Whew. I've just spent an intense couple of weeks rewriting and it's been an experience. Actually a very good experience, but draining. Very draining.
It's thanks to some spectacular critique partners (CPs) that I still have a brain that functions. Yes, really. Without their eyes and insights, the process would've been horrendous. See, the thing is that once you start ripping apart and putting the writing back together again, you aren't quite sure what you've got.
So it takes a review by someone who isn't intimately familiar with the story to point out the inconsistencies that are the inevitable result of all the re-arranging and replacing of words.
I happen to have some very wonderful CPs who stepped up to the plate and helped me and I can't begin to tell you how much I owe them. They are fantastic.
Aside from that task, I spent a very memorableday last Sunday with four other writers doing brainstorming. We drove an hour to a marina, where one of them picked us up in a boat and took us across the river to the--hmm, what to call it, encampment--island where her in-laws have a trio of houses grouped together on the beachfront of the river.
We sat on the shore of theriver drinking wine and eating chocolate (and a bunch of other things) and each of us took a turn tossing out our new story ideas and asking for input. It was a lot of fun, not only to get help on my new manuscript, but to hear about what each of them is working on next.
Plus, it's much faster than thinking it up myself. Not that I would've thought of gypsy, psychic waterskiers, kidnappers, cowboys and intricate family murders,but hey, what are friends for?
All kidding aside, a great time was had by all and we really did come up with some good stuff, so stay tuned.
Keep writing.
Ardath