Nine Draft 5 is done.

I’m going to let it sit for a couple of weeks then read it over for the final final polish.

I just re-read and made some changes to the final chapter. I still like it a lot, which is unusual for me since I usually want the story to end (so I can stop revising!). There’s a bit of sadness but a sense of hope and the character arc, especially for Eve, who really has to change the most throughout the story. I really think the ending fits the story perfectly.

Condensed a 100k novel into a 2 page-long synopsis, double-spaced, TNR 13. (It’s a one-pager if I single-space it.)

I had an eureka moment last night when I was just thinking about the third act. It’s been giving me fits because I wasn’t sure how to proceed. Not that I didn’t know what needed to happen, but none of the characters were cooperating. They were acting weird or something.

Finally, I realized that I had wrong characters doing wrong things in wrong locations. No wonder they didn’t want to do it. Eeek!

Anyway, gotta go back and fix things. Wish me luck.

As much as I love discovering new character motivation, etc., it does become rather unnerving / annoying (?) when several key supporting characters all decide to change, which then forces me to rewrite most of what I’ve written already.

But the upside is that I think it’ll make my story stronger and reinforce one of the subthemes in the book.

As for KIA and 70 Days of Sweat, I haven’t written a single word (or revised really) since I’m still trying to see where those characters want to go and making notes. My revision list is getting very long right now.

How’s everyone else doing?

I’m still alive, Tanya!

I’ve been a bit busy. Had several dinners to go to, etc. Was very nice. And yeah, I had to work on my book / world-building. And I’m trying to exercise more regularly.

BTW — I signed up to do the second round of 70 Days of Sweat. Anyone else?

Another BTW — My crit group is looking for maybe two more new members. We already accepted a couple, but would like more. Check out the group rules and feel free to apply.

% Completed: 100%

I’m done with Nine second draft. It took much longer than I expected, but I’m happy with it so far. I’m already bursting with more ideas and new twists to add to the story. I’m even thinking about rewriting the opening to make it not only more dramatic, but to put the heroine in a very difficult position of being blamed for something she didn’t do. I think it’s going to give more of emotional resonance early on. Nine’s a very challenging project for me because there are so many threads and I’m working with a lot of characters and multiple 3rd person POVs, and I want each of them to sound unique and really reflect the POV character’s personality and attitude. Besides, it’s the first project of mine to have elements of science fiction (futuristic setting) and there’s a lot to be fleshed out. And I’m much more aware of the overall themes and structure of the story. Quite an interesting development because I wasn’t this conscious of everything when working on The Last Slayer.

But the thing that makes it so challenging is that I’m trying to improve on all aspects of storytelling techniques I learned from writing The Last Slayer and add several new ones to my toolbox. That way Nine will be so much better than The Last Slayer.

BTW — I got the full request for Carnal Secrets from Harlequin Presents!!!! Yay! I was debating whether or not to follow-up on the partial because it’s been over four months, but I didn’t because I figured I’d wait some more. I’m reading it over one more time before mailing it to UK.

Recently, my lower back pain’s been killing me. I think it’s okay now though.

I read a couple of books, ordered some more. Irritatingly enough, I think AmazonJP screwed up something because they priced some MMPB over $15!!!!!! I’m not paying that much for it. I draw line at paying $10 for it, which I do right now. (I’m talking USD here.) That’s why, if you note, I don’t just buy any book indiscriminately because I just don’t feel comfortable with that. I want to be fairly sure I’m going to enjoy it or find it educational before shelling out $10 for a MMPB.

The weather in Japan is atrociously hot and humid. But at least we don’t have typhoons or anything.

Nine’s going fine, although I’m not sure if I will be able to enter Golden Heart with it. Basically I don’t want to enter it if the ms isn’t ready. Since it’s so expensive to enter, it seems silly to submit less than perfectly polished work. Also my ultimate decision is going to depend on the result of my first agent hunting, which is also going well so far.

One thing I noticed so far is that just like agents remember nice courteous writers, I do remember agents who responded fast and courteously. By that I don’t mean request only or personalized rejections or whatever. I mean their response is professionally delivered, whether it be a request for more, form rejection or personalized rejection.

I also remember agents who don’t respond to equeries. It is a bit annoying if their submission guidelines don’t mention that they only respond to queries they like. After five weeks, I cross out their names from my list. There isn’t even any point in resending or getting angsty or mad. Life’s too short. But you bet I’ll remember it.

I finished Nine 1st draft!!!!! Yay me!

(This makes it four days ahead of schedule!)

progress: 345/ 400 (pages)

My hands are killing me, and my wrists feel like they’re about to spontaneously combust, but I got so much done this week.

I’m sorry I haven’t been updating my blog very regularly. With my wrist pain, etc. I had to stay away from typing too much–okay, typing and not working on my WIP.

I feel unbelievably tired, but at the same time feel proud that I’m so close to being done with Nine. I like the story, but it’s been giving me a lot of trouble, especially the ending, so I feel superbly thrilled.

BTW — I bought refills for Pilot EasyGrip pens because they write very smoothly and I like the way they feel in my hand. But after long-hand writing sixteen typed pages’ worth of ms, my hand is completely numb! Oi.