Progress Report

OK, I'm trying to buckle down and make a lot of progress. It's been hard! Summer is such a busy time for me. I feel like I'm moving non-stop. Plus, I'm weird. I don't write as easily when its hot outside. The sun has a way of beckoning me to its warmth! My mind is active but, my fingers are too slugglish to prance accross the keys...

I didn't really realize it until I thought about it but, I've made a lot of progress in the past two months. I thought I'd post an update of my projects and their progress:

• Dreams Series: Book One Unraveled
• Editing. Changed the beginning, dropped the preface, pulled backstory to weave and add in later chapters (110k words), tightening up and when its done, I'm going to use query tracker to REALLY and most seriously start shopping it. (Wish me luck.) Also, working on the query letter. Per the critiques I received, everything I need is there, I just have to tighten it up!
• I fought the edit for so long. It's my baby. You don't want to change your baby. Re-arranging it is hard enough. Moving eyes, plumping up the cheeks, well, you get the point. BUT, BUT, when I finally put aside what I did, and re-wrote chapter one, fresh - it was great and I loved it! So, I learned a lesson here. When in doubt, trust your instinct and go for it. I'm learning that first drafts are great for fleshing out the backstory and learning about your characters. But, thats why they are first drafts - they were born to be re-born. It's hard to get your head around that (especially if you are stubborn like me) but, its true.
• This is the first novel that I have ever written. It took me about six months but, it was awesome. A period of discovery, an adventure. It took me places I never intended to go. It taught me so much about who I am as a writer.
• Dreams Series: Book Two Frayed
• Written. Needs Editing. (140k words)
• Dreams Series: Book Three Fringe
• It's started, I promise. I'm on chapter one! It's a start.
• Beyond the Sea and the Sand
• Wrote the first chapter in third person. It's ok. By ok I mean I don't like it. I'll be re-writing from first person. It's my preference. (2k words)
• Snow Ribbon
• Short story. Edited. Complete. Will be entered in the Writer's Digest Young Adult Fiction Contest this fall. (4k words)
• Beneath the Willows
• Still in my mind but, gaining momentum.

So, even though to me, it sometimes seems like my writing has gone stagnant. It hasn't. On the contrary, I'm bursting with ideas. I just need to engage and hone in.

And I'm off...