Maybe the horse isn’t dead after all…?

Posted on

Hello, Write Edge readers! We all know that saying about beating dead horses and all that, and I wondered if that was what I was doing with my latest story. But every time I think about giving it up, a line or a paragraph or a piece of character development will flow from my fingers to the screen and make me think, “Wait, there’s actually something here.”

Honestly, I knew writing was hard but this hard…

I have no idea what I’m doing. But I do. But I don’t. If that makes sense. I’m on the eighth version of a first draft. Unlike many other stories that seemed to flow at least in a first draft, this one is coming in fits and starts. However, I can report with certainty that now I know the end scene. That’s something. And I know myself well enough to know that if I have that end point in mind, the rest of the story will be (relatively) easier. So let’s see if that holds up in this case too.

I wrote just about 600 words today, which means on this latest version of the first draft I’m up to 2684 words (and if anyone out there is keeping a tally, you can go ahead and stop now. I’m starting to lose track myself of how many words I’ve written for all the first drafts I’ve started.) I’ll keep plugging away at it. Because my wonderful, amazing publisher, Nick Courtright over at Atmosphere Press, wants to see a manuscript by March 1, 2027. Will that happen? I can’t say with confidence at this point that it will, but you better believe it isn’t from a lack of trying.

Anyway! I’m still reading and doing other writerly things, so I’ll keep posting those. We’re supposed to start a new Thursday R.E.A.D.s this month, so this Thursday I’ll have both my thoughts as a Reviewer and an Editor on True Life in Uncanny Valley by Deb Caletti. I’ve also started reading a new book potentially for a review on Wednesday, but I don’t know yet if I’ll have it finished in time for an actual review. More on that in the middle of the week.

Big happenings in our home this week — my second child graduates from high school! We’re going to have a full house, so I’m not sure what’s going to happen to my posting schedule, but I’ll do my level best to keep it up.

Speaking of which, I should probably scoot so I can start doing some prep for our wonderful family and friends who will be joining us in a couple of days.

Have a great week, readers!

E.R.G.

This entry was posted in Creative writing and tagged , , , , .

Last week’s book review now up!

Posted on

Hello, Write Edge readers! As I promised, I’ve just posted the book review that was supposed to go live last week. I’m sharing my thoughts on Mad Mabel by Australian author Sally Hepworth today. Here’s the opening to my post:

A woman who spent her early years living in notoriety finds her golden years threatened when her neighbor dies. As the elderly woman gets caught up in the aftermath, her neighbors and others start digging into her dubious past. Author Sally Hepworth turns to a slightly different avenue of domestic thrillers in her latest novel Mad Mabel.

Read the whole review now on The Write Edge Bookshelf!

Have a great night readers!

E.R.G.

This entry was posted in Book reviews, New books and tagged , , , , , , .