I'm Still Alive

I've been rather quiet on my blog lately, with good reason. I've been working on the edits of my manuscript for the past few weeks now that I'm out of my funk from having broken up with my boyfriend of seven years and moving back home with my parents. I still get mopey from time to time, but I'm doing better.

Today I finished my first pass of edits on this draft. I don't plan to have other drafts other than the first and this one, I just don't see the point in keeping so many versions (but, who knows, I may change my mind). I'll just hack away at this one until it's as tight as I can make it. I didn't get anywhere near my goal of cutting the manuscript down from 189k to 150k, I managed to cut a measly 7000 words. I'll let the manuscript sit for a week or so and then I'll start on pass number two. Hopefully I can cut more then with a little distance from it. Afterward I'll be seeking betas and their advice or suggestions. I've never edited a piece like this before, so perhaps I just don't know what to look for to cut when editing.

So while book one is marinating, I'll go back to book two which I've sadly neglected for a long while now. Though I'm sure Vlad is in no hurry to go into a war.

On a side note, it looks like spring may finally start to arrive. One side of me wishes for it to get here, the other side hopes it stays away for a while longer. Once the weather warms I'll be busy digging new beds around my mom's house to make room for all of the plants I will be going back for in Ohio. No way am I leaving my babies there. If I have to dig up half her yard to house them until I can find my own, hopefully permanent, place, then so be it. She won't mind, though. She likes flowers as much as I do. And all of that time spent in the yard will be time taken away from my writing, of which I usually neglect during the warmer months. At least I don't have a job yet taking over the rest of my time, though I have been looking. Me needs some monies. So that's why I've been putting most of my energies toward getting this book done and neglecting the blog. I'm running out of winter!