I said these Friday updates would be short, but I didn’t stick to that so well last week. I’ll try to do better. With that in mind, onward to this week’s progress report!
On Sunday I spent 20 minutes writing 501 new words on Desolation of the Damned. This is notable because I’ve always had a strict “no writing on weekends” policy to keep my brain from frying from having to come up with too many words during the week. But for the sake of consistency, and also to remind myself that this is also something I do because I enjoy it, I decided I can handle 15 to 20 minutes on Sunday (Saturday remains a day off from all kinds of work).
Then on Monday, I switched gears. I had always intended that when I got to this novel, I would edit it as I go, but then on a whim I decided to start it during Nanowrimo, which doesn’t leave any space for editing (and in fact actively discourages it).
But, with over 25,000 words and a solid grasp of where this story is going, I decided to backtrack and edit what I’ve got so far. I’ve spent at least half an hour each day this week on edits, starting from Chapter One (which was a big one), and by now I’m through the first scene of Chapter 2. I’ve still got to do today’s edits, and I’m hoping to get through the rest of the chapter.
Once I get caught up, I’ll edit as I go, as originally planned. This means it’s going to take me longer to finish this manuscript, but it will mean LESS time getting it ready overall, because there won’t be multiple drafts or passes — other than proofreading, once I get to the end it will be DONE.
At least, that’s the plan.
After the way it took me so long to get through edits on Book 2, due mainly to just feeling overwhelmed and procrastinating on it far too long, I think this way will work better, and get this book into your hands much sooner.
I’ll keep you posted!
Until next week, Jean
What’s One Cool Thing from Your Week?
Each week, I’m opening up a discussion thread where you can tell me and your fellow Echolettes about something cool from your week. It can be a piece of art, entertainment, news, a recommendation, something that’s making life worth living right now, something that happened to you, something you saw/witnessed/overheard… I’m not picky, as long as it’s not political and everyone is respectful and kind.
Here’s my cool thing: A Small Fiction, a Twitter account containing really well done pieces of microfiction that are a mix of whimsical, fantastical and poignant. If you need a super-quick story fix, check it out.
These days hardly anyone dresses up too much for these occasions but I'd known him from work and wanted to pay my respects as best I knew how. I visited with the family for an hour or so before taking leave. It was Wednesday, 5:30 PM, and it was time to drive somewhere to find some food to take home. I strode into the restaurant like I owned the place to make my order when the kid behind the counter looked up and blubbered, “Uh, oh, uh, can I take your order, preacher?” Somewhat taken aback, I gave my order, not disabusing the young man as to my not actually holding the surmised vocation. “Ok, and what name shall I put for your order, preacher?”
“Matthew.”
“Uh, how do you spell that?”
“m-a-t-t-h-e-w”
“Uh, lessee, m-a-h-t-w, oh wait, no, m-a-t-h-t-e...”
“Son, if you'd been going to church like you're supposed to, you'd know how to spell my name.”
These days hardly anyone dresses up too much for these occasions but I'd known him from work and wanted to pay my respects as best I knew how. I visited with the family for an hour or so before taking leave. It was Wednesday, 5:30 PM, and it was time to drive somewhere to find some food to take home. I strode into the restaurant like I owned the place to make my order when the kid behind the counter looked up and blubbered, “Uh, oh, uh, can I take your order, preacher?” Somewhat taken aback, I gave my order, not disabusing the young man as to my not actually holding the surmised vocation. “Ok, and what name shall I put for your order, preacher?”
“Matthew.”
“Uh, how do you spell that?”
“m-a-t-t-h-e-w”
“Uh, lessee, m-a-h-t-w, oh wait, no, m-a-t-h-t-e...”
“Son, if you'd been going to church like you're supposed to, you'd know how to spell my name.”