I will definitely be getting The Executioners when the time comes. For now, I need to get my pre-order of The Whispering Night in. I already booked the day off to read it 😊
Thank you Ms. Dennard very interesting. I assume these "developmental edits" were in partnership with an agent. Otherwise, how would one know where to start?
Thank you SO much for sharing your writing and editing/revising process with us! I find it to be so helpful when writers share that.
*big hugs* for what you shared regarding your pregnancy journey. I had a D&C after a missed miscarriage, and wrote about it in case it helps others, on Today's Parent: https://www.todaysparent.com/family/womens-health/d-and-c-procedure-after-miscarriage-faq/. I think you did the right thing supporting yourself when you needed it, and coming to writing when it felt right.
A big round of applause/cheering to support you through those story-making decisions. I was enthralled with The Luminaries and its sequel last year when I read them, and I'm excited to reread them now before reading the third book when it comes out!
Side note: Did you record the audio using Substack, and was the transcript from Substack? I am interested in using those features so I thought to ask :)
No, I used just the voice recorder on my MacBook! Then I upload the file here. They do transcribe, but readers complained that you can’t then read it in the email…so I instead upload the recording to Otter. And then listen and edit that once. Phew. It sounds more labor intensive than it actually is!
I am *so* excited for The Executioners Three! I remember reading it on WattPad back in 2018 and being utterly engrossed in it, so I'm excited to see it in its final form!
As a newer writer, I find this post *so* reassuring, because I rewrite a lot, too, and it's always heartening when someone whose books I like works in the same, sometimes frustrating, way that I do. I'm on book 2 of a trilogy and I thought it'd be ready for my critique partner in March. IT WAS NOT. I got 2/3 of the way through one draft, decided the romance was all wrong, then scrubbed it and went back to the beginning, only to find after I'd written *that* draft that the romance was even MORE wrong, and really it was closer to the mark the previous time round (note that I did not say the FIRST time round, because that was V3).
All that to say, it's encouraging to see you describe a process so similar to mine, with writing and rewriting and making background changes that echo through every scene, and finding your way to the right story in the end.
I'm so fascinated that you were posting chapters on Wattpad because I have this very strong instinct that you Should Not Do That if you want to get a story published traditionally. I'm currently setting up a private community to basically imitate the reader feedback I would otherwise get on a Wattpad or a FictionPress, but if it's not dangerous anymore to post books publicly as we write them, then I will gladly jump back into a public sharing method! Very curious about your thoughts <3
Not having read the Wattpad and only going off of your descriptions the Executioner's Three sounds like it has the same vibes as The Scream Team and I am SO excited to order and read it!
I haven’t seen that!! But yeah, it has some definite humor in the voice, while being delightfully high school angsty with a creeeeeeepy mystery. Peak Halloween vibes!
Haha, my editor had me pull back on a few of the references because I might have gone overboard and made it toooooooo 90s 😂 but don’t worry: still so much 90s goodness
There’s so much valuable information in here as always, but thank you so much for lifting up how abortion bans are effecting access to D&Cs for people experiencing miscarriages, and your own experience.
yes please we need a pre order for the executioners 🙏🏼🙏🏼🙏🏼
I will definitely be getting The Executioners when the time comes. For now, I need to get my pre-order of The Whispering Night in. I already booked the day off to read it 😊
🥳🥰 yay!! Thank you!! I hope you love it!!
Thank you Ms. Dennard very interesting. I assume these "developmental edits" were in partnership with an agent. Otherwise, how would one know where to start?
My editor at my publisher handles that! It’s her job to help me improve the book. Yes, at times my agent also helps me edit. Or trusted beta readers.
But I also handle a lot of my edits entirely on my own! If you want to know where to start, here’s my free course on it! https://academy.susandennard.com/courses/beginners-guide-to-revising-your-novel/
Thanks!
Thank you SO much for sharing your writing and editing/revising process with us! I find it to be so helpful when writers share that.
*big hugs* for what you shared regarding your pregnancy journey. I had a D&C after a missed miscarriage, and wrote about it in case it helps others, on Today's Parent: https://www.todaysparent.com/family/womens-health/d-and-c-procedure-after-miscarriage-faq/. I think you did the right thing supporting yourself when you needed it, and coming to writing when it felt right.
A big round of applause/cheering to support you through those story-making decisions. I was enthralled with The Luminaries and its sequel last year when I read them, and I'm excited to reread them now before reading the third book when it comes out!
Side note: Did you record the audio using Substack, and was the transcript from Substack? I am interested in using those features so I thought to ask :)
No, I used just the voice recorder on my MacBook! Then I upload the file here. They do transcribe, but readers complained that you can’t then read it in the email…so I instead upload the recording to Otter. And then listen and edit that once. Phew. It sounds more labor intensive than it actually is!
I am *so* excited for The Executioners Three! I remember reading it on WattPad back in 2018 and being utterly engrossed in it, so I'm excited to see it in its final form!
As a newer writer, I find this post *so* reassuring, because I rewrite a lot, too, and it's always heartening when someone whose books I like works in the same, sometimes frustrating, way that I do. I'm on book 2 of a trilogy and I thought it'd be ready for my critique partner in March. IT WAS NOT. I got 2/3 of the way through one draft, decided the romance was all wrong, then scrubbed it and went back to the beginning, only to find after I'd written *that* draft that the romance was even MORE wrong, and really it was closer to the mark the previous time round (note that I did not say the FIRST time round, because that was V3).
All that to say, it's encouraging to see you describe a process so similar to mine, with writing and rewriting and making background changes that echo through every scene, and finding your way to the right story in the end.
Oh gosh, I can relate!! But trust yourself and your process. You’re just making the necessary choices for the best book!
Definitely share the link for the pre-order!
I'm so fascinated that you were posting chapters on Wattpad because I have this very strong instinct that you Should Not Do That if you want to get a story published traditionally. I'm currently setting up a private community to basically imitate the reader feedback I would otherwise get on a Wattpad or a FictionPress, but if it's not dangerous anymore to post books publicly as we write them, then I will gladly jump back into a public sharing method! Very curious about your thoughts <3
Yeah, the old rules don’t apply. A lot of scouts are actively searching fic sights and the like for what’s hot. So if you want to share, do it!
Not having read the Wattpad and only going off of your descriptions the Executioner's Three sounds like it has the same vibes as The Scream Team and I am SO excited to order and read it!
I haven’t seen that!! But yeah, it has some definite humor in the voice, while being delightfully high school angsty with a creeeeeeepy mystery. Peak Halloween vibes!
I keep forgetting TE3 is set in the 90s and every time I’m reminded I get So excited!!
Haha, my editor had me pull back on a few of the references because I might have gone overboard and made it toooooooo 90s 😂 but don’t worry: still so much 90s goodness
There’s so much valuable information in here as always, but thank you so much for lifting up how abortion bans are effecting access to D&Cs for people experiencing miscarriages, and your own experience.