Devoted to publishing, publishers and to those who craft the written word

Where have all the postings gone?

I've been a little light on the blogging here lately, but I've got a good excuse--I'm editing the crap out of my novel. Finishing this draft, I realized that I've lost touch with some of the basic skills of editing: patience, patience, and patience.

Blogging has taught me how to write quick and dirty pieces of writing, and I needed some novel help. Journalist Leo Babauta has a new blog called Write To Done, and he's talking about editing too. Here's a level-headed reminder for all writers:

"Read The Elements of Style. A concise guide to writing concisely. It’s a classic for a reason — there is no better guide to eliminating excess words."

To revive my editing instincts, I called on Lance Olsen, the author of nine novels and the Rebel Yell writing handbook. He gave me another piece of glittering, razor-sharp editing advice, reminding us to be clinical when editing: "Avoid loving your work at any cost." You can read Olsen's whole interview here.

As for postings, don't forget to tune in next Monday as Rachel Kramer Bussel stops by to discuss The Best Sex Writing of 2008.