I just realized we’ve been doing the monthly check-ins for over a year now!
Last report wordcount + chapter count/scene count: 88,514 words and 36 chapters in NEVER VEIL 3 (first draft finished in November but first edits needed)
Current report WC + CC/ SC: 88,294 words and 36 chapters in NEVER VEIL 3 (doesn’t seem like much of a difference, but I added a few thousand words for an entire new scene and have also subtracted a few thousand words while reading it)
WIP Issues This Month: Ever since I went through the editorial wringer with my Month9 book, I’ve gotten better at editing–a good thing, naturally. But that means I’m applying lessons learned at this stage, my very first read-through of my draft, and it’s significantly slowed my pace. My biggest issue is I talk about where characters are looking or where their eyes are, in addition to having a few extra words like “I noticed…” I had to decrease those in NOBODY’S GODDESS and this time I’m trying to save my editor some work by addressing the bulk of them from the get-go right now. But man, I feel like I have to edit every other sentence!
Four things I learned this month in writing: 1. I find I have a lot of the same types of sentences if I’m looking for them.
2. It can be hard to balance the time you spend on your writing with all the work and other stuff you need to do–even when you’re really trying to fit it all in.
3. While writing and editing, you go through phases when you love your work and phases when you hate it. That’s normal, I assume!
4. Reviews coming in for your book are scary but exciting–and a great review can really make me happy!
What distracted me this month while writing: This was the end of January, but to update from last month, we really did enjoy ALA Midwinter and came back with so many books. (Have I read any yet? Nope! I had too many others I wanted to get to first.) I had work for a few new clients and it didn’t seem like I had time to edit as much as I’d like–and my “cheat” for squeezing editing in anywhere (doing it on my Kindle and jotting down notes on what to change) doesn’t work so well when you want to change every other sentence. 😛
We revealed the prologue for NOBODY’S GODDESS this month! If you missed it, check it out here.
Goal for next month: I have to finish these initial edits for NEVER VEIL 3 and send it off to my beta–which I honestly think I’ll be able to do this weekend, yay. Ideally, I’d even make her suggested changes to the draft by the end of March so I can turn it in to my publisher in April, but that’s just the earliest I can turn it in–I have until June if neither of us can get the work done fast enough. 😉 (I should have edited much sooner if I wanted to turn it in sooner!) I also have some proofreading to do for her on a project I betaed a few years ago, so there will be NO time or desire for writing this month.
Amy McNulty 
I used to love editing, but now I’m too focused on all the little mistakes to think about the big picture, ha. It can seem daunting, but you’ll get through it, one chapter at a time! My suggestion is to wait around a month after you’ve finished writing the draft and them just read it from beginning to end, taking notes about things you might need to change.
Ha, yeah… I hate seeing other writers say, “If you don’t write every day, you’re not a writer!” It’s hard for some of us to do.
Thank you! 🙂
I haven’t even gotten to editing and I have a lot of moments where I love my work, and a lot of other where I absolutely want to burn it all. So, I’m sure editing will be a nightmare for me–in addition to the fact that I have no earthly idea how the editing process should go.
I also really identify with what you’re saying about balance, I have a big ol’ problem with that, and like you, I’m legitimately trying.
Oooh and I loved your prologue for NOBODY’S GODDESS!!
Right? ^^; At least I’m not the only one who does that!
Yes to #1.
Yeah. I wish I could get some writing/editing in every day, but it doesn’t seem possible–and you have a lot more going on than me!
Thanks! 🙂 And you too!
Oh yes! It’s been a year of doing monthly check-ins, who knew?!! I’m really hoping we can do a full #wipmarathon sometime this year, maybe after Nano!
I’m right there with you on balance!! It’s so tough giving equal time to writing and other life stuff that needs to be done. But we’ll make it through! Slowly but surely.
So sorry I missed your prologue reveal! Just read it and I love the good old fantasy feel to it!
Good luck next month!
I’m glad I’m not alone at least!
Thanks–you too! 🙂
#3 – so much this! I have a constant love-hate relationship with all my works. It doesn’t ever go away, but I think it gets easier to manage once you realize it’s okay to love-hate your words 😉
Good luck with edits and all things writerly this month!
Ha, well, at least you have the love-ms to carry you through!
I sit in a desk chair with my Kindle with my laptop on my desk behind me. Making edits is just a matter of spinning around to face the computer screen! But when I’m on the go, I like doing it just by jotting down notes. That only really works toward the proofreading stage, though, when you’re not changing much.
Yeah! For a while I was sad I have nothing to query now, but I need to be in a clear frame of mind to start a new project!
Yes, the nitpicking. My favorite. *hacking cough* We definitely go through phases. I’m in a love phase on one right now and simultaneously going through a hate phase with another. Yay! ^_^
I tried editing on my kindle app with my last story. I ended up having to run to computer every time I got comfortable to fix something. Editing is part of the process. New stuff can wait. 🙂
Ha, yes. I used to be so excited about the first read-through because I was looking only at big issues and didn’t see these hundreds of small issues right in front of my face. ;-;
Thanks!
Since being published and going through the editing process, I’ve found I’m more critical in my first drafts and try to catch as many issues as I can in self-edits. It’s tricky not to let it creep into the first-drafting process and stop me moving forward, though!
It’s definitely normal to go through phases when you love your work and phases when you can’t stand the sight of it. Best of luck with those last edits! 🙂