Daily Diary, June 25, 2022, Day 663: I am still waiting for the last beta reader, so concentrating today on other writing, working on the Indie Author Journey post I started a couple of weeks ago, and I hope to get that done so I can post next week. However, I expect to hear from that beta reader today or tomorrow, at which point I will concentrate on doing the rewriting to create the second draft of the novel.
For this second draft, my goal is to do any rewriting that is necessary in terms of plot or character development. I will also make any corrections of basic things like grammar or typos that people noticed. When this is done, this second complete draft then goes off to one more beta reader, a retired English teacher, who will do what I call a line edit. She will concentrate on finding grammatical errors, but also make suggestions about word choice, rewriting actual sentences for clarity, questions of tone and voice for the characters, etc. This will permit me to do the final polishing before the manuscript goes off to my proof reader. Sometimes I might not make the changes my line editor suggests, but I’ve found in the past that 99% of the time the suggestions she makes help improve the manuscript over all.
My daughter and grandsons are coming for a week long visit, starting this Thursday, so in addition to getting the second draft ready to send out, I will doing all the little things that need to be done to get ready for their visit, so that should keep me busy. This means that the following week, when they are here, and when the manuscript is in the hands of that line editor, I will have a nice break from writing related tasks.
Here's a bloom I found on my walk this morning. I think, based on the leaves, that it is a rose bloom that is past its prime, but it still is very colorful. That’s often how I feel about myself…maybe I’m past my prime, but I’m still working to put out a little joy into the world that will brighten someone’s day.
Thanks for the lovely roses. Although they are past the full of their bloom, I’m not quite sure that past their prime is the best phrase to use on them or yourself. We do indeed age but like the roses, we are growing into a different phase of life.
Such a lot of work you do! Thank you. I know when I pick up one of your books or stories that it will be the best.
I just finished listening to DANDY'S DARING DEEDS. It was fun hearing all about him all together.