The week has been devoted to editing a client’s novel, and I’m well into it–I’ve read the book, taken notes, outlined my response, and started the letter. I’ll be finished this week. However, because it interrupted my novel, and I am so close to the end (I am a planner, and I know exactly what happens from here on), I decided to be sure to do a little bit of writing on the WIP every day–even just a scene or two–so I don’t lose momentum when I get back to it. It’s working well!
New editing project
I’ve been doing a deep dive into a wonderful new novel by a new editing client. Amazing world and compelling story. Definitely things to work on to bring it up to snuff, but this book has a creative central idea. I’m looking forward to finishing the first read / note-taking!
Busy summer, busy fall
Busy, busy! I have one more full day tomorrow and 8 scenes to write and the WIP gets to the FINAL BATTLE! All the pieces will be in place! I hope! Then I’ve scheduled 15 days for a client’s edit, and will be working the WIP in the evenings. Exciting!
Plugging away!
Continuing to work on the WIP–making some good progress into Act III, but still a long way to go. A co-editor offered to do the lion’s share of slush reading on one project, freeing up some of my time, and an editing client got back to me (I was glad he gave me the summer off!) looking for my availability after September, so I need to get more words down before I do Book 3 of his trilogy. But the ideas are flowing and I got an unexpected 5 days (a cancellation) to get the words down!
More on the WIP and slush reading
I had a good week. Although my husband took me on a motorcycle trip for 5 days, I actually got a lot of drafting done on the WIP, dictating into a mic. As long as I stuff my helmet with enough padding, I don’t pick up too much road noise. I type the draft scenes into my iPad when we get to the hotel. Got home on the weekend and transferred the files into my document, and now I’m just re-reading and doing a first edit/revision to smooth out the “crappy first draft” qualities you get when you dictate. Once I’m done, the first draft of the novel will be very close to 75% complete. I want to finish by the end of the month, and take September for revision. It will definitely need cutting!
Oh, and I looked at the first 60 stories submitted to the current Laksa Media / European Astrobiological Institute anthology. Picked out my top 16 and ranked them, with notes, for the other two editors to consider. There’s some very good stuff submitted but we’re only taking 2 slush stories (the other 20 were all solicited), and a couple are already shrieking, “Pick me! Pick me!”