Monday 25 August 2008

Happy Drizzly Bank Holiday Monday

So much for that great weather on Saturday, it lasted about two hours. Now, having just walked the dog on the beach through fine drizzle, so typical of our Bank Holiday weather, I now see that the sun is trying to break through.

The plus side to having the first week of my holiday with pretty non-descript weather is that I'm now over a third of the way through novel #4. I'm also working on the amendments to my NWS submission. It's always so much easier to get on with it when the weather is dismal and no one else in the family feels like going out either.

The 'almost there' part of my report requires quite a bit of thinking and work. My reader also suggested that:
- I remove two minor characters - Still to do, but working on it.
- Remove one chapter as it doesn't really move the story forward - Done.
- Make various small corrections - Done.
- There is a part of the book where the protagonist finds out something about the hero - I need to tweak this a bit. I'm thinking this through, but not quite there with it yet.

I've re-read the report and have to admit that I do agree with everything that's in it. It's wonderful to have something so detailed and useful, especially as I seem to be going in the right direction. Quelle relief.

18 comments:

Lane Mathias said...

When I first clicked on your post I thought Grumpy had been speared!!

Sounds like fairly painless changes to make to you NWS sub. Happy tweaking on this rather grey Bank Holiday:-)

Pacha said...

Sounds like you've been very productive! Oh! To be 'almost there'! That is so exciting. So pleaed your reader turned out to be so helpful!

Yvonne said...

The review does sound very specific and not a huge overhawl, delighted for you. Sounds like you've got loads done, can't wait to read it!

Jenny Beattie said...

Raining, eh? Bank holiday too? Husband's in the UK today - lucky him having a bank holiday - even a rainy one.

Amanda said...

I thought it was supposed to be a really sunny Bank Holiday Monday - we are supposed to be having a BBQ - under shelter me thinks! :-)

HelenMWalters said...

At least the weather has made you amazingly productive. It must be so nice to know you're going in the right direction as well.

Deborah Carr (Debs) said...

lane - lol, he does look like he's been pierced, doesn't he?

It's not as bad as I was expecting, I just need to get on with it.

pacha - my reader was extremely helpful, and I'm most grateful.

yvonne - it was lovely for the report to be so specific, makes such a difference when you're trying to figure out how to improve it.

jj - the weather is not madly thrilling, but at least we're not at work today.

annie bright - I think it's supposed to cheer up as the week goes on.

Hope you have a lovely bbq today.

helenmh - It's certainly helped me to focus, and knowing what I'm supposed to be doing does help so much.

Pat Posner said...

Sounds as if you've done a lot already on the NWS sub, Debs!
Good luck with the rest of the changes; I bet those 2 minor characters can be saved to take part - or star - in another novel.
Can you re-submit when you've completed the changes?

Marcie Steele said...

Oh to walk a dog along the beach nearby! Actually oh to walk a dog at all at the moment. Flynn can't go out until 5 September when all his injections are up to date. So he has to stay in when we take Mack out :(

Congrats on the report Debs and well done for getting productive with it. This chipping away all the time is what makes it happen, what makes dreams come true. xx

Unknown said...

It sounds like good progress to me.

Carol said...

Sounds like your stomping ahead with all your writerly projects. Well done....not an easy thing to do so I'm going to say 'Horrah for crappy weather'

C x

Ps. Please don't shoot me for saying that!!

Karen said...

Love that photo!

Sounds like you're going great guns with the writing - it really does help having someone point out things that need changing :o)

Deborah Carr (Debs) said...

pat - I have done quite a bit but I've got some thinking to do regarding the end and am not sure exactly how to do it at the moment.

I would have to wait for next year to resubmit, but will sent it out to agents when I feel I've done all that I can with it, then hope for the best.

l-plate - it's such a shame when you have to wait to take them out, he's so gorgeous though, I bet he'll love his walks when 5th Sept arrives.

I think you're right and I'll just keep on chipping away for as long as it takes. x

chad aaron sayban - I'm slowly getting there.

carol - much as I'd love to sunbathe, the crappy weather has certainly been a help with my word count, so I can't really complain.

karen - he loves his walks.

The report is a great help and I'm certainly taking note of what it said.

Kerry said...

Please may I borrow Grumpy? Please?????

Deborah Carr (Debs) said...

kerry - sorry I thought I'd left a reply earlier, no idea what happened to it.

Of course you may borrow him, any extra walks are always welcome with him.

Zinnia Cyclamen said...

How absolutely lovely to have an 'almost there' report. I've just had the opposite experience, but with any luck that's about to change (details on Novel Racers if you're interested) - after the last month, it feels a bit daunting to go for a new critique, but reading your posts has given me hope.

DJ Kirkby said...

Oh well done you! I am lagging with book number 3 lately, I blame my mother's extended stay here...perhaps I will be able to get back on track now that she has goen home...

Deborah Carr (Debs) said...

zinnia cyclamen - I've read your post on Novel Racers and left a comment. Good for you going for a new critique.

I was sorry to read that you've had such a horrible experience.

I still have a lot of work to do, despite the 'almost there' comment and really need to try and figure out how to do it.

dk kirkby - thanks. My word count has been nil for the past two days as my mother is also over, and it makes it difficult to fit everything in.

Best of luck that you now can get moving with your novel once again.