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Born and raised in Hawaii, Sara Ackerman studied journalism and later earned graduate degrees in psychology and Chinese Medicine. THE LIEUTENANT'S NURSE is her second novel set in the vibrant tropical surroundings of the Pacific.
SARA'S TIP
Many of us have to be our own editors. This is okay to a point, but I can’t say enough about the value of a great editor. Friends and critique partners are less expensive and also wonderful, but nothing can replace an editor who knows her (or his) stuff. There are many brilliant freelance editors out there, but do your research and make sure to find one who has a good track record and is a good fit. In the meantime, I find the book Stein on Writing by Sol Stein to be a valuable aid. Also, I read aloud as I go. Writing in novels is far more conversational than more formal writing, and the words should have a comfortable rhythm and flow when spoken. This may feel weird at first, but it is an essential component to revising.
Another brilliant piece of advice that I picked up from author Mark Childress goes something like this: First draft, let it rip, write from the heart. First revision, up the stakes in each chapter and the whole book. Second revision, read through for character arcs (a whole read-through for each main character). Third revision, make sure the setting speaks to the reader and portrays the theme. Fourth revision, go through again and make the language shine. We learn by doing, so don’t be afraid to jump in, get that book written, and hunker down for many rounds of editing. The more you write, the better you will get—as long as you keep an open mind and look at feedback from others as a chance to improve and not a dagger through your heart.
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