Breaking silence...

So, it's been a while!

A belated Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to you all since I was last here. Nothing much has happened since my last post, except that the rewrites to CHASING RABBITS have finally begun, after leaving it sit for three months. It's slow going - I ended up trashing around 80% of the first draft, so the second draft is a series of slow, trembling steps as everything unfolds - but I'm very excited, and I think I've finally found my footing in the book.

The last major research I need is to retrieve all of my Victorian history books from my father's house, mostly for the little niggling details that I glossed over in the first draft so I could keep on going. Everything that needs to be changed or clarified is being noted as I go. This odd rewriting draft stage is where I do most of my major work. The first draft is the easy one for me to write; the second where I do most of my tapping and shaping, so I spend a lot of time rereading what I've written the day before and do some very obvious syntax and word changes. Then I read it out loud and do further changes to what doesn't sound right. It's very slow going - a finished chapter can take up to a week when things are going bad, but it means my second draft is 95% finished, before I do a quick third edit and send it to readers for opinions.

It's very odd that for this second draft, I do my best work in the mornings and early afternoons; I'm usually too tired in the evenings for the level of concentration I require for this. Yet in the first draft, I do some of my best work at night. I suppose it's the amount of brain-work the polishing requires, or, more likely, it's to do with my laziness. ;) Still, it's interesting to think about.

Signing off now.

Whoo hoo!

So I've spent the last few days staring at a brief outline of the end of the book. Most of my time has been spent drumming my fingers and trying to figure out what the hell was wrong with the ending - something just didn't sit right.

And then I browsed through the Tragic Villains post in absolutewrite and I suddenly figured it out: my antagonist's motivations were shallow, at best. I knew there was something under the surface; there had been enough hints scattered through, and I was so close to figuring it out. So I made a cup of tea and thought about it for a while, and then it all just popped into my head.

It's going to mean even more rewriting than what's already on my plate, but it's also going to flesh out my antagonist, which is always a good thing.

I also have three days off in a row next weeks, so I'm hoping to have a good lot of the rewriting done by the end of that time off. Whoo!

Insanity!

I can't really be getting excited about rewriting my book, can I?

It's official: I'm a freak of nature! Well, a writing freak of nature, at least.

Sub 01.1: result

Rejection. A nicer one than usual, though. I am somewhat heartened, though disappointed. I think I know what's missing from Sub 02, however, which is promising, and I have a new idea brewing.

I'll write a little more of the book, and then stop for the night. Important decision for the night: watch a cheesy film or finish Naomi Novik's fantastic Empire of Ivory?

Sub 02: result

Rejection. *sigh* I'm a little disappointed, I have to admit. Oh well. It needs a rewrite anyway, and I have my eye on a new place to submit to. The deadline isn't until near Christmas, so I can put it aside and come back to it with a fresh eye and still have enough time to tinker.

Still waiting on the result of sub 01.1. And I have two new short story ideas to play around with. I'll let them fester in my head for a while longer while I try to get another chunk of the book done.

Thesis is going to handed in next week. I'll be glad to see the back of it, to be honest. How did I ever think a thesis on vampire fiction would still be so interesting after weeks of working on it? Honestly.

I'm going to put on Hannah Fury's music and see if that will cheer me up. Possible start on Season 3 of House, too, or something. Perhaps even put on Phantom of the Opera; the cheesiness might just be what I need.

Breath like cloud puffs

Winter has suddenly dropped without warning. It's gone from reasonable autumn temperatures to feeling like December. I had to dig out my winter coat and scarf, and I have to buy a new hat and set of gloves as, in keeping with my yearly winter tradition, I somehow lost last year's set. Heh.

I was walking to the tram on my way to work this morning and my breath was forming little cloud puffs on the air. The air felt cool and crisp, and it seemed like Christmas was just around the corner. Things have changed a lot since this time last year, some good and some bad. I think I like the person I am now a lot more. I hope.

The book has gone past 30,000 words.

At least the weather is suiting my writing mood; I am heading towards the uphill slope that leads to the climax and the plunge down. The weather is also cold and frozen in this part of the book, and I can honestly say that right now I'm writing exactly what I'm feeling. :)

The state of sub 01.1

The novel has gone past 21k. :) And I received some new information on the state of sub 01.1. Work is slightly stressful, as is my thesis, but otherwise, life is good right now.