Okay, here's the deal. I just finished the first draft of a book, right? Much to the amusement of my family members, I started another one. First let me defend myself by saying I never edit a manuscript right after I finish a draft. I've learned I can't be objective that close to finishing. (And to defend my family, they're amused because I said I was taking a break, but they knew I wouldn't. Hence, a new book started days after I finish one is slightly amusing.)
The new book - codename: JA1 or JA Mystery - is cute and funny and it's flowing rather nicely. I zipped out a quick 4K plus words, and I've plotted the next few scenes. I know who dunnit and why. I know who's going to be pegged for the crime and how all the pieces of evidence will point their way EXCEPT for a small few the heroine will piece together to catch the real criminal. This one will be written as a stand-alone, but has huge series potential. HUGE.
So, that's all to the musical manuscripts? Ummm, not really. You see, I still have two OTHER books in draft stages that have to be finished. Blink - a speculative fiction (or futuristic dystopia, if you will - although that's not completely accurate either), and ARJ - a mystery that leans toward romantic suspense. Blink is much farther along and really only needs some post-critique cleaning up. ARJ is only finished with the very first draft.
Today I got back to working on Blink. I feel really bad about ignoring it for so long, but in the time since I finished the last draft and sent it off to my crew (Hi, guys! :waves:), I've also written the first drafts of two other books - the aforementioned ARJ and my newly completed R2L. On the upside, Blink has been out of the brain for long enough now, I can be totally objective looking at it. Another upside is that I still love it, I just love it enough to recognize it needs work.
Tada! Musical Manuscripts. For now, I'll juggle between the WIP and Blink - until I finish editing, finish writing or slowly go insane. (I thought my husband said he was committed to me, then I realized he said he was having me committed. LOL)
What are you up to? Ever play musical manuscripts?
The Long Trek Back
2 weeks ago
2 comments:
I do the same thing, although maybe not as many drafts going on at once. But I do try to write Book B before revising Book A. Those crits I wasn't ready to hear before suddenly seem intelligent and even easy once I have a few months to regain objectivity. =)
I'm not usually this scattered. Previously I liked to have one done before I started on the next one, but ideas have just been popping. Now I'm just juggling to keep moving ahead on everything without dropping anything. I tried doing more than one edit while I was writing a WIP, and failed miserably. I couldn't keep all those balls in the air at once. Now I edit one, and write one - and when I finish a draft, I change and edit a different book.
Post a Comment