Mary J. McCoy-Dressel ~ Contemporary Romance
Sensual western romance. Heartwarming stories. Strong family ties.
If I had to answer this question after having the first round of my first book edited, it would be a toss-up between dread and hate. I’ve come a long way from not knowing how to use Track Changes.
This comes as I am working on EDITS just back from my fantastic editor. Do I love it or hate it? Now that I know what I’m doing, I love editing when it comes back from her. I love to see the suggestions she offers to make the book better. So, this part I do love.
If there are changes that will take thought or time, I don’t love it so much because I want my book finished, and then there’s the ego thing with an instant… “No, I’m not changing that” mindset. This is when patience and reality come into play. I usually always make the changes and accept her suggestions because she’s the expert.
Even when it means tossing the complete first four or five paragraphs, and beginning the book in a different place, like with my current book. I loved my beginning as it was, but after giving it a couple of days to think about, I realize she’s right, and I can take some of the original and add it back in elsewhere, per her suggestion.
What about revising and editing a book after the final draft and before it goes to the editor? It’s frustrating when a story that looks and feels right in a draft, isn’t the same as when getting down to the nitty-gritty and looking at it with a self-editor’s eye. A time when you now know the complete story–where it’s been and where it’s going. It’s amazing to catch mistakes like: the time-frame is out of sync, or I spelled a character’s name incorrectly, or when I have to move something to a better place. Gasp! Or ditch my precious words. I love to see a book come together and watching characters develop more fully. Settings too become more real. This is what I love about revising and self-editing before anyone sees it.
So there it is, plain and simple. Turns out, I love editing more than I love writing the first draft though I do enjoy writing a draft to see what surprises are revealed.
What I don’t like is revising and editing blog posts.
Do other authors love editing? Hate it? We can find out by visiting participating authors at the Marketing for Romance Writers Blog.
Now it’s time to get back to editing.
Image credit:
Featured photo/ glasses & keyboard: Pixabay- Slightly_Different
I have the boots in the picture above! That says it all. <wink> As much as I hate to admit it, getting dressed up is more of a chore than a pleasure. I’ve lost weight and have more to lose, so I’d have to buy a new dressy dress outfit. Don’t get me wrong, I love shopping, and yes, I should be prepared for a pop-up night out without running to the store first. Who am I fooling? I’m not good with unexpected proposals to go out.
The dressiest affair I have ever attended was my best friend’s daughter’s summer wedding. Yes, dressier than my own small wedding. I wore a sexy little size six, short red dress and climbed up into my shiny “red” Ram pickup truck–my Lady in Red, while my husband’s mouth watered in the driveway. Haha. He chose not to accompany me. His loss. My first love was there. He noticed and complimented! True story.
Preparing back in the day had been a pleasure. I remember my youngest son, a young man of around eighteen then, taking me aside at the wedding, saying, “Mom, men are checking you out.” He was the one shocked.
As recent as last week, my daughter-in-law came to town for work. She wanted to take me out for my birthday. In this case, I knew it would be fun, and I was happy to see her, so getting somewhat dressed up for this occasion had been a pleasure.
Being a stay-at-home writer, my daily dress is casual. Choosing to dress up to go out now means I have to get away from my characters to do something for myself. Remaining casual has become a habit, so it’s more normal for me to throw on a nice but casual outfit to go out with friends. It’s been ages since I’ve gone to a classy or dressy affair.
The thought of searching for clothing for an extravagant or glitzy outing, is definitely a chore. I wish it was different, but I’ve grown accustom to this lifestyle, and it’s the norm. It’s hard to break out of the habit of dressing casual and comfortable. Loungewear comes on when the sun goes down and never sees the outside.
The last time I went to the opera or symphony, I dressed business-casual and looked nice, but getting ready had been a chore, so I was torn between it being a chore or pleasurable. I glitzed the business aspect of it up a level with jewelry, dressy coat, and more dramatic makeup. As I “came together” that night, I felt great about how I looked.
At the opera and symphony, you see a bit of everything from jeans to long formal dresses. I fit somewhere in between, and it was a pleasure. In my dreams, I’d dress like Julia Roberts in Pretty Woman or Cher in Moonstruck and head out the door with my head held high.
In reality, dressing up is a chore these days, but I’m happy to go through the chore of preparing for the 
right occasion. How about you, dear blog readers. Oh, what about men? Is it a chore or a pleasure for you to get dressed up? I’m curious to know. Guys, I have to tell you and this is my opinion, but… Seeing you in a tux never gets old. <grin>
Hop on over to follow this LINK to the other blog hop participants.
Thanks for reading!
Happy belated Canada Day to my Canadian friends across the river from me, and a Happy Fourth of July to my fellow Americans.
I hope none of you were in the earthquake in California.
Be safe everyone.
For me as an author, I have to ask myself—what is one without the other?
Here we are again with our third topic for our 52-Week Blog Challenge from Marketing for Romance Writers org—#MFRWauthor.
Reading:
Reading became important to me at an early age and has carried over into adulthood. I love reading.
I don’t know when I began reading because I don’t remember a time I didn’t. It’s the same with writing. Having a pen or pencil in my hand came as natural as putting food into my mouth.
Can a writer not be a reader?
I’ve heard a handful of authors say they never read. This isn’t the same as a writer saying they don’t take time to read—like me lately, which leads me into writing. At the moment, I write more than I read books, but I miss reading.
Writing:
At a young age, I knew I wanted my name on books.
It took many, many years to see my name published on a book. As a child, I had created my own books with construction paper for the cover and lined paper for the interior complete with bad drawings—probably stick-figure characters.
I hold on to things I’ve written, but I don’t have my early self-made books. Strangely, I do have teen poems packed away in hiding. It’s enough for me to know writing began early. I had no choice, for I had to get words on paper, which sometimes meant adding stories to enhance comic books! So, writing is like breathing.
Living:
Today, writing is my life.
Don’t forget, it takes more than writing a book to be an author.
Writing related work can consume your life if you let it. Everyone in your life won’t understand this. A high percentage of a writer’s life is more than sitting down and banging out words unless you have the money to pay for assistance to help with the non-writing part.
One day, I hope to cut back from around 85% of my time spent on writing and related jobs to around 40% (Gasp!), but I want it to be my choice. I’d love to enjoy a fuller life and tackle the fun adventures on my Bucket List. Oh, and get back to reading for pleasure and photography, my hobby.
Find the other authors in this blog hop at this LINK. Cheers!
I appreciate you taking the time to read my blog challenge posts. I’m sorry for being so lax in getting to yours, and posts by other bloggers I follow, too. I’m coming close to finishing a draft for a book coming out late this year, then I can get back to finishing another one. Not to mention I’m having covers rebranded for one full series. Choosing images takes me a lot of time. All this while trying to have somewhat of a life outside of writing.
New Year Tips:
Well, isn’t that a long title now. ☺
One thing I love about autumn is walking in the fresh air and viewing colorful landscapes.
Another thing is having a camera with me. Lately, I haven’t been walking alone so conversations keep my muse from focusing. She sneaks out sometimes. I’m happy when she finds her way through the chatter. However, my muse works in mysterious ways like stopping me when leaves filled with raindrops lay in my path. I stop a moment to use my phone to snap pictures.
It’s hard for those who don’t take pictures, to be with a person who stops without warning, to take a picture. Sometimes this bothers me that others don’t get it. Other times, I don’t care. Photography is my hobby, and there are times it calls as much as writing. For the past few years, I haven’t given in to the photography nudge because writing takes precedence. My camera bag sits in my closet and the DSLR camera hasn’t been out for a couple years. However, my little point and shoot went with me on a day trip last week. So did the chilly rain. And wind. The camera remained in the car. LOL. I took one picture with my phone while walking Main Street in a quaint little town a few hours from where I live. One is better than…none? Hmm?
While walking alone, ideas for a current WIP can come into focus or new storylines pop into my head for something brand-new. I usually prefer to walk alone for this reason, but I have a friend who recently started walking. She uses a walker. Good for her! It’s encouraging having another person urging me to get out from under my laptop, literally, and move my behind. If she can get out and walk, then I damn well better get out there and do it, too. My doctor would be so proud.
For those of you who made it to the end, thanks for reading. I appreciate every visit from you. Now, back to the keyboard. Enjoy the rest of your week.
What are some ways you’re inspired to use your craft?
Images are copyrighted and my own. Excluding the Inspiration of the Muse image. Graphic made by me.
Week 40 – MFRW 52-week Blog Challenge #MFRWAuthor
Week 40: What I wear when I write
Isn’t that kind of personal? Ha-ha, just kidding. Hi, I’m back after a long hiatus from Marketing for Romance Writers 52-Week Blog Challenge. This is a blog hop, baby. #MFRWauthor
Since I’ve been away, I moved, got settled in, wrote a couple blog posts and a newsletter, published a new book, and I’m nearly at thirty-thousand words in the new one I’m writing that is due out in November 2019. I’m procrastinating on another one. Oh, I can’t forget… I also published a Boxed Set.
I looked at today’s topic and thought: Hmm, I can answer this one. What do I wear when I write?
Admittedly, it’s kind of creepy to know others know what I wear when I’m lost in another world. I’m lucky enough to be a full-time writer at home. I’m a romance writer and sometimes the romance is steamy, well, warm. What do you expect me to wear while I write those sexy scenes? Do you think I have candles burning? Chocolates within reach? Wine chilling? Music? A cowboy with a lasso to keep me on task? Do I wear something sexy and silky? A short little nightie?
You’d be wrong if you imagined me writing in something other than Jammies or fully dressed. Romantic scenes with candles, wine, and soft music aren’t all I write in my romance, so there is no need for a silky or a short little nightie to inspire me. Sometimes I have candles burning and soft music playing. For me, it’s all about being comfortable.
Ninety-five percent of the time, I wear jeans and some kind of top depending on weather. My computer comes on early in the morning and I’m usually in my PJs (or gown in the summer) for the first couple hours, or four, but then I get dressed. I can’t deny there have been a few days when I didn’t get out of PJs, especially if I’m staying home or still writing in bed, and when I lost my doggie.
Since I retired, I have been putting on regular clothes. I moved into an apartment and had to take my dog out on a leash, so I had to get dressed. Now, I no longer have my sweet fur-baby, but I still dress.
I walked for exercise at my old apartment, but I could bounce out the door and drive to the park seeing no one. In my new apartment, I not only get dressed, but I get myself ready with hair and makeup, and go for a morning walk. In this apartment, I have to go into a hallway where there are four apartments on this level, including mine, and four upstairs. Chances are, I will run into someone, and I want to look presentable to new neighbors. Oh, don’t I sound so vain. Don’t judge. Ha-ha.
If I was twenty I wouldn’t have to worry about looking good, because, you know—twenty!
The day may come when the snow falls and I don’t leave my apartment, I will stay in those Jammies all day. Though regular clothes are warmer when the temperatures outside are blustery and cold. However, I might remain in those comfy flannel pajamas and thick socks more often this winter.
Now see? As I type this, fully dressed, who shows up but the guys who are replacing the windows in the basement, and my storage unit down there has a window in it. Off I go to make sure they have enough room to work.
How about you writers? Are you ready to tell us what you wear while writing? How about while reading? Oh, that’s a whole different story!
This is a Blog Hop. Let’s see what other authors wear while writing. I’m curious myself. Click on over.
I’m going for a walk. Catch you all later.
It’s mid-June, folks, and today is Friday. You know what that means. It’s time for another topic in the Marketing for Romance Writers 52-Week Blog Challenge Blog Hop. I said early on I wouldn’t participate in each topic this year and missed the last couple weeks.
This is an easy topic if I think of it as a material thing I can’t live without. This, of course, would be my laptop and tablets, pens and notebooks—the paper kind, books, glasses, and a phone. I look at these tools as one group so I’m not really cheating on the topic and listing more than one. Did you buy that?
I use a laptop to make a living by researching, writing, publishing, marketing, staying in contact with readers, and so much more. These tools are also a part of my social life. A phone and laptop are used to socialize electronically with friends and family who are far away, or even those who are close, to confirm an event or gathering like breakfast or lunch…you get it.
I’ve had to live without these tools I stated above during a power outage or a weather-related incident like a lightning storm or worse. Last night my area lost power for over three hours, so yeah, it’s hard to unwind and not have these tools available at will. My phone did work, though, but it drove me nuts for the first hour not to have use of my items.
Then I turned on my Kindle to read a recent book I bought for research. I’m enjoying the story based on the real life of a famous ranching and bronc riding family. If the battery ran low, I could continue reading on my iPad, knowing I’d have to go out to charge my items tomorrow if power wasn’t restored. The laptop battery would be conserved for an Emergency-Writing-Fix. LOL.
Pixabay
If we’ve never had these items to work with on a daily basis, how could we miss them? That statement reminds me of writing my first two long books on legal pads before I owned a computer, or the time I started a new book on paper during another long power outage. I wrote about another power outage here. Wow, this was written in 2009! How things have changed.
Others may look at this topic as mentioning the basic needs we depend on as humans and maybe this would seem a better fit for this week, but I have a feeling it means a material thing since it says “item” we can’t live without. This week’s entries should be interesting, and I can’t wait to read them.
On the home front, we’re headed for a heatwave this weekend. I sure hope the power stays on. After last night, I’m hoping it wasn’t because of overload with everyone blasting their/my Air Conditioning. With the history of my heat and AC unit, I’m happy for each minute that it works.
Stay cool!
We’re doing a Blog Hop, friends. You’ll find other participating authors HERE.
Times change. Life moves forward. Who gets a bit sentimental during the holidays? I do.
People always ask where I’m going, or they want to know what I’ll be doing for Thanksgiving. Don’t get me wrong. I appreciate their concern. Sometimes I get accused of being a recluse because I don’t have a problem to stay at home and do my job. Write.
It wasn’t always like this when I had my own family. Well, I still have a family, but one boy is across the country. My youngest son is in a serious relationship, and they do this holiday with her family. Yes, they have invited me to join them.
What do you think my advice is to others when I know they’ll be alone?
“Don’t stay home alone. Go and enjoy dinner with friends.”
It’s easy to give advice. Ask my oldest son in California how many years I’ve told him that.
Now, he says it to me. 
I remember the first Thanksgiving dinner when one of my kids wasn’t there. The oldest went to a football game with his best friend (Go Lions!), so it was different with only three of us there instead of four—five if we count my single brother-in-law. That’s when I realized the days of having our family Thanksgiving dinners together were numbered as the kids grew older.
Allegheny River
Back in those days, my family sometimes went to our cottage in Pennsylvania in the Allegheny National Forest in the Allegheny Mountains. My husband’s entire family would be there at the family cottage across from us. We always had fun.
After my married brother-in-law got divorced, I was the only female so you know what my job was, but truly, I didn’t mind cooking for everyone. At least one brother-in-law would always come for dinner anyway. Luckily, my husband (now ex-husband) knew how to cook, and he’d always lend a hand.
Times change. Life moves forward.
If you celebrate Thanksgiving, are you spending time with your immediate family this year? Tons of relatives? Friends? Going out? Staying home?
Whatever it is you’ll be doing, please enjoy yourself.
For the record, I am not staying home alone this year.
Happy Thanksgiving.
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A title for my ______ Monday hasn’t been determined yet. I loved Teagan’s comment on the post Monday Tunes of Inspiration with the idea for Monday Melodies, but if I want to post an image, quote, or book. I’ll need something to add to it to reflect more than melodies. I’ll use this as an addition to the new theme when I post a melody as I’ve done today. Thanks, Teagan! 🙂 So much for alliteration.
This theme is evolving as time goes by, so each post is a surprise to me. I appreciate you putting up with me as I brainstorm. Today’s title works as a theme idea because it also covers my hobby, which is photography. Example: Monday Inspiration for the Muse: Images.
At times, I’ll share images from others. My hobby has gone by the wayside. 😦
Last week, I mentioned in a reply to a comment, that sometimes I can listen to Kenny G or saxophone music without any lyrics to distract my thoughts. This video says it all.
Sometimes, for writing love scenes, I close my eyes and let the sexy sway of the saxophone guide my muse while my fingers burn up the keyboard. No pun intended. Maybe. 😉
Remember, this theme probably won’t occur weekly on a regular basis. Then again, I might just be inspired enough to do it weekly. Evolving as I breathe.
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Enjoy. ❤ Have a marvelous week.
Thirteen on Thursday. Okay, okay, it should be Thursday Thirteen. I’m not sure who runs the new Thursday 13 site nowadays, so I’m giving this post a different name. I like to be different.
What kind of perfume do you like? Guys, are you stumped when it comes to buying perfume for your lady? I like perfumes that aren’t too sweet or flowery, 
but are subtle and long-lasting. I love when someone says, “Mmm, I’ve never smelled that perfume before.” This is why I wear my signature perfume. It’s semi-popular, and once in a while I’ll come across someone else wearing it. I smile. They also make one for men that smells just as yummy and sexy.
One day I got out of my car in a parking lot, and a guy who passed me, took a minute to say how much he loved my perfume. He wore a big smile, I might add. With a pleasant thank you, I moved on. 😉 This happens often.
Do I wear all the perfumes on this list? No. In truth, I only have a couple favorites that I wear on a regular basis–#1 and #2, but that doesn’t mean I don’t like many kinds.
Some of my favorites:
Not that I can afford to buy all this perfume, but I like it for different reasons. Some come in unique packaging, while others have sexy TV commercials. ❤ Of course, they all smell yummy! Really, it doesn’t take much to please me, but maybe, just maybe, this could be the way to my heart. Oh, and cashmere, the real stuff not the perfume.
Have a fantabulous day.
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Perfume Bottles Top Photo Credit: © Zambezishark
Perfume Bottles Bottom Photo Credit: morgueFile. com
