Dead is still a few exits away

The new job still has me in a bit of a tailspin, as far as my time and schedule goes. Although I have begun to understand where I have bits of time.

I also have two new ideas that are kicking around in my brain. One better developed and more fascinating than the other, and I think I might give it a go for Nanowrimo this year.

As far as the Tower!Guy novel goes, I'm still waiting to hear from one reader, and I'm moving forward on the revisions with the suggestions from lagringa in mind. Also? I sort of have had a craving for chicken souvlaki. I'm probably always going to associate her with really awesome Greek food. I hope she doesn't mind.

I'm using Holly Lisle's One Pass Manuscript Revision, although I've had to do it in starts and fits because of time issues. It's a pretty effective, ruthless method if I do say so myself. It also is very good at forcing me to really solidify what themes and ideas I want, and forcing me to make sure the manuscript accurately reflects and shows that in a clear, interesting, intelligible way. Because hey, the reader can't see inside of my head. My forehead is NOT transparent.

Thus sometimes, you *do* have to explain.

There's an age old argument about whether if a reader misses something in a manuscript, if it's the writer's fault for not being clear or the reader's for not reading carefully enough.

I say, when in doubt, blame yourself. You being the writer, of course.

The fact is? No reader is obligated to give your manuscript even a moment's attention, nor are they obligated to read it as though it's the most important piece of writing on the face of God's green Earth. You're the one imposing on *their* time and they have plenty of other writers who are willing to invest in clarity as well as style and plot and interesting window dressings.

Also? Two weeks of proofreading at my day job has taught me this:

Brevity may be the soul of wit, but clarity is the soul of communication.

Imagine what you could do if you're very brief and very clear.