Hello! It’s April (where did March go?!) and time for an update!
Last time I posted I had just handed in a big round of developmental edits for my debut novel, All We Have is Time, had some company coming on the horizon, and had failed pretty hard at that work life balance thing. So, how’s it going now?
That big round of edits was a success, and I’ve been moved on to line edits! That means that all the pieces of my book are where they’re supposed to be, and we can move on to editing line level things, like how many times I used the word back (Hint: too many). This feels like major progress! The end is in sight!
I also had a birthday in March! I turned 42, the age I’ll be when my debut novel gets published!
My book comes out in less than a year! It somehow feels like a long time away still and not enough time to get everything done that needs to get done. As a debut, there is so much that I’m sure I don’t even know I don’t know.
WIP progress is slooooow. I haven’t touched it since November, when I left it off at about a quarter finished. I wrote about 1,500 words on it last week, but it was hard to switch gears back into that book’s world. Instead of forcing it, I spent the two weeks I’m waiting for new line edits catching up on my to do list and making a writing schedule to get this first draft done, after line edits on my debut are handed back. I’ve deiced to start with a read through of what I’ve written so far so I can re-acquaint myself with the story before moving forward. I’m really excited to see how it takes shape!
My little Substack is still chugging along. I’m not sure if anyone is following along each week, but I’ll keep putting my lessons out there for anyone who has ever wanted to write a book but didn’t know where to start.
Even if you missed the first lessons about character development, it’s not too late to join in — we’ve just started covering plotting using index cards and turning points. And if you’re not writing along with us but are curious to see how I plot my books, check it out!
I had a bit of a reading slump, and have discovered that I like to read more than one book at a time! I’ve flipped between audio and physical books before, or have had a fiction and a non-fiction, but this is the first time I’ve had mutliple fiction books going at the same time. I think sometimes it’s not that I don’t feel like reading at all (though sometimes it is), it’s that I’m not in the mood for a particular book. I like having a few options, but not too many, or else I get overwhelmed and paralyzed.
I had a work life balance win with my line edits! Granted, these edits were less extensive than my developmental edit, but still, I’ll take it! I set up my deadline and schedule to make sure I was done with edits before my sister came to visit, so I didn’t have to work on them at all while she was here.
I’ve also restructured my calendar to block off smaller chunks of writing time in the future, broken up by reminders to eat lunch or go for a walk. So, instead of blocking out 4 hours to write, I’ll block off 2, then a break for exercise or food, and then another 2 hours after the break. I find this helps my creativity, and I hope will help me keep some of that balance (and get me out of my chair!)
I’m also excited to say I signed up for my very first writer’s conference! I plan to take as many classes as I can and maybe make some new local writer friends, too.
And last but certainly not least, I went to see Snow Patrol in concert in Denver with my sister and it was such a great time!
Too bad going to see the band that plays music that inspires your WIP doesn’t count as a business expense. (It totally should, along with coffee and candles!)
That about sums up my March! I hope you found some good things in yours as well.
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