Secret projects, crafting and games...
This month I've done a lot of work editing the middle grade fiction book I've written for my daughter - and although I haven't finished the complete book yet, I have finished the first half and I've sent it to my editor!
I've had to take a brief break from that though to get to work on that "secret project" I mentioned a few months ago. Now, I still can't give too much away, but basically I'm officially at the writing stage for it (see pic above with all the different coloured post it notes:-).
It's a different kind of story than I usually write, although it still has fantasy elements and my character is a scientist with psychic vibes (so I can tap into her somewhat but it's fair to say her abilities are more powerful than sensing when a family walk is going to end up with a trip to the hospital;-). Anyway, I can't share any more, but basically the story is really taking shape now, and it's been a fun project, making me think about the mechanics of story telling, 'tapping in' to the muse and so much more, but I'll share that once it's released.
I will say that one thing I've really learned this month (as I still tackle the middle grade book edits) is just how long the editing really takes me. It makes me think of an editorial I read years ago in a women's magazine (Cosmopolitan maybe?) about Fairy Princess Syndrome (which as described by that editor was buying things for the life you wanted to live, rather than the one you actually did). And this month I realised that when it comes to editing - I have Fairy Princess Syndrome (as that editor defined it).
Back...how long ago? I gave myself two weeks to finish the edits on this middle grade book. LOL! In reality, I should have budgeted a day per chapter minimum. Because I wasn't just editing character journeys and the plot, I was literally re-writing it and "growing it up" because my daughter was 9 when I started it, and she's now 11.
Anyway, despite grossly underestimating the time it would take, I'm glad to see my time budgeting for other responsibilities wasn't so far off, and I've largely managed to still achieve my other deadlines this month (although I did watch eight hours of nutrition and herbal medicine lectures non-stop and I did spend a few days catching up on scientific journal articles). But all in all, things are finally coming along, and I hope to send the final half of the book to my editor by the end of the month, or next weekend at the latest. (Wish me luck!).
Other sweet things: In the last two months, my daughter and I have learned how to crochet (mine's the blue strip, while my daughter's is the bee - super cute, right?). We've spent a bit of time playing UNO FLIP as a family (oh, it's really cool and if you haven't played it - I suggest giving it a go), and on these walks to school with the kids, my daughter has been collecting heart shaped leaves and giving them to me which is adorable. We had a little chat about whether or not the broken leaves belonged in the collection and she decided they did because they still looked like hearts, and they just needed us to be extra gentle with them. (Really wishing I could insert a heart shaped emoji here right now).
|