I've just received the first batch of page proofs for the first book (Solving Cryptic Crosswords For Dummies), it's starting to look like a real book! Very exciting :)
Now I "just" have to edit the first book, while still working 12–15 hours a day on the second ... aaaaaah!
Clue writing in progress on my Mac screen (Crossword 36 from the second book) ... after this one is done, I've got 20 crosswords to go. Have written roughly 1,700 clues so far, about 600 to go! 14 days to deadline ...
Now I "just" have to edit the first book, while still working 12–15 hours a day on the second ... aaaaaah!
Clue writing in progress on my Mac screen (Crossword 36 from the second book) ... after this one is done, I've got 20 crosswords to go. Have written roughly 1,700 clues so far, about 600 to go! 14 days to deadline ...
Denise, if you produce miracles, they'll start expecting miracles. Once you figure how to walk on water, they'll want you to trot across the lake to fetch another six-pack. you are a word-processing wonder!
ReplyDeleteGod luck, and I agree, once you let them know you are a working wonder, they never let up!!
ReplyDeleteI have told them several times now that this workload is ridiculous, and that if we ever do Volume 2 of cryptics (which has been discussed), I need 3 months to write it in, not 6 weeks!
ReplyDeleteI'm sure that, in general, editors have no idea how long it takes to write a page of puzzles vs a page of 'normal text' (about 6-10 times longer) so I presume their standard "How long an author needs to write an X-page long book" is seriously flawed for puzzle books!
(And they have promised that they will give me more time next time!)
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