Tag Archives: Editing

STAR CATCHING

Posted on September 5, 2016 by Dawn Essegian Lajeunesse

Way back in March, when we were trying hard to say good-bye to winter and welcome the warmer months, I announced the completion of my third novel. The title then was Gram and Me. Fast forward past spring and summer, after … Continue reading →

Posted in Books, critiques, Editing, Grief and Loss, Publishing, Reading, Women's Fiction, Writing | Tagged authors, book promotion, Book Release, Books, critiques, Editing, grief, loss, novels, Publishers, Publishing, Star Catching, writers, writing | 1 Comment

The Long Road to a Finished Novel

Posted on July 2, 2016 by Dawn Essegian Lajeunesse

I’ve posted a few times about the completion of the first draft of my third novel, currently titled Gram & Me. I had high hopes of editing and polishing and maybe even securing an agent by this summer. Many revisions later, … Continue reading →

Posted in Best Sellers, Blogs, Book Reviews, Books, critiques, Editing, Goals, Manuscripts, Novel construction, Publishing, Self Publishing, Writing | Tagged agents, authors, Book reviews, Books, critiques, Editing, goals, novels, Perseverence, publishing options, Self-publishing, Traditional Publishers, writers, writing | 3 Comments

In Search of The Right Agent

Posted on April 19, 2016 by Dawn Essegian Lajeunesse

Ah, the long and winding road to agent representation. And people think running for President is tough? A little background: my first two novels Autumn Colors and In Her Mother’s Shoes, were self-published because of my inability/failure to secure an … Continue reading →

Posted in Agents, Autumn Colors, Blogs, Books, Dreams, Editing, In Her Mother's Shoes, Manuscripts, Publishing, Social Media, Uncategorized, Women's Fiction, Writing | Tagged agents, attitude, authors, Autumn Colors, book promotion, Books, Editing, In Her Mother's Shoes, novels, Publishers, Publishing, Traditional Publishers, writers, writing | Leave a comment

CAN YOU DO TOO MANY REWRITES?

Posted on April 12, 2016 by Dawn Essegian Lajeunesse

When you finish a manuscript, the hard work is just beginning. I wrote last week about my experience with coming full circle with critiques and rewrites of my opening pages of Gram & Me. Three critiques, three resulting re-writes, and … Continue reading →

Posted in Blogs, Book Reviews, Book Sales, Books, Editing, Manuscripts, Publishing, Women's Fiction, Writing | Tagged agents, authors, Books, Editing, novels, Publishers, Publishing, rewrites, writers, writing | 2 Comments

WHO’S ON FIRST? The Down Side of Having your Writing Critiqued

Posted on April 7, 2016 by Dawn Essegian Lajeunesse

I’ve written several posts over the years on the value of having your work critiqued. And I still believe it is important to have objective readers—particularly those who are in the publishing industry and understand what agents and publishers are … Continue reading →

Posted in Editing, Manuscripts, Publishing, Reading, Women's Fiction, Writing | Tagged agents, attitude, authors, Book reviews, Books, critiques, Editing, novels, Publishers, Publishing, rewriting, writers, writing | 2 Comments

THE JOY OF COMPLETING A NOVEL

Posted on March 30, 2016 by Dawn Essegian Lajeunesse

I’ve been working on Gram & Me for over two years. I thought, once I retired, that I’d pump out a new manuscript at least every year, if not every six months. I certainly have enough ideas to keep them … Continue reading →

Posted in Agents, Book Reviews, Books, Editing, Women's Fiction | Tagged agents, authors, Books, Editing, Manuscripts, novels, Publishing, writers, writing | 8 Comments

Drawing a Blank Can Be A Good Thing

Posted on February 22, 2016 by Dawn Essegian Lajeunesse

Better than a destructive, bridge-burning eruption! In early 2015 I wrote about the value of having multiple impartial parties critique and edit your writing. You, as the writer, are too close to see your writing clearly. At the time, I had just … Continue reading →

Posted in Blogs, Book Reviews, Writing | Tagged blogging 101, Book reviews, critiques, Editing, novels, writers, writing | 4 Comments

VALUE OF TAKING TIME OFF

Posted on February 20, 2016 by Dawn Essegian Lajeunesse

Studies have shown that people who take periodic vacations – and give themselves permission to leave work behind during those vacations – are more productive than people who slog along no matter how tired or fried they are. That doesn’t … Continue reading →

Posted in balance, Blogs, Working, Writing | Tagged agents, Blogging, blogging 101, Editing, novel, Peer critiques, Publishing, vacation, writing | 1 Comment

BLOGGING, TECHNOLOGY, and BALANCE

Posted on February 18, 2016 by Dawn Essegian Lajeunesse

Seems like an odd combination of words for a title, huh? Read on and you will understand. True confession: I am technologically challenged. I can do basics…very basics, that is. My husband even thinks I am a computer wiz. But … Continue reading →

Posted in balance, Blogs, Goals, Health, Uncategorized | Tagged attitude, balance, blogging 101, Editing, Health, mental health, Technology, writing | 3 Comments

WINNING AN AGENT: MAYBE THIS TIME

Posted on February 11, 2016 by Dawn Essegian Lajeunesse

Winning the attention of a well-connected agent and major publisher—AND having your novel viewed by the publisher as worthy of considerable investment—isn’t just about writing a good story. That’s part of it (unless you are a celebrity, which automatically propels … Continue reading →