Rough drafts -R- us!
So I have the rough draft of Stormy Weather done and off to a few readers. This is the first time I've rewritten a book I'd written before from the ground up, and I have to say it's an odd experience. Going in, I felt like I had a pretty good handle on the characters so I thought it wouldn't be too tough. Once I got going, though, I realized I didn't know them as well as I thought I did. I delved deeper and stretched myself. Undoubtedly the book is better this go around, and it'll improve even more once I get feedback from some readers. It's good to see that I've improved in the past four years. Oddly, the writing itself hasn't gotten much easier--learning more about the craft means you are more aware of the pitfalls and such. You'd think that would make them easier to avoid, but that's not the case.
Lest you think I'm resting on my laurels, here's what's on my plate for the next few weeks:
Writing a few short stories
Reading/critiquing for a novel workshop in mid-June
Sketching out plot ideas for my YA World Domination novel
Knitting Christmas gifts
And somewhere in there I have to, you know, live a life.
Lest you think I'm resting on my laurels, here's what's on my plate for the next few weeks:
Writing a few short stories
Reading/critiquing for a novel workshop in mid-June
Sketching out plot ideas for my YA World Domination novel
Knitting Christmas gifts
And somewhere in there I have to, you know, live a life.