I didn’t intend to write a blog post before Wednesday 1 June but I think this might help motivate me a bit more. Public failing is a much greater motivator than private shame.

I have taken a momentary break to write this so it will be short-ish and sweet-ish. I’ve planned a blog post for Wednesday so you will understand what I’m on about then but suffice to say I need to finish my current work in progress before Wednesday. Then the long editing process will begin.

I began the piece I’m working on, The Beckoning Blood, in November 2009 and it was mostly finished by the end of the year. However, due to revisions and editing, the final third of the book fell really flat.

There was little tension, it repeated a lot of the action in the second part and failed to live up to my own expectations. The heroes and their interests were bland. A rewrite was necessary but it was a long process and one I began at least four times.

Finally, after recently nutting out a chapter outline which has morphed as the actual writing has forced the story in new directions, I was able to make significant headway. I am now on the home-stretch. I’ve finished two chapters so far today and it’s only 1pm. I estimate I have five more to go.

Of course, these are just rough sketches about 1500 words long. They plot the action, add in the dialogue, expose the emotional keypoints I need to touch on but if they were ever read by another (except perhaps a crit partner) they would not stand up to much scrutiny. So they are sketches. The detail will come during the editing process, like a painter refining the colours on a portrait or a sculptor hewing their vision from the slab of rock. It just takes time and care.

I’m confident I can get another two or three chapters done today, which leaves a few hours on Monday night to get the last ones done. Tuesday night is out and then Wednesday the editing begins. Deadlines are so wonderful.

Wish me luck as I hurtle towards ‘The End’.