Kicking off my 2nd editing/revision pass

Completing my second draft felt really good. I know the back end is weaker and that I'll have to spend a bit more time on it. My goal is to have the 391 page manuscript polished off by the end of the year. So, with roughly 111 days left in the year, I'm going to have to fix about 3.5 pages per day to reach that goal. Ouch. But, there are parts of the book that I feel really good about and those won't need as much work.

I've also received my editing summary for the first 100 pages and there's a lot to digest. Lots of ideas and focal points that need to be sharpened and decisions that need to be made. 

In addition to that edit, I think that I need to do my own read through of the manuscript and jot down notes as to what needs to be fixed/upgraded.

As for the hunt for an agent, I'm putting that on hold for a few months. The revise and resubmit isn't due until the end of the year, so I'm going to focus on cleaning up the manuscript as much as I can until say November and continue going while I send out my agent submissions. Assuming a few months turnaround, I'll have it all in good shape for when they ask for the complete manuscript.

Back to the edit recovery!

Second draft of Spirit Quest - Completed!

I crossed the Second Draft finish line over the weekend. Although I don't feel a lot like celebrating as I know how much work there's still left in the next drafts to follow. The back end of the novel felt a little rougher, needing more connective tissue. I feel like a second second draft might be in order, but I want to give it a bit of time to settle.

The first 100 pages of my manuscript are being professionally edited and I'm a bit anxious and excited at the prospects of recovering her comments.

What's on my plate for the next month?

- Prepare my application form for the Canada Arts Council grants
- Prepare my agent queries/submission packages
- Recover the first 100 pages of edits
- Work on my Third Draft to sort out all sorts of issues that I noticed through the initial drafts, clearing up the magic system, synch up the ages of characters, add a bit more details and descriptions in those talking head chapters.

Piece of cake, right?

If you have any advice or experience with wrapping up second drafts and third (and fourth and fifth) drafts, please comment and share.