Dreams Have Never Made My Bed
Hi there.
I wrote a mystery novel.
It’s called Tucson ’93.
It involves a mystery and takes place in Tucson during the summer of 1993.
And I’m excited for everyone to get a chance to read it.
This is the Editor
I’m doing something different for this blog entry. Rather than write 1,000 words that don’t really address my topic (sorry, even in my blogging I’m an unrealible narrator), I’m bringing you an interview with my incredible editor Michelle Krueger.
Last year, a number of my friends read Tucson ‘93 and their response was overwhelmingly positive. And while that reaction was gratifying, and I am so thankful for their input, I still had some doubts that this book was “good enough” for me to release out into the world. These were my friends after all and while I trusted them to give me feedback, I decided I needed some independent evaluation.
I started searching for independent editors on the website Reedsy late last year, and immediately found Michelle. Her credentials not only looked great, but she also lived in the Twin Cities (which was important to me). We met in a coffee shop in January and I immediately knew she was the right person for the job. Michelle’s work on Tucson ‘93 not only honed down the rough edges, but gave me the confidence that I could publish this book.
So without further rambling from me. Here is my interview with Michelle.
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How did you become an editor?
I have an undergraduate degree in English and tried to live as a writer my first 8 years out of college, waiting tables for the majority of my income. When I had my oldest daughter, my husband and I realized one of us needed a day job (he worked nights), so I applied to a lot of places, ultimately finding work as a copy writer at a book publisher. This eventually led to book editing. After some time at the publisher, I Ieft to work in corporate communications for many years. When independent publishing took off, I was able to get back into book editing as a freelancer.
What are your favorite types of projects to work on?
I love mysteries. I've edited mysteries for so long, but I've never tried to write them. I'm actually scared of trying because I come at this genre from the opposite side of the author. A mystery editor needs the perspective of a critical reader who has to make sure the reveal doesn't come too soon, that foreshadowing works, that a reader will come away satisfied with the conclusion of the mystery. I'm always impressed with the puzzle a writer needs to build from the end up to the beginning.
What mistakes or challenges do you encounter the most when working with authors?
While this is rare, I've run into authors who want to give me notes and an outline and then ask me to do the writing. Writing is hard work, and so is editing, but only the author's name is on the cover, so I have no desire for someone else to get my creative credit! A friend tried to encourage me to ghost write, but for the same reasons, I just won't do it. Editing should be about helping an author's work shine, fixing issues, and giving advice on how to improve their craft. It's not my baby, but I'm a very good sitter when a writer's work is in my care.
Lately, I've come across serious issues with AI. One author sent her work through an AI developmental editor, and she came back to me asking why I hadn't suggested x y or z. It took me a few hours to go through all of this AI tool's suggestions to show how it wasn't logical or when it veered into creating an entirely new novel than what she'd written. I won't work with authors who use AI to write and ask them to let me know how they've used it for other parts of the writing process and why (e.g. research or organization). In creative writing especially, AI is not only theft, but it's a regurgitation of an amalgamation of other writers' works. We risk losing originality and human evolution of thought. Some "authors" have explained their use of AI by saying that they have all these ideas in their heads, but AI puts them into words and coherent order. If you have ideas, but can't get them into the written word, you're not a writer.
What did you like best about Tucson ’93?
The 90s came back, raw and alive for me. The songs interspersed with the text brought me back in time. As a Gen Xer, I could imagine being twentysomething again. Plus, the weather, colors and landscape were so vivid. I love realistic, grittier settings and you delivered!
Do you have a favorite book or a book recommendation?
Yes. A few summers ago, I read Tom Lake by Ann Patchett. I keep a top ten list of books, and haven't had one in there in a while, but this one made it. The story is woven so perfectly, it's wise, and it's beautiful. It also touched me personally because it's the story of a mother who tells her three young adult daughters a story from her past. You live an entire life before knowing your children, and this novel captures this so well.
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A huge thank you to Michelle for agreeing to this interview. As always, thanks for reading, and if you haven’t, please sign up for my newsletter.
See you on the flipside.
-BV