 4 more quarts, but I didn’t think I’d need that many jars, so I didn’t prep enough. I made a cucumber salad I like instead (with a briny dressing, not the white creamy dressing). I should have enough for another pickling session this weekend. Crossing my fingers the upcoming hot humid weather doesn’t make the dill mature too fast. I need to do another batch of pickles before I leave for Wisconsin.

Speaking of, I can’t wait! This year is our Writing Sisters 10th Reunion! We’ve been “sisters” for a decade, now. Wow. It’s wonderful to have those ladies in my life; like a sorority, but better. We’ve been meeting via Zoom every other week since 2020, but seeing each other in person is always a treat!

Now that I’ve turned in Book 2, I need to focus on my next project, which I printed out (I often do better with hard copy I can scribble on), but I also need to figure out Book 3. Struggling with that a bit, so maybe some brainstorming during the 5-hr drive to the reunion.

I have to dedicate some time to reading, too. I’m a backup moderator for my panel at Bouchercon in Sept, so I should read a book from each of the panelists. I’ve got one down, three to go. Not sure when I’ll get through them all, but I’m just the backup, so hopefully I won’t need to sub in at the last minute. Well, that would be okay, but I’d feel unprepared if I didn’t read everyone’s books.

And I got some of the travel arranged for the wedding in VA at the end of September. Whew! There are a few more details (car rental, airport parking) to get settled, but the main things were the flight and the hotel. Part of me still dreads the travel, but part of me is relieved I got that much done 🙂

Hope everyone is staying cool, enjoying this last month or so of summer (or winter, for those south of the equator), and getting some writing done between vacationing, lawn mowing, weed pulling, and all that other stuff that has to get done.

Happy Writing!

Juniper

Nyx

Tibbers

Zoey

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