Since returning from the Milford SF writer’s workshop last week (which was excellent, by the way), I’ve passed what I originally thought of as the half-way mark of the first draft of ‘Consorts of Heaven’.
I’m now getting to the part of the novel which many writers find a bit of a slog. I’m happy to say I’m not losing enthusiasm, but I do seem to be slowing down. This is largely because the end point is receding, as the characters’ own agendas complicate the plot as I originally saw it. Fair enough: that’s all part of the fun. This is only my third novel, so the intricacies of the creative process are still fresh and interesting to me. I reckon I still know who ends up where (or dead) at the end. It’s just taking a while to get them there.
And even though the first draft will almost certainly come in over the 100K I’m contracted for, I know I’ll tighten things up when I re-write. Unlike most writers of my acquaintance I prefer doing the re-work to writing first drafts, so I’m looking forward to getting to the end of the book in plenty of time for a long break over Xmas. I hope to then leave another month or so of thinking time and work on other projects before I get back in there and bang the thing into shape.
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