So, I stepped away from SOL to let everything blow over. During that time, I joined a new site much like this one only smaller (please feel free to ask me, but I will not openly mention because the webmaster wants to stay under the radar to avoid exactly the kind of thing Lazeez just dealt with) and made some new friends and while talking about my editor, picked up a new one. A seasoned veteran who edits for some of the bigger names right here on SOL. He expressed interest, so I directed him to "The Rat and the Dragon." And guys, I have learned SO much! See, Psycho knows when something's wrong and corrects it. Most of the time, I agree with him, but I didn't really know WHY. It just sounds better. Well, my new editor has the answers.
If you know anything about grammar rules and names and all that, you've probably noticed I have a habit of "dangling modifiers." I had no idea what that was, or that I was doing that. As my husband pointed out, I was raised speaking a language where the subject is often implied, so a dangling modifier does not stump me, I understand what's being implied... but I also understand how in proper English, that can be confusing. I will be working on that going into the future. Seems easy enough to fix. When I went to Psycho and told him about all these things I'm learning, he says "Oh, yeah. You do that a lot." Gee, thanks, saipaki! XD
To that end, I have so much editing to catch up on! I've been avoiding editing "In the Enemy's Territory" in an attempt to bring Kupper back (please?) but Psycho has finished the darkest chapters that took him so long and is getting to the fun parts. I would also like to be finished with all the editing of Rat and Dragon by Saturday so I can drop all of it at once, along with the new chapter. Since changing the events of chapter 12, it caused a ripple effect all the way up the chain to when they get to the fortress, as well as removed an entire chapter of fluff. We will be holding hands with the original draft one last time before kissing it good bye and venturing into the new and unknown. I'll give you a hint: he's big and green and scaly... and pissed.
As for today's chapter of "The Dragon Tamers," it was supposed to be longer. A good deal longer. Buuut, I want to get this editing done, so I'm holding onto the buffer and breaking it up even smaller. In the published version, the two may be put back together because this chapter doesn't really have much going for it, but to keep active while I focus on my hottest story, I split the parts up at the natural scene break. It makes 1,500 words; that's short but decent. Doing it this way gives me another month of buffer time. So, the fun part that was going to happen this week won't. Hope you still enjoy the chapter, and I will see you all next week!