Friday, December 12, 2008

Revision, Round #2

I heard back from Krista yesterday. For some inexplicable reason I was depressed for about 2 hours, imagining all kinds of ridiculous things like I was causing her too much work and that she'd never buy another book from me as long as she lived. And people, the second round of revisions isn't even that bad! Why are authors so psycho?

Krista told me that she once did 7 rounds of revisions with an author and then bought 3 more books from her. She also said her revisions with me are "normal to minimal." So yeah, that's about a nine and half on the old idiot scale, there, Dashner. I hereby declare that my rookie angst is officially done and over. This is just how it's done. It doesn't mean that I'm a horrible writer.

Why am I even telling you all this? Hey! Look at me! I'm an idiot!

Anyway, all is well, and I'm excited to work on THE MAZE RUNNER once again. This round will be far more pleasant than the last round. And since Krista's going on vacation, I have until January 5th! Plus, this time she made her line edits in the electronic document using track changes, so all I have to do is click "accept" or "reject" for each one. (Who am I kidding, I'll be hitting "accept" 99% of the time.)

Of course, I tossed and turned in bed for about 3 hours last night pondering my fixes. Seriously, these last few tweaks are once again going to take this book to another level. I am one lucky dude to have Krista as my editor!!!!! (And lest ye think I'm brown-nosing, I'm pretty sure she doesn't read my blog - the woman's too busy.)

In other news.....

Tomorrow is Authorpalooza XXLCXXVIIXX, to be held at the West Jordan Barnes and Noble. To be honest, I have no idea who will be there, but probably 10 to 15 authors, including me. It goes from 2:00 to 4:00.

I wanted to share another couple of very nice shout outs for my book that came from highly respectable humans. The first is from my very good friend, um, I mean, this complete stranger that just happens to be a National Book Award finalist. Her name is Sara Zarr. I think. I'm not sure because I, um, don't know her. CLICK HERE.

The other is from Bobbi's Book Nook, run by a very respected reviewer in Kentucky. CLICK HERE.

My last thought: Buy books for presents this year. And this isn't a plea for mine, because if you're here, you've probably already bought mine. But of all the types of presents out there, what could be more valuable and cherished than a good ole book? Save the book industry! Buy books. Buy bookstore gift cards. Not video games. Not toys. Not stupid things. Books.

Have a great weekend.

11 comments:

Daron D. Fraley said...

Just helping you out James. Maybe I will see you there!

http://booktour.com/places/3520-Barnes-Noble

J.N. Future Author said...

*checks wishlist* um 1 game.....

as much as i want to go to another 'authorpalooza', tomorrow i will be taking the ACT test! I am so scared for it! oh man oh man oh man.......

there is a barnes and nobles in west jordan? i didnt see one when i lived there....(13 years ago)

Anna said...

with you on the books! I think we're giving more books this year than anything else, and I know I'm getting three.......we have weird Christmas shopping policies so don't ask. :D

Unknown said...

Thanks for the shout-out to Bobbi's Book Nook! It was totally unexpected ...

Tamra Norton said...

Last week I went to the annual Scholastic Warehouse sale here in Houston and bought roughly two dozen middle grade and YA novels for Christmas gifts for my gang. Does that count as doing my part to help the book industry (even though I saved a ton buying them at ridiculously discounted prices)?

LouMac said...

Everything on my wish list is books. My mom told me there was way too many, many, many, many, many, many, many, many, many books. *maybe I can convince her to take me to authorpalooza tomorrow*

Well have fun with accepting 99% of Krista's edits.

By the way James, what's on your Christmas List?

Melinda said...

Darn. I wanted to buy stupid stuff. I guess I'll just buy books instead.

I'm totally green about Krista...
-I'm counting you to, well, never mind. You are one awesome author.

Kaza Kingsley, http://www.erecrex.com said...

James - I love your blog. So ... I nominated you for a pass-around Butterfly Blog Award! Lol. You deserve it, dude.

Go onto my blog at http://memorymogul.blogspot.com and you'll see all the details.

Kaza Kingsley
Author of the Erec Rex series
http://www.erecrex.com

Anonymous said...

You may occasionally hit a 9 1/2 on the ol' idiot scale but for me, the needle hovers there most of the time.
You have no idea how much I respect an honest person, someone who can just come out and say that they get discouraged too. (And with your success, you could TOTALLY hide that. Who would ever think James Dashner gets down about rewrites? NO ONE!) But it sounds to me like Krista's aware of the hill o' gold she's got in her hands and that these "minimal" changes are just extra captured leprechauns, if you get my meaning.

Don't worry. You rock! Plain and simple.

Anonymous said...

Hey Jamie, I heard you met my "Taylor" at his school a few weeks ago! Janette and I are going to lunch on tues. Dec 30th- can you come? Let me know on my blog- www.sixmenandalady.blogspot.com or jjwoody02@comcast.net

Anonymous said...

I'm a firm believer in books as gifts as well :)