I find it difficult to edit my stories, which is something I really need to do. I decided to try a new method, namely to read the story as I usually do: on a e-reader, and note down the points that need editing with bookmarks. I'm sure I have thought about doing this often, but I'm really doing it for the first time.
I just fixed about a dozen minor details, and uploaded the new manuscript to Smashwords. If any one of my readers is reading this, and has not finished reading, please feel free to hop over to the publisher's website, and get yourself a new improved version, with fabric softener and added Vitamin C.
There are only a couple of full-length stories (novels—I still feel bashful to describe them as novels, though they just can't be anything else) of which I'm really proud. I'm fairly proud of the whole lot, but these are serious contributions to these genres of literature:
Alexandra, a long story with characters I think are truly admirable and attractive, and with human failings that are entirely forgivable;
Music On The Galactic Voyager, a truly awesome (stop me!) science fiction story. The science in this one is not close to being magic, as many sci-fi stories become; it is just 20th-century science. (Ultra-futuristic sci-fi is boring. And you may quote me. I mean, anything can happen, and the author can shrug and say: it's future science, kiddos. Yeah, right. This is my quarrel with Japanese sci-fi fantasies.)
A couple more are waiting in the wings: Jane, for instance, which really needs to be re-written to have a satisfactory ending; Prisoner, which had a huge following at one time, and Helen, of course. But these are all projects that are still under construction, though I have recklessly thrown them into publication. Helen's Concerto only needs polishing up; I'm writing a front-end to Helen & Sharon, after which I will tidy up and slim down Helen & Sharon. At that point, the trilogy: Helen at Westfield, Helen & Sharon, and Helen's Concerto will be a good piece of writing. At the moment, there are too many flaws in the Helen saga, though in its large plan, it is already complete.
Kay Hemlock Brown
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