Progress Report

Today seems to be Work in Progress (WIP) Wednesday. Who knew? I sure didn't until a few of the blogs I follow posted updates.

So, in the vein of WIP . . . I'm through Chapter Twenty-three of editing the next project I want to query sometime before time stands still and the Elves return to Middle Earth. Yes, I have one project currently out to query. In the meantime, I've completed three other rough drafts and have begun the editing process of the one I want to query next. Woo-hoo.

My editing process goes in phases: edit, set aside, read again, edit, set aside, read again, edit . . . and so on, and so on, and so on until I finally decide I'm ready to start the query process. FYI - this can take quite a few years, because my muses (that dreaded Inspiration) likes to strike when I least expect. When that happens, I stop editing, follow the creativity to wherever it might lead me, and know that some sort of editing is always waiting for me. It's kind of a nice feeling.

Oh, did I mention that in my current edit mode I discovered I had two Chapter Twenty-twos?? Oh, yes I did. Now the answer is fairly simple: when I was almost through with the first draft, I decided to switch things up a bit, went back, added a chapter here and there, and then slowly went through (so I mistakenly thought) and updated all the chapter numbers. Well, I was so very wrong on that count. Now, as I continue the edit process, I will update my chapter numbers once again. Sigh.

I try to edit at least one chapter per night, and multiple chapters each weekend day. Some nights I do more than one chapter. I do have a life (well, I call it a life, but some might beg to differ) after all, I need a break from my writing every now and then. Also, the boyz are quite insistent on their bonding time lately. I've finally gotten Jesse to master 'shake' . . . well, on his terms, not mine. James, on the other paw, is great at 'shake' and is learning 'high-five'. The next trick is wave 'bye-bye'. I think I'm stopping at 'shake' with Jesse. He's too darn cute for his own good, and he's also too darn stubborn. : ) So, I write, I edit, I bond with the cats and the dogs, I spend time with my partner, and I try to read every now and then. I try for balance, and just hope for the best.

S

p.s. Jesse (blue collar) is to the left and James (red collar) is to the right. James has a tendency to smack Jesse down when they're standing side by side. I think it's jealous, because Jesse is so dang cute.