My latest WIP, The Winds of Khalakovo, is nearly done. I’m thinking I have about 10k left to write. Maybe a touch more. I really want to put a stake in the ground and commit to finishing by the time I leave for WisCon, which is a scant ten days away, but I’m just not sure if something’s going to pop up that will require a bit more time and effort. So, instead, I’ll continue my 1k words per day metric and leave it at that. If it’s done by then, it’s done. If not, it will be shortly thereafter. I’d rather take my time, especially on the ending, than rush it for no good reason.
Still, despite the feeling of pressure and the potential of not quite getting there, I’m very excited to have it almost wrapped up. The story feels good. It’s not nearly as raw as a typical first draft would be because I often go back and revise as I feel the need. Not prose stuff, but plot stuff. In the past I’ve gotten in trouble by simply plowing ahead, either not knowing any better or figuring I can revise on the second draft. Trouble is, at least for me, I could head down a wrong path, and that could lead to all sorts of wrong decisions that would force me to revise much, much more than I would have if I had simply gone back and fixed the offending, ill-advised left turn. At this point in my writing I’m rather sensitive (I prefer to think of it as attuned) to the plot and whether or not its taking the right path. The problem with that is that I could become too safe, so I’m sensitive to that as well. Writing is a constant struggle to keep the story interesting but make it plausible as well - providing twists that are surprising yet believable.
I’ll wrap Winds, Take 1, soon, and I hope I can get it ready for beta readers (including my agent) by mid-summerish.
Also, wish me luck. I’m supposed to hear back relatively soon on my previous novel, The Tears of Tendali, from a couple of editors.
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