Hello everyone! I hope you are all having good luck with your writing projects. I am just about done with amending my outline/plan and should be ready to start revising ACT 1 of draft three tomorrow. Taking what was once a two POV manuscript and switching it to one is going to be an interesting challenge, but I think I have cracked the code. I am actually quite excited to dive into this mini re-write I am doing of the first act. And now, with my work obligations dwindling, I will have more time to devote to my writing.

However, even though I am switching to one POV, I took some time the past few days to nail down what my other former “main character” is doing throughout the story. I want to know his reaction to things, how he thinks and feels during certain scenes. Thankfully, I have a handful of chapters written in his POV to help me out.

I am still hoping to have this draft completed by the end of the summer so I can start sending it to beta readers in September or October. I would love to have the whole thing completed by Spring 2022, but it really depends upon the response of my beta readers. I know I will need a few more drafts after this one, but I do not believe they will be as involved as this one is. I have FINALLY nailed down the story beats. Maybe the plot needs a bit tweaking here and there, but I would really like draft four to focus on scene structure. Once I get that down, then drafts five and six will likely focus on more minor details like dialogue and description. Hopefully I can get through those drafts rather quickly. I know writing is something that you cannot rush, but I am excited about this story and would really like to get the ball rolling on the publishing process. But I know that will all be for naught, if I do not have a good product. So that is why I am putting in a lot of work in this third draft to nail down the story so future drafts will go by a lot smoother.

My goals for the coming week: get at least three chapters of Act 1 rewritten. If I can do that, I should be on pace to break into Act 2 at some point in early July. Then maybe take all of July for Act 2 and August/September For Acts 3 and 4. Act 2 is the chunk of the novel I am most nervous to write, but outlining has helped tremendously and I cannot wait to get started.

Until next time, kill your darlings, slay your dragons, and keep writing.