Hey guys, welcome back! I once again dropped the ball after not having posted twice last week, but I was both celebrating the finishing of the first draft and then did a deep dive into editing hell. lol I’ve also still been sick, so between trying to do massive word count cuts in the manuscript and trying to breathe, I’ve been laying low.

It’s been quite a daunting revelation this whole word count issue. If you missed my previous post, I completed the first draft of my manuscript that I began in April and went wayyyy over the word count that is normally accepted by the industry. And by way over, I mean, well over 300,000 words. So I am here to tell you that editing hell is a real place and you don’t need a passport to get there!

However, I am here to say that in the first week, I’ve already cut close to 3000 words and have figured out places where big chunks could also be taken out. I’m not going to lie, this is all killing me. To me, there is a definite progression to my story, as it should be of course and everything written (in my mind at least) is important to the story as a whole.

I’ve tried finding places where I could just cut the book into several, but then it wouldn’t make sense. Yes, there will be a sequel/possible series from these characters, but this is the first one. The one with the background stories, the one with the whole ‘getting to know you’ stuff. The one that is supposed to have the readers wanting to come back for more! (I don’t want to cut anything!) And I’ll be honest here and tell you that on more than one occasion, as I sit in the dark and become merciless with the delete button, I stop and do a little whining and apologize to my characters…you know, like a grown up.

While all of this is going on, I’ve still been reading a ton and since I’m in the process of rereading a series that I’ve already read two other times, I’m really paying attention this time to how the author connects the stories. Trying to figure out how I can do that with my own. By the way, I’m reading these books again because there is a new one that just came out and I want to familiarize myself with the characters again. Also because they are great Fall reads and I need the escape. Not that I need to justify it, but yet, here I am doing just that.

I’ve also become late to the party and currently obsessed with Hamilton. Only took me ten years to watch this and now I can’t stop. I’ve also developed the mantra, “what would Lin-Manuel do” when it comes to editing. I’m sure with the way his genius mind works, many of the songs were freestyled first and then edited down. I’ve now dubbed him my own personal yoda and if he is reading this right now? Hi! Wish Hamilton had been around when I was still involved with theater myself, but that’s ok. I now sing the songs around my house daily.

I don’t know if you can tell from this post but between the editing and my illness? I’m slightly losing it. I’m working so hard on this book and trying to make it its best while also trying like hell to make sure I don’t cut or rework things into something that makes no sense. I’m not sleeping right as the score of Hamilton plays over and over in my head and then mixes with the scenes I eithe just got rid of in the book or scenes that I’ve now realized I can get rid of without it affecting the story.

Writing was the easy part for me. The rest is heartache. Hopefully what I am left with is something that will not only want to be read, but more importantly, that I can be proud of. Because if I’m not, then what the hell is this all for anyway, right?

And that is where I will leave you for today. Sorry if it went to a weird place, but that’s the kind of place I’m in right now. I think we very now and then, it’s ok to go there. It’s what makes life less boring.

Until next week…cheers all! 😉

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If you’d like to follow me on social, including my (happily) growing booktok: linktr.ee/promosocially 

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To read the Dream Harbor series I’m currently reading, start with book one…The Pumpkin Spice Cafe. Small town romance with a bit of spice and quirky characters. (Btw, they get a little spicier as the series goes on. Not dark by any means, but don’t let the cozy covers fool you. These are adult books.) As of this post, the ebook is currently free on prime reading and you can go to author Laurie Gilmore’s page to find the order in which to read them. To check out the first book, click: HERE

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To find some fun Halloween and Fall items that I’ve designed, you can find them across my shops: linktr.ee/stuffwemade