For some reason I always wonder if I can skip this stage. Then I convince myself I can’t. I go ahead and print out my ms, and boy, am I embarrassed I ever thought I could skip the hard copy edits.

My eye definitely picks up new things looking at print. It isn’t so much the fact that its on paper, I think, but that it is simply a different medium. Looking at the ms backwards on the computer, starting from THE END and working your way back, would also throw up a lot of nits to fix, but I like doing it chronologically and getting the same result, if I can, because chronologically also shows up continuity errors. And for some reason, with the ms I’m revising at the moment, I get the feeling I’m too abrupt with my scene endings.

What’s your view on hard copy edits. Must do? Could take ‘em or leave ‘em? Waste of time?

I haven’t posted in ages, and that’s bad.

I’ve finished writing my book, though. Twice. And I’m the newly appointed Vice-President of Communications for the newly established Women’s Fiction Chapter of RWA. So I’ve been working with the amazing Alison Kent on the chapter’s website (well, she is doing most of the work, but I am helping), putting together a newsletter committee, and participating in meetings, loading software, doing stuff.

I’m not sitting on my hands, in other words.

But, I knew I needed to post, and Liz Kreger gave me the kick in derriere I needed.

I’m now 75 pages away from completing my revisions, and then I’m sending the manuscript to my wonderful agent, and getting down to the next book.

Do you find life just sweeps you away occassionally, and something has got to give?