Lilith Saintcrow

I rolled out of bed this morning feeling actually happy.

Not just like I could stand another day, not just getting up because I had to, not just like the only thing bringing me to consciousness was the alarm and the idea that soon there would be coffee replacing my blood pint by pint. No, this morning I got up and I didn’t feel like I had to force myself to paste on a chilling little half-smile in order to face the world.

I’m still wearing the half-smile. It’s facial armor, just like eyeliner. And oh my God am I happy for the coffee. As well as utterly weirded out by this sea change.

I don’t think I’ve ever rolled out of bed willingly. I’ve done it because I had to and because people were depending on me. Today I was actually a little excited to get up and see what was going to happen. I felt like things were OK-going-on-good and getting better.

This is such a huge step for me, I’m tempted to go back to bed and think it over. (Just kidding. I’m so funny.)

Anyway, I’ve decided I’m not going to over-analyze or look for holes in this feeling. I’m going to take it as a base to build my day on. I’m cautiously optimistic that the happy will stay at least until lunch. If it stays longer, great. I intend to be a good hostess for this guest, so that we can become bestest friends. I like the idea of feeling happy more often than not.

My life has changed so much in the last six months. It’s incredible. And this is the first intimation I have that the change might stick and become permanent, that I’m not going to slide back down into the hole. There were days when it was enough not to drown. Now I’ve built myself back up from rubble and it’s enough to feel pretty OK when the alarm goes off.

I like this. I think I’ll keep it.

Of course, there’s still those revisions. They were kicking my ass yesterday, but I outwaited and outplayed them, managing to get another 2K of fresh plot thread woven in. From here it’s a gallop to the finish line, and I’m going to make it on time.

Here’s hoping your day has a little happiness too, dear Reader. Over and out.

I got SFF Hero Conan the Barbarian dedicated to me, first thing this morning. That will put a GREAT shine on anyone’s day. Plus, I’m getting more work done, about to see if I can bump up my morning runs to 2.5 miles, and just basically looking forward to a day that is going to kick a ton of ass.

So, while I’m off humming the waltz that was playing while James Earl Jones turned into a giant snake (oh, my God, I love that scene), you could read Scalzi’s Why Publishing Will Not Go Away Anytime Soon, a very nice little three-act play. You could try to imagine the point at which I completely lost it and started laughing hysterically while nodding vigorously and screaming “Yes, YES!” so loud I’m sure the neighbors think I’m Up To No Good.

Yes, I’m in that particular stage of hyper where I can tell a book is going to break loose soon. It’s probably going to be revisions on Heaven’s Spite, which took a left turn while I was weaving in some plot tangles. I have to think about this, and I’m sure when I go back to finish it I’ll lunge through the next hundred pages of revision at warp speed and somehow discover I’ve added another 2-3K words. That’s how these things usually happen.

So, today will be a day of awesomely utter zaniness for me. I hope yours will be just as fun.

Philip Palmer graciously invited me over to his blog-house today for the SFF Song of the Week. I managed not to break anything or mess up the floors. (I think.) If you’re interested in more Leslie Fish, her site is here.

And Philip? Next time I’m sticking to vodka. That green stuff is dangerous.

Well, I’ve revisions to stick my nose back into and fresh wordcount to pick up on several items today, including a short story that I’m really excited about but can’t announce yet. So I’ll bid you a fond farewell. Happy Wednesday! Tomorrow is Reader Question Day, I’ve got a few from the mailbag just dying to come out and play.

Good morning. My plan of “something nice to do for me” this week has been shot–it turns out Legion utterly sucks. I may go see it at Cinetopia anyway–at least I can sit in a dark theater, have a glass of wine, and laugh at the utter FAIL. It kind of burns me–dude, I am so ALL OVER this concept, as anyone who’s read the Valentine series can probably guess. Unfortunately, between concept and execution there lieth a huge gap, and the more committees are involved, the more that gap runs the risk of edging over into total-failure area.

This brings up something about publishing, actually. A LOT of people are involved in bringing each book to the shelves. Some, like the cover artist and the marketing department, have very little to do with the actual book. Others, like editors, are more involved. Getting a book through the publication process involves walking a line between listening to people who know their jobs and what they’re talking about far better than you, and making it easy for people to listen when you’re the expert. I have evolved some simple rules about this process, but I think I’ll wait for a Friday post to explicate them further.

However, I want to talk about one of those short rules today.

YOUR EDITOR IS NOT THE ENEMY.

I don’t lose sight of the fact that I am the content creator. For the characters, I know what’s best. It’s my job to tell the damn story and produce enough raw material that we can trim it into reasonable shape. (Which means I am responsible for my deadlines, but we knew that.) I’m also way too close to the work to be able to see it objectively. So, 99% of the time, the editor is right.

That other 1% I feel comfortable explaining or outright fighting, when I know something has to be a certain way. I have to very seriously consider what is worth going to the mattresses for. There aren’t many things worth that kind of ruckus, or even a small ruckus. There are a big list of things that are My Responsibility as the actual damn writer. Being a jerk to the editor is not one of them.

I see a lot of new writers (and a lot of unpublished writers) operating under the unconscious assumption that the editor is an enemy at worst, a suspect ally at best, and someone to be on guard against. I’ve had one or two nasty revenge-editors, but those are the exceptions. The overwhelming rule is that editors are your friend. They believe in your book. They fight for it in acquisition meetings, they twist arms to get marketing money, they work and agonize over polishing it until it’s as good as it can be. The editor wants what you want: a successful book that earns money. Their energies are concentrated to that end. You are a fool if you don’t realize that and make it as easy as possible for them to be your advocate.

It’s like having a lawyer–they can’t fight for you effectively and do their job if you don’t give them what they need in terms of paperwork and information.

So. My lesson for today for aspiring writers: try not to be a dick to your editors, even unconsciously. Remind yourself that:

1. They are people too.
2. You’re on the same side.
3. They want your book to succeed as much as you do.
4. They know how to play publisher-office politics better than you, and they will on your behalf.
5. They talk to each other, and if you’re a jerk, it gets around.

It’s really, really hard to keep these things in mind when you get a revision letter. So much of a writer’s emotional life is wrapped up in rejection and judgment. It’s really easy to think the editor is your enemy, when they’re just trying to get the thorn out of your paw. No matter how hard it is to overlook the fact that they’re Judging Your Precious Werke, DO IT. Make the effort.

It’s not the only thing that will make your career sustainable, but it sure as hell helps.

‘Nuff said.

I was up to greet the dawn. Neither Aurora nor I were happy about that, but we were polite. She wore gorgeous pink and orange, but I was yawning and my eyes were watering too much to see it.

I am proceeding apace with checking the copyedits on Jealousy. I love it when a copyeditor catches your rhythm and you fall into a workable tandem with them. It makes everything ever so much easier. I finished roughly half of the edits last night, and I’m heading into the second half today. The second half is more tangled, because I have some decisions to finalize. But I feel like the worst is behind me. It will all come out in the wash.

And now I have a few links for you. The hysterical Star Wars Facebook updates. Joseph Shoer on the physics of space battles. Oh, and if I didn’t already love Jim Macdonald of Making Light before, this piece (where Sam and Dean Winchester, among others, review Paranormal Activity) would make my heart forever his.

It’s now time for me to get everyone prepared to get out the door, and then it’s the treadmill, and then it’s work work work. No rest for the wicked. But believe me, the wicked like it better that way.