Word count (to the nearest thousand): 63,000 (barely)
Status: Finished with the third draft!
Attitude: Relieved
I usually don’t post on weekends, but I just wanted to drop in to say…I’m finished! Bob is currently sitting in the inboxes of my first two beta readers, and I couldn’t be more excited.
As for my last (work-in-) progress report, I gave up on the whole reading-Bob-out-loud thing. I decided that should be one of the last edits I do, and so that out-loud read is still several months away.
What have I been doing, then, this past week and a half? Filling in all the little holes, as I mentioned in my last report, and using the find-and-replace feature to get rid of too-common words and phrases. I’ve never used that technique, but now I can’t imagine NOT using it. (Yesterday, for example, I eliminated about two hundred “justs,” “rights,” and “backs.”) I’m sure I missed a few, but I'll leave it to my beta readers to point out the next several hundred to me:)
And speaking of cutting words, I’ve cut some the past few weeks. Bob was at 59,000 words by the end of the first draft, up to 66,000 somewhere in the second, and now he sits at around 63,000 (even though this third draft has been largely about ADDING words). For the most part, the words I’ve cut have been unnecessary dialogue and action tags. (“Hi, my name is Krista, and I’m a dialogue and action tagger…”) Sometimes the characters just need to speak for themselves, you know?
Well, that’s all for me. Back to the manuscript I’ve been beta-reading for the past more-than-a-month…
Krista, congratulations for passing a milestone! That must feel satisfying. I hope the readings go well. And yes, Wordle is just (couldn't resist) a big help.
ReplyDeleteI "finished" my manuscript six months ago, found the heart of the story, and now I'm adding a storyline that makes it all come together. I hope this is the last go-round with it. I would love to start a new tale.
Best wishes!
Hurray for finishing and for the manuscript in my inbox!
ReplyDeleteDang! That manuscript you're reading must be a beast. ;o)
Woo hoo, Krista!
ReplyDeleteMine is out with my final beta reader. I expect to be querying it shortly. Eek!
Thank you, Holly. And best of luck to you, too. I look forward to hearing more about your querying exploits.
ReplyDeleteMyrna, the only beastly thing about it is those sarkis:)
No, Stina, querying = yay! :) Good luck with that. And be sure to mention your blog in your query - I'm sure an agent would be impressed by it.
CONGRATULATIONS!!!! All the best!
ReplyDeleteP.S. How in the world do you do that?????????
Awesome! :)
ReplyDeleteLove the "Find and Replace"
ReplyDeleteCongrats! It's gotta feel good!
Thank you for your encouragement, ladies.
ReplyDeleteAnd Esther, if you just write a little bit every day, sooner or later, you'll finish:)