On schedule…
Finished the latest edit of the book this morning, which is good. Still on target to have reviewable drafts before my birthday (I said I wanted to do this before I’m 40, so I’m cutting it close). Starting tomorrow, I will begin writing the next project , and starting to research the second novel (sorry, unsuspecting m4m people on Craigslist), while giving myself the Stephen King-recommended six weeks between drafts.
I got this draft down to 692 pages (from 760 or somesuch), and shaved about 30,000ish words off of it, so good progress. I am still rather amazed by the lazy notes in it, as though it was written in such a hurried, scattered pace as to not allow time for research, which I know was not true. There was lots of bold notation such as “Look up other obesity-related sleep disorders for this section,” so the question is always how I had time to write that, but not just Google the damn things and fix them then.
But, in any event, the current draft has no notations or placeholders. It is complete. Also, I should point out that the 692 pages is based on Courier, 14pt, so when that comes down to the 11pt world, it would probably shave some pages, as well.
Was interesting reading the ending today, which is not how the book will end in the next draft. It took me a while to realize the way the book now ends in my head was not going to happen in this draft. I didn’t change it up, though, because I wanted to preserve this draft as its own entity. While I think this ending is very satisfying, it ties everything up with pretty bows a bit too much, which I want to resist. I hate Hollywood for doing that all the time, so I can’t join them when I’m at the wheel.
Of course, I think my intended ending for the next draft is still satisfying, just a bit more open-ended. I like art that leaves itself open for discussion afterward, leaving people to wondering what will happen next for these characters after my text ends.
And, to celebrate finishing the novel, I’ll see Crowded House live at The Fillmore tonight and tomorrow night. Good timing on that, makes it more of a celebration now.
