Dude, save EVERYTHING. I'm serious.

Yeah, I need to start up my dated backups like I did with the rough draft.

I keep all the stuff I delete, just because. Sometimes I go back and use it, sometimes not, but I like knowing it's there.

I have no idea how to tell him this, but I figured out what to do, and need to get it done.

Well, I think that's what you need to tell him, then. And I would do it sooner rather than later, because he needs to know if you're no longer working together on this.

I just feel shaken. These are the never-ending edits, and every time I read through a chapter for the umpteenth time, the crappier it reads to me.

Isn't that kinda normal? When I read through my stuff, I tend to just notice what's wrong.

I know, Amy. He hasn't touched any edits since he turned in his three chapters last year. I'm annoyed, frankly. You can't have 40% for three chapters out of ten and no editing and then tell me you're really busy. You just can't.

I'm frustrated. And it's my fault for just saying, "I'll take care of it."

Isn't that kinda normal?

I usually read my stuff aloud. If it doesn't sound right when i read it out loud, I revise.

And that's it.

Vampire People had few edits, really. I went through a beta read to see if what I was writing resonated in the ways I intended. Having so many friends who are editors who also beta read means fewer edits/rewrites, and it's a blessing.

Sam has sort of lost all meaning for me because I've read it so many times. I don't even know if it's good anymore. I know I love the little guy. But I have no idea if he sucks.

I usually keep several versions of my nonfiction articles, because I'll decide a point I deleted should really be included or I'll decide that my descriptive ability was really much better last week.

And I think, "I wrote this crap?"

Allyson, I've made a living writing for 30 years and 90+ percent of the time, I'm "OMG, I wrote this crap. This sucks. Why did they hire me? Why will they ever give me anything else to write?"

My experience working with other writers has been that the ones who think that they do a good job and that every word they write is golden are not very good writers and a pain to work with.

He hasn't touched any edits since he turned in his three chapters last year. I'm annoyed, frankly. You can't have 40% for three chapters out of ten and no editing and then tell me you're really busy. You just can't.

Oh, well, that's different. Unless the two of you signed something, then it could be trickier.

My experience working with other writers has been that the ones who think that they do a good job and that every word they write is golden are not very good writers and a pain to work with.

Well, yeah. ::wry grin::

But I still stand by my "publishing's stupid" statement. At least, until I get another contract, IF that ever happens.

My experience working with other writers has been that the ones who think that they do a good job and that every word they write is golden are not very good writers

I think I barely have a clue what I'm doing, so maybe there's hope for me.

There's nothing in writing. Emails, but no signed contract. And it was dependent on him writing usable shit. Since I'm culling it...

I just feel awful having to do this. He worked hard and he's a good guy. He's just not a good writer.

I don't feel like much of one, either, right now. But there is the excitement of taking Sam racing through the Chunnel and emerging in Paris.