For anyone that’s been following my novel-in-the-works, I have exciting news: I’VE FINISHED MY ROUGH DRAFT! Hooray! Three months of writing, 232 pages typed, and 127,000 words written. Phew!
Since finishing, I’ve been drawing like crazy, and planning out my next projects, trying to get my mind off of my novel, so that I can look at it again with fresh eyes. So, here it goes. My wife and I printed out a copy the other day and I’ve started reading. I’m reading for big picture stuff. I’m keeping a handful of questions in the back of my mind as I read. Does it make sense? Do I follow-through on storylines and subplots? Are the characters consistent? Is the language appropriate? Things like that. I don’t want to over-analyze the writing, and I don’t want to judge it. I’m noticing what’s been written. I’m making little notes as they come to me, but am mostly reading at this point.
Already I can feel the weight of what I’m up against. The work that still needs to be done. It’s encouraging, though, to know that it’s all been written and I just have to refine it. I read somewhere that writing a novel is like driving at night. The headlights show the road, but only so many feet in front of you. It’s by looking those few feet at a time that you are finally able to arrive.
I’ve always wanted to write a novel, always had ideas for books and stories, but it’s taken me until now to finish a rough draft. With the help of a few friends and a supportive wife, I feel my like headlights will be enough to see me through the next step.
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