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!”
A week off!
Can’t claim any work this week. My sister is ill in the hospital and I wound up with other family obligations as well. I did do some planning for a book launch for an editing client, and critiqued some work for friends, but nothing of my own. Next week!
Slow progress–but progress!
Summer with a million (non-writing-related) demands is putting a crimp in my word count, but I am still finding bits and corners for writing, so the WIP is progressing. Not as fast as the first half, but I’m happy with the direction it’s taking!
New writing done
Despite being back to busy-ness, I was able to keep up some momentum on the book, though that will get harder over the summer with the million interruptions to my schedule. But I got about 5 more scenes written this week.