I’m really bad at writing things that are only about me. I do feel my life has little things worth documenting, but sometimes writing about oneself can be really cringe; at least for me. So for this milestone, I’ve taken some “blogging advice” from Pinterest: ask some questions about this event, and the post would be the answers you provide.
So here it goes: I’ve finished the third edition!
What did the moment actually look like when you finished?
Well, it was quiet. I texted my two girlfriends and told them I had just finished the 3rd edition of the manuscript. The word count had gone from 174K to 147K. My husband was in the kitchen, my son was playing in his room. It was a very normal night, after a very busy day.
What did you expect to feel, and what did you actually feel?
I think the third edition feels complete, and it looks good. But I think I will polish a little further, just to make sure I’m not missing anything. At this point, there’s no further plot, scenes, or anything else being trimmed. I just want to read the book and feel it is controlled and confident. So there wasn’t an expectation of “I’m going to throw a party or open a bottle of champagne.” I wanted to trim it under 150K, and I did it. But I still think I can do better.
What changed, even slightly, after you closed the file?
Nothing, essentially. I liked this edition process. It felt very… rewarding. The major change is in the word count and the reading experience of the book. I do think it reads more smoothly now and more… satisfactory.
What part of the process stayed with you the most from this edition?
I liked the feeling of knowing when to trust the reader and when not. I think I will have that in mind when writing the second book.
What does “ready for querying” mean to you right now?
A lot of preparation work. First, I have to learn how to use QueryTracker, then research agents, draft the query letter, and the synopsis… that task looks terrifying.
So, here goes the summary of the third edition, and to the QueryTrenches I’ll go! (I’m really scared)
