Working for the Weekend

​Seems “everybody’s working for the weekend.” Everyone, that is, except me. Between writing all day and my new subscription on BritBox, I’ve been pretty damn busy. The Peregrine novel is about a week away from being turned into the editor at Prose Press. Like most in my profession, I both love and hate it, depending on where I am in the editing process and my overall mood.
 
A very good writer at Spy Magazine, later at Premiere and Entertainment Week, gave me some good advice. I had sent my article on visiting the famous star of “Free Willy (Keiko, the masturbating whale) and was looking for feedback.  He was very kind but offered these words of advice: “Have you done your line-by-line reading yet?” I answered that I hadn’t, which elicited the following response. “Do it.”
 
Doing a line reading of your work is essential. Believe me, it is easy to get sidetracked. Once you start nitpicking, you may never stop. But that is what editing is for. A line reading is your best estimate to see how your reader will understand and enjoy your material. Do it. 
 
A couple of tips. Do not use a computer program to read along. Works for screenwriting, not so much with prose. While both depend on voice, narrative fiction calls for a bit more subtlety and finesse, which you can better comprehend by reading aloud. 
 
That’s all fine and good, J.P., but do you ever take the time to read over your blogs? Sorry, no time. Gotta go.  Besides, do as I say, not as I do.
 
BritBox faves so far:
 
Sherlock Holmes.  (Jeremy Brett is nothing short of brilliant)
 
Poirot. (Again, Actor David Suchet makes the $7.95 a month all worth it.)