I wandered into my local Dymocks store today and found the next two of Duncan Lay’s ‘The Dragon Sword Histories’ trilogy. Even better, both copies were pre-signed! I’m very happy about this and have already made a start into book two.
My short story for The Age competition is done to draft. I’m receiving lots of feedback from family and friends which is greatly appreciated and will tweak it accordingly over the next few days.
So, what’s next I hear you ask?
Well, after receiving the clear message from AussieCon to edit, edit and re-edit until my brain explodes, I plan to focus on editing ‘Impatience’. I actually picked up a draft copy (those who have one know what I mean) to flip through the other day as my brain was having withdrawals from finishing Duncan’s first book. I started off by reading a few chapters in a clinical non-emotional way. Before I knew it, I had read 60 pages and inevitably became emotional swept up by it all.
*Sigh*
I plan to knuckle down and re-work the manuscript performing the following activities in this specific order:
Section edits – fixing the many *ahem* assumptions to meet real life facts. For example, military ranks which I know very little about although my friend Lucas understands quite well from first hand experience.
Full edit – focusing on the plot, specifically looking for continuity errors. I need to whiteboard the story and use this to list out the entire timeline, which I am told needs some attention.
Full edit – focusing on the characters and adding a bit more depth and understanding at key plot points.
Full edit – looking for anything superfluous and or distracting which might annoy the reader.
Collapse in a heap!
Actually I will most likely distribute a series of drafts to the usual crew for further feedback. I have already ‘murdered two darlings’, that is to say removed superfluous content and reworked some continuity so the story is different already.
The one thing I am not prepared to do is put down timeframes. Due to the recent short story competitions of late, I have had enough of deadlines for a while.
