Bear with my self-indulgence today, but I have to let loose a little celebratory cheer! This week I finished the first draft of my re-written novel. Okay, that is a totally confusing sentence. A little background - I started writing this in August and in November finished the first draft, then worked on the second draft until January. At which point I realized my sweet baby needed major surgery if it wasn't going to be an ugly baby.
So I've been in major surgery mode for the last two months. I consider this a re-write, versus a draft or a revision. I cut a lot - that was one of my goals - to take it down from over 150K words to more like 100K - to tighten it, but keep it rich. Along the way I changed major plot elements, re-writing the last half of the story. And I changed from multiple first-person Point of View Characters to third-person which was a major change.
It's been stinking painful! It's been exciting! It's been scary! (Yes, it is an acknowledged fact that I use too many exclamation points and too many asides in parentheses.) And I'm so glad major surgery is over. Now it's time to polish, polish, polish and make 'er pretty. Then my goal is to start querying in the summer. I anticipate this will be a long process - and that's why it's so important to take joy in each milestone.
I am a big believer in celebrating the journey - even if it takes a lot longer than I anticipated or hoped. Who cares? I'm going to celebrate this milestone and then keep moving.
I thought of things I could do to celebrate - but the truth is, just posting this up on my blog makes me happiest. So thanks for being part of my online party and encouraging me so much along the way!
Well done!! I am in complete awe of you writing this book - I wouldn't even know where to start!
ReplyDeleteI think watching your journey makes me want to read it more! I can't wait to have a taste and will be first in line when it get's published xx
Congratulations! I am with Terrie - you are an inspiration and I can't wait to meet your pretty baby :)
ReplyDeleteThanks you guys! I say it just goes to show anyone can do anything. Well, okay, maybe that's not true - but if you want to write a book - you can. Or if you want to learn weaving or pottery or Sudoku. Now I'm off to enjoy a celebratory evening of crochet and oatmeal chocolate chip cookies with a good friend!
ReplyDeleteCongrats on your milestone... each stage of the journey gets you closer to your Goal, I'm so excited for you!
ReplyDeleteDawn... The Bohemian
Great job, Valerie!! It's good to be proud of yourself and celebrate finishing something that you set out to do-- it'll help make the next step of the process more fun, too, to know that a celebration is waiting for you!
ReplyDeleteHow wonderful!! Congratulations on such a fantastic milestone! :D
ReplyDeleteThis is supposed to be the year that I get two of my manuscripts fully drafted, but it's March already and I'm yet to give them enough attention ... perhaps you'll provide me with the inspiration I very much need to press on! :)