After some fits and starts, I am now officially embarked on the actual rewrite of Petra Released. As confirmation, here’s Magic Meter:
Alert readers may remember that I had already done a revision of the first three chapters last year. I’m revising those chapters again in the light of some feedback I’ve received. I always knew they were too expository. So I’m dumping a lot of the stuff intended to "catch up" readers who hadn’t read the first novel. It wasn’t working, anyway. We’ll try it this way and see what happens.
I’m working in some other stuff, too. For example, my protagonist’s character arc in this novel was kinda flat. I have a better handle on him now, I think. I’m looking forward to rounding him out.
I also had an idea inspired by last week’s report. If you’ll recall, I had noted that the plot line needing significant revision was entirely self-contained. It occurred to me that I can actually skip over those chapters for now, and focus on them after I’ve gotten the rest of the novel fixed up. This should give me a lot of momentum going into the heavier revisions, and will also give me more time to ruminate on those changes.
So that’s the plan. A bit of a departure for me, this; I usually write and revise the novel in order. Stretching again. It’s all good.
In writing-related news:
Air fare has dropped precipitously, so I booked my flight to Montreal for WorldCon. And while I was at it, I bought my membership. As a bonus, my passport came in the mail today–an mere ten days after I applied for it. Well done, State Department. Well done, indeed.
Tax guy came over last Saturday. I thought 2008 was going to be my first year turning a profit at the writing, thanks to a couple of good-sized checks–but mileage to and from last year’s WorldCon and MileHiCon ended up being more than I had suspected. <sigh> Someday, I’ll get to pay taxes on my profits. Someday . . .
And on that dreamy note, I leave you.
