I’m on the home stretch of the rewrite now, people! Nearly at the end of the second last chapter, 394 pages, 119,600 words in, and I’m scribbling my way towards the end (again). Re-write number two is nearing completion!
After this I just need to do a consistency check, and send it off to the editor for a professional opinion.
Oh, and did I mention that I had my first father’s day celebrations earlier this week? The little lady hasn’t even been born yet, but mum-to-be bought me a bottle of Gentleman Jack, and made me a raspberry and chocolate mousse cake *cries manly tears of happiness*
Back to the writing, here are three micro-learns that I’ve had during the process so far:
- Recycling old sections – sometimes better than chopping them. In the process of re-writing the last few chapters I’ve had great fun adapting what was already there to suit a new situation (action scenes this might work, dialogue or plot not so much)
- Writing can be accelerated – by surreptitiously placing a hip-flask next to a mug of coffee.
- Acronym Generator – when finally thinking “what should my forcefield/anti-grav/energy weapon device be called?” I found this. I.T. I.S. R.A.D.
So here goes. Time to write like the wind, and try to finish by the end of the weekend…
Which leaves the editing just around the corner. What are your thoughts on the best way to do a quick and dirty consistency check? Take lists? Print it out and chug through? What’s the secret dragon warrior technique? Let me know.
Best regards,
D.R.Sylvester
D.R.SYLVESTER FICTION 
That A.C (acronym creator) looks awesome 😉
Congrats on getting to the end run!
Thanks mate, and I see what you did there 😉
I printed out a copy and left it next to the toilet: A great place for contemplation, deep-thought and first-round editing. Just remember to keep a red pen handy too…
That’s not a bad idea at all, though it could get a bit disturbing for anybody standing outside when I start berating my own writing: “This is crap! Total crap.”
congrats on the fathers day, always special :). I always have to leave my WiP for 4-6 weeks before I can bear to look at it again after I’ve finished the first draft. Thanks to keeping strict story bibles for all my stories (I’m very much a planner who wishes he could be pantser) consistency is rarely a problem.
Oh yeah I’m with you on the “letting it sit for a bit”. I didn’t start on this second re-write for about two years, and before that it was about eight years from draft to first re-write!
This time around I’m planning to take it easy and focus on the newborn for a while, and wait for the beta readers and editor’s reports back. By the time they all come home to roost I’ll have some fresh eyes, probably begging for a distraction from diapers 🙂
Only problem is, I’m too scared to send it to anyone until I’ve at least done SOME editing on it…
I use http://prowritingaid.com/en/Analysis/Editor# for that very reason, I find I worry less once I’ve got rid of the glaring errors. (I only use the free version, cos I’m cheap lol)
Well, congratulations on becoming a father (soon) and the book (not as soon, but still soon)!
As for the secret, the secret is there is no secret. Wait, no, the secret is that it’s a secret what the secret is. Wait, no that’s . . . the secret is definitely an editor.
Thanks mate! Yes indeed, both are on the way, though baby most definitely on a tighter schedule.
Ooo, oo! I has an editor! Wait, so I already knew the secret? I got it right for once. This is AMAZING