“Betrayal” – the penultimate final draft – Day 6

I’m sure I’ve been down this road more than once, and with the same novel, but whereas the last edit, which was probably the second or third, finished up in the pile, then forgotten.

I’m doing an active update to all my works in progress, and sending them to the editor, after going through the manuscript once again, with a view to publishing.  Hopefully, before the year is out.

The first section or part is done. I think.

I had intended it to be longer, but as it pans out what follows belongs to the second part, and I have begun working on this.

There are 8 chapters so far in Part One.

This may change depending on what happens in the second part.

Of course, there are moments while I’m working on this part, and checking the plan, I can see a fork in the road coming up. It feels quirky, but then I just dropped a huge plot twist and will play this out and see what happens.

At the same time, after completing my day’s quota, I have to resist the urge to write more, but that’s just a fear in the back of my mind that I might run out of words and be staring at a blank page tomorrow.

So, looking at the plan, the third section looks like it will need a rework, and I’m playing around with several angles that might be pursued.

I think it’s time to stop overthinking it.

“Betrayal” – the penultimate final draft – Day 6

I’m sure I’ve been down this road more than once, and with the same novel, but whereas the last edit, which was probably the second or third, finished up in the pile, then forgotten.

I’m doing an active update to all my works in progress, and sending them to the editor, after going through the manuscript once again, with a view to publishing.  Hopefully, before the year is out.

The first section or part is done. I think.

I had intended it to be longer, but as it pans out what follows belongs to the second part, and I have begun working on this.

There are 8 chapters so far in Part One.

This may change depending on what happens in the second part.

Of course, there are moments while I’m working on this part, and checking the plan, I can see a fork in the road coming up. It feels quirky, but then I just dropped a huge plot twist and will play this out and see what happens.

At the same time, after completing my day’s quota, I have to resist the urge to write more, but that’s just a fear in the back of my mind that I might run out of words and be staring at a blank page tomorrow.

So, looking at the plan, the third section looks like it will need a rework, and I’m playing around with several angles that might be pursued.

I think it’s time to stop overthinking it.

“Betrayal” – the penultimate final draft – Day 5

I’m sure I’ve been down this road more than once, and with the same novel, but whereas the last edit, which was probably the second or third, finished up in the pile, then forgotten.

I’m doing an active update to all my works in progress, and sending them to the editor, after going through the manuscript once again, with a view to publishing.  Hopefully, before the year is out.

Remember a few days ago I was looking at a separate first part, and that will be the case. It was not what I originally planned, but it is a work in progress.

Now, having worked on the next part, this is now developing into a section of its own too, and will serve as an introduction to the second main character. I had planned it differently, but this is better.

This section is starting to better than what I’d originally written, which is a good sign, because I’m at over 2,000 words for the day, and the scene isn’t done yet.

But, I’m taking a step back, just in case I jinx myself.

Later…

Sitting staring at the ceiling and looking ahead, a few notes for what’s coming vs. what I planned, and the work so far will form part two.

Part three is going to be the main story, where the two main characters come together, more through the circumstances of their first meeting than something that was consciously planned.

“Betrayal” – the penultimate final draft – Day 5

I’m sure I’ve been down this road more than once, and with the same novel, but whereas the last edit, which was probably the second or third, finished up in the pile, then forgotten.

I’m doing an active update to all my works in progress, and sending them to the editor, after going through the manuscript once again, with a view to publishing.  Hopefully, before the year is out.

Remember a few days ago I was looking at a separate first part, and that will be the case. It was not what I originally planned, but it is a work in progress.

Now, having worked on the next part, this is now developing into a section of its own too, and will serve as an introduction to the second main character. I had planned it differently, but this is better.

This section is starting to better than what I’d originally written, which is a good sign, because I’m at over 2,000 words for the day, and the scene isn’t done yet.

But, I’m taking a step back, just in case I jinx myself.

Later…

Sitting staring at the ceiling and looking ahead, a few notes for what’s coming vs. what I planned, and the work so far will form part two.

Part three is going to be the main story, where the two main characters come together, more through the circumstances of their first meeting than something that was consciously planned.

“Betrayal” – the penultimate final draft – Day 4

I’m sure I’ve been down this road more than once, and with the same novel, but whereas the last edit, which was probably the second or third, finished up in the pile, then forgotten.

I’m doing an active update to all my works in progress, and sending them to the editor, after going through the manuscript once again, with a view to publishing.  Hopefully, before the year is out.

I’m still working on the start and it’s editing itself, so the time I spent on preparation is paying off.

I have a spare hour or two after editing the chapter and start thinking about the start of the next section. I had some hastily scribbled notes on how I think I wanted it to run, but it’s a bit wordy and needs to follow the start.

I’m going to throw the second main character in the deep end, and break his story slowly, in a series of memories. Nothing better than to be dodging bullets in the first sentence. Maybe. I’m having second thoughts about the bullets.

Maybe not, but there will be something or someone to contend with.

But, back to the start. It’s not going to be the usual interaction between the two characters, and I’m still a little unsure if the fate of either will be as I originally planned. There’s a chance something will change, but, as we all know, that might make something else planned for later, change.

Let me sleep on it, and see what I think in the morning.

“Betrayal” – the penultimate final draft – Day 4

I’m sure I’ve been down this road more than once, and with the same novel, but whereas the last edit, which was probably the second or third, finished up in the pile, then forgotten.

I’m doing an active update to all my works in progress, and sending them to the editor, after going through the manuscript once again, with a view to publishing.  Hopefully, before the year is out.

I’m still working on the start and it’s editing itself, so the time I spent on preparation is paying off.

I have a spare hour or two after editing the chapter and start thinking about the start of the next section. I had some hastily scribbled notes on how I think I wanted it to run, but it’s a bit wordy and needs to follow the start.

I’m going to throw the second main character in the deep end, and break his story slowly, in a series of memories. Nothing better than to be dodging bullets in the first sentence. Maybe. I’m having second thoughts about the bullets.

Maybe not, but there will be something or someone to contend with.

But, back to the start. It’s not going to be the usual interaction between the two characters, and I’m still a little unsure if the fate of either will be as I originally planned. There’s a chance something will change, but, as we all know, that might make something else planned for later, change.

Let me sleep on it, and see what I think in the morning.

“Betrayal” – the penultimate final draft – Day 3

I’m sure I’ve been down this road more than once, and with the same novel, but whereas the last edit, which was probably the second or third, finished up in the pile, then forgotten.

I’m doing an active update to all my works in progress, and sending them to the editor, after going through the manuscript once again, with a view to publishing.  Hopefully, before the year is out.

Overnight I had a brainstorm. You know how it is when you start editing, you get to the end of a chapter, and thoughts turn to the next chapter, or, quite possibly the overall structure of the book.

This part I’m working on now seems to lend itself to a separate section, and I’m tentatively calling this Part One, it will deal with a specific set of events that will lead into the start of the main story, which, at the moment will seem like we’re in a different world.

But that’s the inevitable situation when you are charting the two major characters, one who comes from the very sort of background the other aspires to get into. When we pick up his character, it’s in a place he never expected to be and has to try and move on from there.

However, I’m not even ready to edit that part of the story, and I have to get my mind back in the current game and come back to that later.

The trouble is my mind is not going to stop fretting about it, and I hope it doesn’t affect what I’m trying to edit now.

Ok, Chapter Five…

“Betrayal” – the penultimate final draft – Day 3

I’m sure I’ve been down this road more than once, and with the same novel, but whereas the last edit, which was probably the second or third, finished up in the pile, then forgotten.

I’m doing an active update to all my works in progress, and sending them to the editor, after going through the manuscript once again, with a view to publishing.  Hopefully, before the year is out.

Overnight I had a brainstorm. You know how it is when you start editing, you get to the end of a chapter, and thoughts turn to the next chapter, or, quite possibly the overall structure of the book.

This part I’m working on now seems to lend itself to a separate section, and I’m tentatively calling this Part One, it will deal with a specific set of events that will lead into the start of the main story, which, at the moment will seem like we’re in a different world.

But that’s the inevitable situation when you are charting the two major characters, one who comes from the very sort of background the other aspires to get into. When we pick up his character, it’s in a place he never expected to be and has to try and move on from there.

However, I’m not even ready to edit that part of the story, and I have to get my mind back in the current game and come back to that later.

The trouble is my mind is not going to stop fretting about it, and I hope it doesn’t affect what I’m trying to edit now.

Ok, Chapter Five…

“Betrayal” – the penultimate final draft – Day 2

I’m sure I’ve been down this road more than once, and with the same novel, but whereas the last edit, which was probably the second or third, finished up in the pile, then forgotten.

I’m doing an active update to all my works in progress, and sending them to the editor, after going through the manuscript once again, with a view to publishing.  Hopefully, before the year is out.

Finally, the ship got clear of the wharf, avoided a collision with a barge that strayed a little too close, and had me as captain of the Titanic, worried about people drawing parallels with the barge becoming an iceberg.

But…

I got the first two chapters done, more or less as I wanted them, but, as you would expect, once you start editing, there are minor shifts in the way it plays out.

It’s fine, however, and I’m not going to change it.

The story is running according to the script, and it worries me. You know how it goes, everything’s great until the engines break down.

Perhaps I should be more optimistic rather than pessimistic.

But, sadly, not so much written today as I’d hoped.

Smoother seas tomorrow one hopes!

“Betrayal” – the penultimate final draft – Day 2

I’m sure I’ve been down this road more than once, and with the same novel, but whereas the last edit, which was probably the second or third, finished up in the pile, then forgotten.

I’m doing an active update to all my works in progress, and sending them to the editor, after going through the manuscript once again, with a view to publishing.  Hopefully, before the year is out.

Finally, the ship got clear of the wharf, avoided a collision with a barge that strayed a little too close, and had me as captain of the Titanic, worried about people drawing parallels with the barge becoming an iceberg.

But…

I got the first two chapters done, more or less as I wanted them, but, as you would expect, once you start editing, there are minor shifts in the way it plays out.

It’s fine, however, and I’m not going to change it.

The story is running according to the script, and it worries me. You know how it goes, everything’s great until the engines break down.

Perhaps I should be more optimistic rather than pessimistic.

But, sadly, not so much written today as I’d hoped.

Smoother seas tomorrow one hopes!