Time is precious... by Cathy Ace

How do you know when you’re finished and it’s time to submit? Do you take a break or start right on the next one?


This is an interesting question, and my answer to it now differs from the answer I might have given a few years ago.


When I had contracts with traditional publishers I was absolutely deadline driven…insofar as I would work on editing right up to the very last minute, THEN it just HAD to go. Of course it was then going to a publisher who would read it and might give me a bit of direct feedback, or it was going to an agent who might give me a bit of direct feedback….thence to a publisher, thence to an editor, thence to a copy editor with it coming back to me several times, and with my still having the opportunity to change anything I wanted right up until the final, final last minute, when the final copy edits went back to the publisher. So, even when I pressed “SEND” for my already-much-edited manuscript, there were still lots of opportunities for me to make (more) changes.


The only difference in terms of each manuscript now that I am self-publishing my novels is that my editor works for me on a contract basis, rather than for an old publisher of mine. That’s about it. And I can make changes to both e-versions and print versions more easily after publication if a typo is brought to my attention that needs amending.

The BIG difference is that I no longer feel as though I am on a writing treadmill, because I don’t have any signed contracts “telling me” I have a specific deadline for a specific book. Which, I have to say, is FABULOUS! It means I am living more of my non-writing life than before, and spending more time with my husband. Which I shall never, ever regret.

That being said, I just cannot stop myself from constantly plotting, refining and running the movie of my next book in my head…even when I’m doing something else! (Don’t tell my husband!)

If you'd like to find out more about the books I have written so far CLICK HERE.