Oh, wait. Maybe that wasn't a good idea…

With all the editing I’ve been doing lately, I find my writing self poking me in the back more and more frequently, letting me know that I am ignoring that part of me and it is *not* happy.

I’ve also found that I’ve really been missing having real life people to talk to about romance novels, rather than just online IM people, so I’ve also been toying with joining back up with my local RWA chapter, in hopes that it would not only give me human contact, but also help inspire my writerly side…

So, today, I signed writer me back up. Even scarier, the first meeting, this Saturday, is a critique session, meaning I have to actually bring something written to be critiqued. Erm. Saturday is only three days away and the scene I had in mind is only partially written. Yikes!

Now I just need to decide what I’m going to do about revealing my secret identity. It’s bound to come out sooner or later, I just haven’t decided if I want that to be sooner rather than later (or never…) Oh yeah, and finish that damn scene…

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Writing too evocatively?

The coolest part of working in a giant variety of areas is that I’m always reading something new. On any given day, I get to learn how to install a VoIP phone, see what’s happening in the world, and get lost in a fantasy.

The problem with that, however, is my brain doesn’t always separate one thing from another. I’ve always said writing is writing is writing, and, as an extension of that, editing is editing is editing. So, when I work, whether I’m writing or I’m editing, I’m looking at creating evocative language, making sure words flow together and that they’re grammatically correct and not so much worrying about the content.

But every once in a while, the content from one tends to creep into the other, with not so great results, And while I’m sure my authors will forgive me when the superstrict rules of the telecommunications world creep into the romance editing – Yes, you’re allowed to use allow, enable, may, might, could, should, and would – sometimes the romance stuff tends to affect my other work a little too much.

The evocative writing, however, tends not to work so well. Well, I guess it’s how you look at it. Headlines with blood and guts and sex tend to drive a lot of clicks from users, but it makes the bosses not so happy. *wink* But it’s really funny how editing the kinds of fiction I do has affected what I think is risque and what isn’t.

For example, last week, I wrote a package that featured a Rick Mercer clip making fun of Torontonians and their reaction to snow. (And quite frankly, after Thursday and a Six.Hour.Drive.Home (!!!!), they darn well deserve it) Now, while I thought it was the funniest thing ever, I was a little hesitant that some people may be a little insulted. Let’s face it, Toronto as a whole has a bit of a God complex. The thing is, the same day? I was perfectly okay putting up a video about protests over seal clubbing, complete with naked women draped with fake blood (er, at least I hope it was fake blood). I know. Wierd, right? I blame Rene‘s vampires and Roxy‘s BDSM menages. *grin*

I know in the long run when I do find the time to start writing fiction again, it’ll make my writing that much better, but for now, well, the news has to stay the news. But seriously, how much better would a user manual for an IP server be if I added a little romance to it?

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