Sometimes you just need to go off-grid for a couple weeks to make progress.
In July I escaped to the mountains to get a much needed break. I did take my laptop and my latest manuscript so I could write drafts of the remaining chapters, between hikes and swims in the the various lakes. Bonus, my brother-in-law read about 3/4 of the manuscript as it stands and is invested. He even shared his theories about what he thinks will happen. It is fascinating to hear what clues he picked up and what conclusions he drew.
When I got home, I finished the first draft of the last remaining chapter and patted myself on the back.
A completed manuscript!
Sure, I still need the new sections reviewed by my critique partners and edited, of course. But, a significant milestone, all the same.
I skimmed what I had written already for the sequel and was pleased to find 85k words, most in decent shape. I'll need to plot out what is missing still, but it less than I feared.
Then I met with some of my critique partners and received feedback that reminded me I still had a lot of work to do on my first manuscript. Then I dove into working on the art for the cover, while scene ideas simmered in that back of my brain.
Oof! Well, that knocked me off my high.
It's not all bad though. It all helps me craft a better story in the end.
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