Roz Maclaren

Teen Fiction with a Dark Twist

Roz MacLaren

What’s involved in writing a book: yet more editing

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It’s all hands on deck, as we get closer to publication day!

What stage are we at?

Venom and Blaze has just been through the second editor. (Yes, even after being through the first editor about twenty million times, there’s still more to fix.) My second editor caught a few things that didn’t make sense and formatted the book to their house style.

What happens next?

After this, it’ll go to the formatters where I’ll get sent a print .pdf for review. I get two chances to spot any other minor things to change (the time for developmental editing has passed.)

Once that’s done, I’ll start working with a designer to come up with a cover that encapsulates my vision for Venom and Blaze.

In other news, the first draft of Fable and Legend is with the publisher and she is currently reading it. I think Fable and Legend is one of the most mature books I’ve written in the series (I don’t mean mature in the sense of content, but in the sense of being written with maturity.)

Is anything else happening?

I’m glad you asked. Yes. I’m currently working on plotting the fourth book in the series, which has a working title of Flame and Phoenix. Whether it ever sees the light of day is another matter. And I’m also editing a YA novel I wrote over lockdown that I recently revisited and found to not be entirely dross. Again, whether that ever sees the light of day, I am unsure. It’s totally separate from the Mirrordom universe.

Oops – I did it again

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The blog has been extra quiet lately. This is because I’ve been working on another story set in Mirrordom (once which is likely going to muck up the trilogy concept because it’ll make four in total. And I’m not even going to mention at this stage that I have plans for a fifth.)

I’ve been working on this one over the winter, simply because I felt the character of Quiver’s mother deserved her own story. And because I ended up writing a throwaway remark in Venom and Blaze that I later realised was quite a cool concept I wanted to explore further.

I can’t say too much at this time – and, of course, there’s no guarantee this book will ever see the light of day. Frankly, if I were my publisher, I’d tell me to go and have a good long think about my actions because I seem to have no concept of the words “chronological order.” Other seasoned authors seem to manage to write their books in the order things happen, rather than my haphazard Oh-I-Think-This-Character-Needs-Their-Own-Story-So-I’ll-Go-Back-And-Write-It-And-Give-No-Heed-To-The-Fact-It-Mucks-Up-The-Planned-Order sort of way. Because this book would come directly after the events of Venom and Blaze so it would become the second in the series, bumping City and Shadow down (again) to third in the series.

I know we’re not supposed to have favourites but this one might just be my new favourite. In a way, it’s quite fitting that Quiver’s mother gets her own story because the very first Mirrordom book I wrote began with her. Although she’s largely overshadowed by other characters, it’s her actions that end up setting a chain of events in motion. Writing about her in her own right gave me a chance to explore her complexities and develop her character.

So what can I say about this book?

Well, we have some new settings. Most of the action of the other books takes place around the castle and the caves. This book features the Glittering City, a farmhouse on the edge of the woods and a lot of taverns – all brand-new locations.

We also have some brand new characters, like Cobalt, Legend and Ballad. Every one of them has their own secrets and Fable finds herself caught up in their stories. We also get to see the return of another familiar character, but I can’t say too much about that.

Part of the reason for writing this blog has always been to document the whole process of writing books and aiming to get them published. At the very least, it’ll be something for me to look back on later and perhaps learn from. So here’s another stitch in the tapestry of working on Mirrordom: throwing yet another novel into the mix. I daresay everyone will be quite used to that by now.

What’s involved in writing a book: more editing

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Editing, as it turns out, is one of those processes that could go on indefinitely. It is, I fear, only the deadline that will bring the matter to an end.

And, of course, I had to go and make the process even longer by changing my mind mid-way through about what I wanted.

Something wasn’t working and I couldn’t put my finger on it. And then the answer came to me in a flash. Cue a rather large re-write which I’m currently in the process of. My editor is being very patient.

What’s my process?

Listening to my instincts. If something feels off, there’s no point in glossing over it, being lazy or pretending no one else will notice. Readers are sharp and they’ve given up their time to read my book. The very least I can do is give them the same courtesy and put time into editing. Tempting though it might be to tell myself I’m overthinking/the book doesn’t need these drastic edits/it’ll all be fine, I didn’t. And I think the book is going to be much better because of it.

How do I edit?

I have gone through my editor’s suggestions and then, using tracked changes, taken an axe to some portions and a quill to others.

I find my brain can’t process the novel in a Word document format, so I change it into that of a professional book (using Reedsy’s editor) and then go over it on my phone, scribbling down any notes in the margins. So far, I’ve done a lot of scribbling. I then go back into the Word document and make those changes.

At the moment, I’m especially looking to improve the flow and make the novel feel less like non-stop action and more like a cohesive story that won’t leave readers feeling like their brains have just been mangled.

When is the deadline?

11 March. Which isn’t very far away.

What’s left to do?

I’m going to finish up this round of reading the formatted book and then making edits. Then format it again with the new edits and read it another time. Then send back to Emma, my lovely editor.

Emma will go through what I’ve done, see if she agrees, make any tweaks to spelling and grammar and I’ve asked her particularly to make any suggestions about improving the flow.

What would your editing process would be? Have you any tips for me? I’d love to hear all about it in the comments.

What’s involved in writing a book: the editing

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An email arrived in my author inbox today (the first email that came from an actual person and wasn’t spam.)

Who was the email from, I hear absolutely nobody ask?

It was from my newly-assigned editor, the lovely Emma, who had already completed an initial proofread of Venom and Blaze. In my day job as a copywriter and editor, it’s usually me who completes edits and sends chunky word docs back to clients, so it feels a little unnerving to be on the receiving end of an edit.

So what happens next?

I will take a look at Emma’s edits over the weekend. As this is my debut novel, I have no clue what to do. Do I leave tracked changes on? Do I approve her changes? What happens if massive edits are required? Does she make suggestions and action them or does she make suggestions and I action them? I have no idea. And, as a chronic overthinker, I suspect I might end up being a nightmare client.

After I’ve had a look and made any more tweaks, Emma will proofread it for a second time and go through the novel with a fine tooth comb. After that, I genuinely have no idea what happens next.

How am I feeling?

Like it’s all starting to get very real. When I signed the contract to publish Venom and Blaze, the publishing date was in Summer 2024. As I signed in 2023 and I happen to be remarkably short-sighted, 2024 seemed like a very long time away. Now, an actual editor has read my book, made some changes and we’re going to work on it together. It’s all starting to feel like it’s actually happening, and, seeing as I’ve dreamed of this since I was six, that’s quite a big deal for me.

Are you interested in more updates in my What’s involved in writing a book? blog series? Let me know in the comments.

What to read while you’re waiting for Venom and Blaze to be released

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My debut novel comes out this year (THIS YEAR!!!) Still, there’s a good few months to go between now and the summer, so what should you read while you’re waiting for my book to come out?

Scythe by Neal Shusterman.

10/10.

I’m still to finish this trilogy (I’m just partway into The Toll) but I can honestly say it’s been a long time since I read a book that gripped me like Scythe did. Neal Shusterman’s writing style is exceptional and his ability to create multi-faceted characters is incredible.

Katy by Jacqueline Wilson.

8/10.

Like most 90s babies, I grew up devouring Jacqueline Wilson books. I went on the run with Lola Rose, I learned about Victorians with Charlie, I felt left out like Dolphin and I wanted to be a twin like Ruby and Garnet. However, I wasn’t sure the inimitable Ms Wilson could pull off a retelling of the classic story What Katy Did Next. I was wrong.

I should point out I’ve never read the original by Susan Coolidge so there was never any risk of me making any comparisons but I will say Ms Wilson’s version is exceptional in its own right. I’ve no idea if she includes any nods to the original, but she has done a fantastic job of telling a heart-breaking story.

The book is directed at readers that are slightly younger than my target audience, but I’m confident even teenagers would enjoy this one. It did lose marks in my opinion for having quite a slow-moving opening. There is a lot of scene setting before the crux of the story begins. Fortunately, Ms Wilson’s unique writing style pulls the reader through without feeling like it drags.

Heist Society by Ally Carter.

7/10.

I’m showing my age with this one, which was published in 2011! Thirteen years ago?! But it’s one of my go-to novels when I want something slick and suspenseful. As a teenager, I loved Kat’s personality – arguably more than Cammie in Ms Carter’s other popular series, Gallagher Girls – and how her brain worked. Toss in a cast full of characters, like rich boy Hale, and you have the magic formula for keeping me entertained.

What YA books have you read recently? Maybe you’ve written one? If so, I’d love to read it and review it on the blog – so please get in touch.

Last night, I typed “The End”

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I’m excited to announce the first draft of Quiver and Arrow is finished!

What happens next?

Nothing. I let the story sit for a few months. Then, I format it using Reedsy (they have a brilliant, free formatting tool) and read it like it’s a normal book. I find the fallow period combined with the change in formatting helps me spot errors more easily.

After that, I’ll submit Quiver and Arrow to my publisher to see if they think it’s got any merit.

And the rest of the Mirrordom Trilogy?

Venom and Blaze will need edited nearer to its publication date. And then begins the fun bits, like choosing a cover and promoting the story. The same process will happen with City and Shadow.

Will there be any other books in the Mirrordom Universe?

Let’s not rule anything out. I do have a novella planned, but that’s not progressed beyond a scribbled note in my journal.

What else is in the pipeline?

I’m writing a psychological novel for adults, purely for my own pleasure. I’m also working on another YA novel, completely unrelated to Mirrordom.

And then there will be all the work of promotion, engaging with readers, approaching booksellers and, hopefully, achieving my dream of getting Venom and Blaze into Waterstones!

What am I reading?

At the moment, I’m reading The Toll by Neal Shusterman – the last in the Arc of a Scythe trilogy. I’m absolutely loving his work. I’m also still reading The Dark Queen by Dana Gricken. I’ll be writing reviews on both when I’m done.

Are you reading anything riveting? I’d love to hear all about it.

An update from Mirrordom

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January is (finally) about to draw to a close as I write this. In spite of it being January the 3,001st, payday still being days away and the weather showing no signs of improving, brighter days are on the horizon.

There is something to be said for dark winter nights. There’s a plausible reason to stay home, write books, read books and not socialise. But I am more than ready for the summer!

I’m also one step closer to writing “THE END” on Quiver and Arrow. The book has taken me on an emotional rollercoaster, and I hope you get to enjoy it one day.

I can already see myself going back to Mirrordom and delving into the backstory of Quiver’s mother. But we’ll see if anything comes of that. One thing for sure, she is a fascinating, resourceful woman who definitely has a few stories to tell.

As far as we know for now, though, this is the end of the Mirrordom stories – and definitely the end of the Mirrordom Trilogy. So, it’s important to me that we get a satisfying ending with plenty character resolution and development. Although the stories all happen over the course of one year, there’s numerous events that cause our protagonists all manner of consequences. However, I can safely say the most drastic of all those consequences has happened in Quiver and Arrow.

Meanwhile, in the world of Mirrordom, I’m looking forward to starting the process of editing Venom and Blaze, so it can go straight from my imagination into your hands.

How is your endless January going? I’d love to hear all about it.

Book review: The Blonde Identity by Ally Carter

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6/10

WARNING: SPOILERS

Like many 90’s/00’s babies, I grew up reading Ally Carter in my teenage years. I dreamed of being a Gallagher Girl. I swooned over Hale in Heist Society. I even walked the streets of Embassy Row with Grace. There is no question that Ally Carter is a fabulous author of YA fiction – and that she made my childhood a better place.

So I wanted to love this. But I… didn’t.

The Blonde Identity tells the story of a woman who wakes up in Paris with no idea where she is. She becomes embroiled into top secret plots and spy stuff, all of which she tackles with a relish and enthusiasm that borders on irritating. It becomes apparent she’s been mistaken for her twin sister, who actually is a spy and would treat the situations with the gravity they deserve.

It’s not a terrible book, by any means. But it doesn’t have any of Carter’s trademark twists and turns. It doesn’t have the charm of her other books.

What I loved…

Alex. It’s just a shame the (arguably more interesting) twin doesn’t show up sooner in the book.

The unexpected villain. All eyes are on a man called Kozlov, but the real danger is closer to home… I liked this unexpected twist – it was one of the few I didn’t see coming.

What I didn’t love so much…

The cliches. I think they’re meant to be satirical but the main character literally, repeatedly speaks the word “Gasp!”

The forced relationship. Zoe and Sawyer have known each other for just a few days. Maybe that’s why his declaration of love is so utterly jarring for me. I found it a tad cringeworthy, especially at the end of the book where he gives up his lifelong career for a woman he met that week.

Sawyer. I just didn’t like him. I could get almost get behind Zoe’s relentless lust for life, but Sawyer wasn’t terribly likeable as a character. His backstory felt like it was shoehorned into the story. For example, he has repeated nightmares about a woman called Helena whom he failed to save. I feel this could have been unpacked more and, yes, maybe it would have been a cliché to have Helena be more than just someone on a mission he couldn’t keep alive but it would have given depth to his story and explained why she seems to haunt his dreams.

Overall, The Blonde Identity is a light, fluffy story that would work for killing time on a long train journey.