Finished my copy edits tonight. It was strange going through them. Little things were changed here and there, mostly descriptions to be less graphic. Really, I think it changed the tone of the story quite a bit. I’ve had edits with my Brava editor too, but somehow those didn’t seem that big of a change as far as the tone of the piece, more of a speeding up of the pace by cutting out extraneous descriptions. My Black Lace story just doesn’t sound like me in some places. Those of you who have read my work will notice that this Sylvia Day is far more reserved in her language. 
Black Lace has been disappointed with their reception in the United States. Relegated to dark corners of bookstores, they’ve revamped their covers to be less porn looking (love the cover, so no argument there) and they’ve decided that some words have to go.
So there you have it. I still really like the story. I love the hero and the heroine. I love how it ends. And don’t get me wrong. I’m a writer who loves critiques and I love to be edited. Anything to make the story better and my writing better. In this case though, the object wasn’t to make me or the story better. The object was to make it different, more palatable for the American market. This I don’t quite understand because I can tell you right now my Brava book is way, way, way hotter and more graphic.
To edit I had to use three colors–red (for typesetter mistakes), blue (for mistakes in my ms that transfered over to the typesetter), and pencil (for mistakes in my ms that aren’t horrifying and can skip being fixed if the publisher ends up in a rush). I used all three. 
On a completely different note, I discovered hits to my site from a reader’s choice poll. I checked it out and someone nominated me. *scratching head while pleased* The votes are for authors published in 2004, so that wouldn’t be me. And get this, I’m not last, so someone’s been voting for me. Don’t know who nominated me (or who has been voting for me), but thank you, whoever you are. The thought is very sweet and I was thrilled to find out. 
[...] much from tapping a hungry market as it can from placement in WalMart. My experience with editing sexual explicitness in my Black Lace story was not all that pleasant. I felt [...]
on March 1st, 2005 at 1:48 am
It was two years ago when my first BL short was published, and like Saskia and Wendy…I was encouraged to push it. They wanted ‘edgy’ and ‘daring’. I had fun with those stories. I also hate to see this because that means that Kerri probably won’t like WILLING. It’s going to be pretty raw.
on January 26th, 2005 at 12:41 pm
That is so odd since the market is opening to the opposite on this end. Of course the state always have been contradictory in that respect. I doubt I will ever understand it.:roll:
on January 26th, 2005 at 9:41 am
Crikey, the imprint’s gone round in a great circle! When I very first wrote for Black Lace, around ten years ago, the words you quote [and other strong expressions] were discouraged. But after a syposium attended by most of the authors and the editorial team, it was agreed we could use them. As the years went on, as Saskia rightly says, we were actively encouraged to use them, and up until very recently, to really push the envelope with language and transgressive sexual variations… which was brilliant! But now it seems BL is back to square one, and everything is tamed and watered down again.
A shame in some ways, but hey, what a fabulous writing challenge to make your stories super hot *within* the new restrictions!!! I might even have a crack at it myself…
Love, Wendy AKA Portia Da Costa [Eight Black Lace novels from the 'golden age' and contributions to around five BL compilations]
on January 26th, 2005 at 7:37 am
This is absolutely hysterical, LOLOL! Here in the US we’re pushing envelopes to use those slang expressions and AVOID the clinical terms!
on January 26th, 2005 at 7:17 am
LOL Sylvia, this made me laugh! When I first wrote a short for BL (1997) I was told NOT to use penis but to use cock instead. Isn’t it interesting how time and pressure for sales changes things!
I noticed the change happening in my last short for them, where a certain term I’d used was changed to the much more widely acceptable term “self-indulgence.” 
Never mind! Congrats on your first cover!
on January 26th, 2005 at 5:34 am