Spent most of last week in Denver, so progress was minimal. I did manage to begin a detailed read-through on Petra, although I didn’t get as far as I would like. However, I’m encouraged by what I’ve read. The basic structure seems pretty sound. The opening is tad slow, but what else is new? There are ways to fix that, and I don’t think I’ll need to do any major overhauls, as I did with “Gone Black.” So I’m hopeful that I can finish a rewrite in a relatively short time.
That verdict could change as I get further into this, of course, but I doubt it. Then again, I am still waiting on one reader’s comments . . .
That verdict could change as I get further into this, of course, but I doubt it. Then again, I am still waiting on one reader’s comments . . .
I’ve had occasion over the past week to reflect a bit more on the way I was able to churn out the first draft so quickly, without any kind of outline, or even a reasonable idea of where the story would end up. And as I’ve said before, it all comes down to knowing my characters pretty well. I realize this isn’t an earth-shattering conclusion, but as time passes, I become more and more convinced that it’s the most important lesson I learned from the first draft of Petra.
Now I’m putting that lesson to the test. I have another short story to work on, which I need to complete before I head to Dragon*Con at the end of the month. Toward that end, I’m trying figure out who my protagonist is and what he wants. Once I know that, I think (hope) the rest will go smoothly.
So for now, it’s read-through on the novel and note-making on the short story. And I have to somehow figure out how to do those two things concurrently. Have I mentioned that I’m utter crap at multitasking?
You know, I think I probably have.
No updates for Write Club.
Later daze . . .
