Moving On

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Moving On

February 8, 2012 by meredithmansfield

I’m actually playing hooky (sort of) from an on-line writers’ hangout to post this, so it’ll be quick.

Well, yesterday I finally finished the fourth draft of MAGIC’S FOOL. That last ten pages was like pulling teeth–and there weren’t even that many changes. I suspect I’d just gotten burned out on the story, having done three straight drafts back to back. Note to self: Don’t do that again.

However, I’m now much happier with the story and I think it’s ready for readers next month. I’ll probably give it one more read-through before then, but not for a couple of weeks any way.

So, now I’m moving on to the polishing edit of SEVEN STARS. This one has been resting since July. I’m trying something new–giving it a good long rest before the last pass and sending it out into the world. That’s only really practical when you have enough completed works to keep querying while you give the new one the benefit of that time.

I’m less than ten pages in and already feeling energized by the change to a “new” story.

I’ve also been working on the query and synopsis. Look out agenting world. SEVEN STARS will be coming your way soon!

Posted in writing | Tagged fantasy, Middle Grade, revisions, Writer's Block, writing, Young Adult | 4 Comments

4 Responses

on February 11, 2012 at 5:41 am | Reply justinawilliams

Moving on is good. I know well that feeling of just being tired of a particular thing and a change of pace can be very invigorating.

My current plan is to work on my Roads novel and intersperse it with occasional, mostly non-Roads short stories.

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on February 11, 2012 at 9:52 am | Reply meredithmansfield

It’s very good. And sometimes necessary.

I don’t usually run into that problem in a first draft–although I did in BLOOD IS THICKER. But I had just done drafts two through four in succession. I’m ready to put that story away for a while, now and play with some other toys.

Maybe I’ll even get to one of those short stories. I’ve had a couple of thoughts about one. I think I know how it ends.

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on February 11, 2012 at 2:25 pm | Reply justinawilliams

Now you just have to figure out how it begins and what happens in between. Just remember to stop when you come to the end.

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on February 11, 2012 at 5:08 pm | Reply meredithmansfield

Oh, I know how it starts. I’ve even got a couple of hundred words written. The middle is a little more of a problem. Mostly because it’s near-future science fiction, so the technology has to be at least somewhat believable. Need more research.

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