It’s six months since I began drafting the follow up to Perfect Timing, so a Distant Shores II update is perhaps overdue.  I have, however, been working on the story constantly.

NaNoWriMo 2016

Prior to the event, I set out my plans for November.  Did things go as planned?  For the most part, yes.  I exceeded the 50,000 word target, writing 54,980 words by December 1st, so I’m a…

 

What Actually Happened?

I said I wouldn’t be doing any editing while writing the draft, and I didn’t for the first couple weeks.  But because I was writing scenes as they came to me, instead of chronologically, I did some MINOR editing – inserting a missed word, correcting a glaring typo – while reading the previous day’s writing.

Approaching the end of November I knew I would exceed the contingency completion date of the middle of December, so extended the deadline to Christmas.  Unfortunately I needed a further extension, but by then the draft was over 78,000 words so allowed myself a well-earned week off to enjoy the holiday.

Into 2017…

I completed the draft on February 21, 2017.  Far later than I ever intended, but I’m what’s referred to as a “vomit drafter” – get it all out onto the page, good and bad.  The first draft should be rough and my philosophy is “If it’s not there, it can’t be edited.”

First Edit

The finished draft far exceeded 100,000 words.  So I knew a LOT would be cut, including a number of unnecessary sections of dialog.  I’d written some while battling the dreaded writer’s block, but it had kept me going and at the time that’s all that mattered.

While I advocate taking an extended break between edits, my internal editor screamed during the latter stages.  I silenced her by doing some prep – collating words to be culled, and highlighting every section of dialog – so only took a couple days off.

The edit took a month and was completed on March 24.  In addition to an eighty-five strong word list, I checked and amended contractions and extensions.  Then edited the dialog, and having eliminated tens of thousands of words, I printed and bound the draft myself.

Second Edit

Although the break of a couple weeks is relatively short, I’m ready to begin the second edit.  Or will be when I’ve made a few more preparatory notes.

This will be the main edit and I expect it to take a couple months.  There are a few inconsistencies to fix and the final title needs setting.

Similarly to Perfect Timing, the story is written from both Lou’s and Will’s points of view, but there is some balancing to be done as both will be heard equally this time around.  I love writing from the male character’s POV and it’s only fair Will is heard as much as Lou.

Next Distant Shores II Update?

The story is due for release in seven months, so I promise I won’t keep you waiting as long for the next Distant Shores II update.  In the meantime, please do follow me on Twitter and Facebook which I update more frequently.

Do you have any advice for me as I begin the second edit?  I’d love to chat!