Monday, Monday

Well, I did get my Charter Oak contest entry revised and in the mail today just like I said I would. (See? I can do deadlines!) Now I just have to wait until the end of June to hear the final results. Good thing I have PLENTY to keep me busy until then- lots of school related stuff, more contest entries to print and send, more revisions to do.

Speaking of revisions, I wanted to chat about Danger's revisions and what's different for me with this manuscript than any other one I've completed. I'm absolutely floored by the work I'm doing. As I updated and pulled together my synopsis for Danger yesterday, it was so much fun to see where the story is going. Events I thought were going to happen have now changed because I know my characters so well. Also, in revising the first chapter for the contest AND working on chapters 2 & 3, I'm making a conscious effort to remember all the aspects of writing that are drilled into our heads- using the five senses, not overloading on narrative sections, deep POV, paying attention to conflict and how characters change over the course of the book. It's like this is the first manuscript where I see all of that stuff coming together and enriching the story. I know this may sound crazy to some of you, but the satisfaction I'm getting from working on this book is overwhelming, even when I only have a few minutes to work on it.

I'd planned to have this book finished by my July vacation, but I've decided not to hold myself to that. If it works out, great, but I'm not going to rush this masterpiece. I want to enjoy every glorious moment of putting this story together and maybe make this one "The One".