Tag Archive for: #amediting

Editing, Updating, and Completing a Manuscript

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By Kathryn Lane

Technology innovations are accelerating at warp speed. At
least that’s what it seems like in my writing world.

A year-and-a-half ago, I started research about a child math
prodigy interested in rockets and space travel. The story takes place in the present
day. The plot revolves around a family-secret type mystery and a subplot
involving the girl’s dream of space exploration.

Then my commitment to write another novel in my Nikki Garcia
mystery series shelved the girl-genius project.

Recently I took up the prodigy manuscript again and realized that maybe I should re-do my research since space travel has changed – several
ordinary citizens have flown to or near the Kármán line – an imaginary but practical boundary separating mere air travel from space
travel. Blue Origin flew 62 miles above the earth’s surface and kissed the Kármán line while Virgin Galactic flew a bit
over 50 miles, the altitude where the Federal Aviation Administration awards
astronaut wings to crew members.

The real clencher is SpaceX’s flight to the International Space
Station. The crew were civilians. These three events impact important details
in my young girl’s story.

All of those events were anticipated in the manuscript. Yet now they’ve actually occurred and it’s possibly a game changer for me. I’m wondering if I should make several substantial edits. Not that those space companies will be mentioned specifically, but the accomplishments do impact the story.

I can leave the novel as it was originally conceived and not
re-do my research or I can spend time rethinking and rewriting it. You, as
writers, might tell me it’s irrelevant to update it since I’d never complete it
if I keep revising for the latest space and scientific discoveries. That’s true,
but these events have been groundbreaking. To ignore them would be the easy way
out. Plus the developments of the past year should make a positive difference
in the young girl’s story.

Regardless of whether I update or not, the novel is about
three-fourths done. If I’m going to make changes, now is the time.

Has anyone else faced this issue? If you have any advice, please
share it!

Kathryn’s latest Nikki Garcia Mystery Thriller: Missing in
Miami (available on Amazon)



About Kathryn

Kathryn
Lane started out painting in oils and quickly became a starving artist. To earn
a living, she became a certified public accountant and embarked on a career in
international finance with a major multinational corporation. After two
decades, she left the corporate world to plunge into writing mystery and
suspense thrillers. In her stories, Kathryn draws deeply from her Mexican background as well as her travels in over ninety
countries.

Visit my website at https://www.Kathryn-Lane.com

Photo credits:

All photographs are used
in an editorial and/or educational manner

Earth Math by NASA 

Rocket Launch – Twitter

SpaceX’s Dragon Capsule Docking with the International Space Station by NASA 

Gathering

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We recently returned from a week at the beach (Pacific NW style – no, it does not include bathing suits!) with our kids and granddaughter.

Whew, what a whirlwind! I did, however, edit all 320 pages of my latest novel.

One of the many things we discussed last week was the upcoming holidays and the chaos of coordinating many, many people’s schedules.

It gets more complicated as we get older, doesn’t it?

But as the holiday season rolls toward high gear, rather than gathering
with my family or writing buddies, this week I’m gathering with my day job peers.
I’m stuck in an Orlando conference center, spying an occasional palm tree
through the window, and trying not to find the Christmas carols, oversized
gingerbread houses, and 80 degree weather too weird.

Between the day job, building a house, dealing with the
flood, keeping an eye on my latest release and promotion–and oh yes! the holidays—writing time
has evaporated. Instead of becoming frustrated, I’ve decided to consider it a
chance to gather my thoughts. To allow the plot points of the next Holly and JC book to simmer. To let the
characters nag at me to tell their story.
Strange as it may seem, I’m looking forward to the six hour
flight back to Washington state when this conference ends. Six hours without
email or a ringing phone. Sounds like writing heaven to me.
What about you, my
writing friends? Are you finding time to write? (Do share how you manage that!)
My reading friends?
Is curling up with a book a respite or a vision as fleeting as a Thanksgiving turkey’s lifespan or a sugar plum
fairy?