Though my work schedule has been tight, aggravated by winter weather delays, I’ve found a little time to work on the follow-up to Cordell’s Rebellion. There are only a couple of scenes to complete and the first draft will be done. The excitement is building.
The notes and outlines for the remaining scenes have been written for some time. The current work is to put them into a narrative format. The notes for the final scene are so extensive that it is almost ready to paste in as though complete. With these scenes finished, then the next steps begin.
Mapping and Checking
With the first draft finished, my next steps have to do with maps, charts, and lists. I will map out the dates and places to make sure they make sense and that there aren’t any continuity issues. I will also map out any character arcs with the scenes. This makes sure the waypoints on the character’s personal journey are spread evenly and that there aren’t any magic jumps or back-tracks.
This is also the point where I make sure the names are consistent. Not just character names, but I will list out places, streets, and anything else that has a name. It’s also a good time to verify that I didn’t subconsciously appropriate a name from some other author or from history. I’ve already caught myself switching between “Harv” and “Herb” for one character and picking the name of an actor for another. I will also look for characters whose names are too similar to each other since that can confuse some readers.
Second Draft
Once all the mapping is complete, I can dig into the second draft to make all the needed changes. In this version, I will fix any issues revealed in the mapping phase. I will also work on the language, attempting to make everything concise while carrying more emotive and physical information.
I will also read much of the material aloud to make sure it flows well. In some cases, I may print a copy and mark the meter much like you would a poem. This becomes important in scenes with faster action. A slow-metered sentence or two in a fast paced scene can ruin the scene. On the other hand, too much speed can really throw off suspense.
The word search feature of the software is a great way to find the word “had”. Like many midwesterners, I use “had” far too often. It shows up in my writing and must make a conscious effort to avoid it. Many instances of that word can be removed without altering the meaning of the sentence. Of course, if it shows up in the speech of a character, it may need to stay just to flesh out their manner of communication.
After That
After the second draft, I can hand it over to my editing gurus and bribe them to give it the once over. That should, and I mean should, be the end of it. A little polishing here or there and it will be ready for the press.
The feedback on my last cover was neither positive or negative, but I really prefer positive. A graphic artist friend has shown preliminary drawings for the new book and things will go well there. She will get paid and get to add a book cover to her portfolio. It’s a benefit to both of us. If things go right, she may be able to help with the third book as well (I have notes for seven books in this series).
I just have to maintain the momentum and get all of this done. I also need to work on the promotion side a little more. That’s a different story.