My Idle Ramblings

Lately, I’ve spent a lot of my writing time making sure seeds I’ve planted come to fruition. Readers don’t appreciate getting begonias if they expected daisies. My attention-to-detail mental programming makes this process painstaking at time. Though I’ve found I’m good about being consistent even if my active memory has a recollection problem. It’s times like these that I think my narrative is too nuanced. Then again, doesn’t nuance make a good story?

Speaking of writing style, a member of a writers group posed a question about what types of readers we have in mind when we write. My answer is simple – the reader I write for is me. I write what I like to read. Hence, nuance such as foreshadowing and irony, vivid descriptions, and other elements that make up my immersive style. I understand many readers might not notice all the seeds I’ve planted. Though many will, and it will give the story more depth for them. The same idea applies to symbolism – not every reader will get it, but some will and the story will be richer and deeper for them. Certainly not a style for all readers but I’m okay knowing I can’t please everyone.

I’m contemplating getting a developmental edit done. It was recommended in the recent webinar I attended. I don’t what to spend the money, but the cost might be more in terms of time – the more work that needs to be done, the longer it takes for the book to get to market. Thus, the cost in dollars and cents out of my pocket might be advantageous. My hesitation is that it might still take the publisher a lot of time to get it out there despite the manuscript being in good developmental condition. Decisions, decisions, decisions because time is money.