I finished Harp of Fire this morning, the third novel in this trilogy. Or at least the handwritten part.
w00t!!!
The current draft of chapter 17 is approximately 4800 words, but I also realized that I forgot to include something important in the middle of the chapter, and that will absolutely push it to over 5000 words when I type it up.
I also spent part of the morning coming up with a strategy for doing the rewriting. I feel as though I’ve figured out the structure and externals for it, basically, a schedule. I still need to figure out more of the internals, what has to be done and how I’m going to accomplish those things.
In an ideal world, I’ll finish the rewrite of all three books in four months. I’m going to really push for 100 days, from January 20th to April 30th. I don’t know if that’s enough time to do the rewriting I need to do, or if I’ll be able to keep to such a schedule. But I didn’t know if I could actually finish the novel while I was here in Mpls either, and I managed to do that. So we’ll see.
I feel as though this miniwrimo has helped me reclaim mornings as my writing time. I accept that it will be difficult some days, maybe even impossible. I’m still going to try.
I hate the thought of being so scheduled. I feel as though I can accept it given that I’m not going for a lifestyle change, but for a concentrated period, just 100 days. We’ll see. If I’m miserable I’ll change it. Basically, what needs to happen is:
A) Apply butt to chair
B) Write
C) Repeat
I think I can do that for 100 consecutive days. The prospect is daunting. I’m trying to still celebrate what I’ve accomplished so far.
Expect a lot more blog posts about the process of rewriting. I feel as though my writing process is very solid. My rewriting process isn’t, though. I need to spend time thinking about it, how to tweak it, how to make it more efficient. I’m all about process sometimes.
yay! wonderful news about finishing the first draft. know what you mean about feeling overly scheduled yet needing the structure. (i do better with deadlines myself.) go you for being willing to figure out what works for you. that takes a lot of self-discipline. i admire that.
Thank you! Finishing has been such a weight off my shoulders. And the scheduling has been strangely freeing as well. We’ll see how I feel when I’m in the middle of it. 😉
As someone who can’t even make it a couple paragraphs into a story, let me offer you a heart congratulations on finishing the trilogy! Yeah!
Thank you! I’m much more excited about it.
Congratulations on A Draft, and good luck on the Speedy Re-Write!
A Draft is a lovely, lovely thing. I know it isn’t the final draft, that there’s a lot of work between now and final, but getting this far feels good.
Wow, congrats!
I wondered how you’d be able to finish that draft by end of year even with holiday travel, but golly, you did it! Good luck on rewrites and sales.
Re: Wow, congrats!
Thank you! And good luck with your writing as well!