WIP Update: When You Can Smell the End
Posted by annastan on July 21st, 2010. Filed under: WIP.Just a reminder that my Celebration Giveaway ends on Friday! Okay, so do you guys remember that fairy tale retelling I’ve been revising (and complaining about) for months? Well, the end is finally in sight – I can smell it!
Yesterday I finished rewriting a scene and realized it was the last one that needed major reworking. Now it’s time to go through the entire manuscript one more time and make sure it all holds together and flows. I also realized that my time line in the story doesn’t quite add up; it’s supposed to take place over the course of two weeks, but I think I’m going to have to map it all out and make sure that’s actually true.
After all that, my wonderful husband is going to read it. He was one of the first people to see the first completed draft, so I’m hoping he won’t read this version and tell me he liked the old one better (which has happened before). But the end is near, at least for now, and that’s a great feeling.
How are you all doing with your WIPs? Is anyone else nearing the end?
July 21st, 2010 at 9:51 am
Yay, Anna! Congrats on seeing the end. One of the best feelings in the world. I’m only about a quarter of the way through my WIP and approaching the dreaded middle of the book. Let’s hope I can slog through this one and not get stuck in the mire.
July 21st, 2010 at 11:21 am
I’m glad you’re almost there. I noticed a time issue in one of my manuscripts after I did a timeline. I was off by months. Oops. Right now, I’m running toward the endline. Almost there…
July 21st, 2010 at 11:42 am
Great news, Anna! I always seem to have time issues in writing my novels, and I have to go back and fix them later. But hey, that’s why we revise, right?
July 21st, 2010 at 12:34 pm
I’m leaving the security of the pretty decent first 2/3 and entering the messy last 1/3 now. Many changes loom, as does pulling off the climax.
July 21st, 2010 at 1:34 pm
Sounds like you’re doing great–you are a lot farther along than me! But at least I’m moving forward again.
July 21st, 2010 at 2:28 pm
Wow, congrats!
I, for one, am nowhere near the end. I’m not even halfway through WIP #2 and I’m only on the draft for WIP #1.
July 21st, 2010 at 3:12 pm
Nelsa, sorry to hear you’re in dreaded middle land. But don’t worry – you’ll make it out through to the other side!
Tricia, I’m glad I’m not the only one who can’t keep my fictional days straight! Good luck getting to the end!
Andrea, it seems to happen to me a lot. I guess I forget about time when I’m trying to figure out so many other things. But yes, that’s why we revise!
Marcia, just think how close you are to the end. You can do it!
Ruth, it’s taken me months and months to get to this point. And, let’s face it, I’ll probably have to do even more revising once I get some more feedback. But all we can do is keeping pushing on, right?
Thanks, Kayeigh. It sounds like you’re doing pretty good to me! Just keep chugging along – you’ll get there.
July 21st, 2010 at 6:14 pm
That’s great. I hate timelines and making sure it all matches up! Talk about nitty gritty!
July 21st, 2010 at 9:30 pm
That’s awesome! It must feel great to reach that point. And yes, never underestimate the power of charts to keep timelines straight; I find they’re a good way to get a sense of how much action each chapter has, too.
July 22nd, 2010 at 10:35 pm
Not at the end, but finally into the flow! 16,000 words in. It’s like the fifth story I started. Maybe I’ll go back to some of the others another time. But, for now, I’ve finally got something worth my effort. Phew.
Congrats on seeing the finish line!