I'm stalled on the third revision of my current WIP. I've received tons of help from the supportive but battle-worn souls in my writer's group and I feel I'm running out of steam. I'm getting to the point where I feel my story is uninteresting and all-too familiar. Yes, I'm peering over the edge, towel in hand.So I checked into the Gotham Writer's Workshop and after perusing the selection of online courses decided the mentorship program sounded pretty good. Then I spoke to someone there who strongly encouraged the services of one of their book doctors. Now I'm in a quandry. I've heard some negative slants on book doctors over the years. It feels strange to me to have to pay someone to help me w/my book. But this person is professional, with writing and teaching experience; of course they should be well-compensated for their time and energy. But I'm still unsure. Anyone out there with book doctor experience??
6 comments:
I'm not sure what a book doctor actually is ... is it a professional editor critiquing your work? I've never done this, but do see more and more of professional edits mentioned in the blogs.
We seem to be in the same place - I think both of our novels have had much too much blood, sweat and tears put into them to give up - BUT - now that i have time I can't think of a thing to write! I say - go for it if you think it will help!
I've never used one. I have edited author's books before - I hope that I was help to them...and I always suggested to the author to try everything, exhaust everything else, before they paid me to do anything with their manuscript.
Just do your research - be careful - and as well, figure out what kind of editing you want --how much you want done....a "critique" of the story? grammar? spelling? etc etc etc....
maybe just putting it away for a week or two or so and then going back to it? Working on something else and then going back to it?
Thanks, Kathryn. I am still researching, and I have been setting my novel aside--maybe too much. It's time for me to get on with it. Thanks for your suggestions/helpful comments. I'll keep everyone posted and share my experience if/when I do this.
Amy - I had another thought - and this will sound funny but try it:
Cut and paste your document (or if it's realllllly long, cut and paste a chapter or two) to your email and send it to yourself....then read it ...I swear you'll notice things you didn't before -- whenever I send something I've written via email, I read what I've sent in my "sent files" and think 'oh geez I didn't notice that!" *shrug* -- same thing happens with reading the printed out version vs the msword version - just seeing it in another forum helps! Our brains need to see things from different perspectives or whatever....:)
Great idea. I appreciate what you're saying. I've seen some agents/editors advise this same thing before we send them anything b/c what we send often doesn't come out how we intended. Good advice!
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