I’m in a bit of a rush right now so this will be quick.
A couple of weeks ago I made a big announcement that I had completed my new manuscript. Well, never mind.
In my exuberance, not to mention impatience, I made that statement before I heard the comments of one of my trusted readers. Well, they don’t call them “trusted readers” for nothing. I do trust this woman and so when she said my novel seemed like a tapestry with some threads missing, I listened to her. Indeed, the book was all there — mostly — but I hadn’t gone through and made sure all my threads were tightly woven, that each theme was mentioned and present throughout. You can’t ask a reader to feel strongly about something if you only mention it once 75 pages earlier. Hmmm. So I’ve spent the past two days starting at the beginning and restitching, so to speak. Adding little reminders here, little mentions there, pulling it all together. It’s been interesting and, actually, fun. Reading something all together, all in one go (or as close as possible) is incredibly helpful. For me, it’s the only way to see when things have gotten dropped and when new things appear out of nowhere. I should be finished tomorrow, and then on facebook and twitter I’ll make a new proclamation. And on here, I’ll update my meter to show a completed work with well over 80,000 words. And then…and then…the fun begins. Sending it out. Seeing what will come of it. Being at this point a second time around is a whole new feeling. It makes me think it would be a good time to look back and revisit the roller coaster of publishing Tangled Roots. Yes, I think I may do that next week.
But for now, goodnight. I’m off tomorrow to the launch of a new poetry anthology in support of The Cold Weather Shelter Project that I am most pleased to be a part of. I’m thrilled to know that my poetry will lie within the same covers as that by such important poets as Sampson, Hacker, Brownjohn, among others. Thanks to the wonderful poet, Ruth O’Callaghan, for being the guiding light behind the creation of this book and the support of this important program. Come along if you can: 6.30 for 7 pm Friday, 18 September United Reform Church, 1 Buck Street, Camden, London. Oh, and poets from the floor are welcome.
Oops. Gotta’ run….
Well, Sue, many, many, congrats on completing the final lap. That is the satisfying part.
Still, editing as ‘fun’?
Okay, maybe I’ll just about buy that as long as you end up where you want to be with the finished product.
But sending it out as fun?
Nope, you can’t sell me that one.
Sending it out as hassle and as boring waiting period, that’s how I see that part!
It sounds like you’re at an exciting stage with the novel. Good luck.
It’s great that you have someone trusted that you can turn to and it sounds like you have been given some very good advice!!
Ooohh, I can’t wait to read it…especially since I’ve visited Cambodia!!
C x
Hope you enjoy the anthology launch, Sue. And many congratulations on reaching this point with your novel – another really significant achievement. x
I love the “clean-up” stage.There is a bit of fun in the sending out stage too- the gamble of it is fun. Who’s going to take it? What are they going to say? What do I get? I actually like the waiting I feel like there’s a lucky packet out there in the cosmos waiting for me. It’s one of my favourite things about this job.
Joe: Okay, busted! But I am determined to be cheerful and cautiously optimistic. It’s just gotten too boring to be otherwise. Call me naive….Btw, diod I tell you how much I loved your book? I finished it right before I left for the summer and fear I forgot to tell you. Can’t wait for more, now (and I usually don’t even read your genre of stuff).
Helen, Carol, Susan: Thanks so much for the encouragement. Ever onward, eh?
Lauri: I am surprisingly excited, I must admit. you’d think I’d know better 🙂