A couple weeks ago, I finished writing my book. Now, does that mean it’s done? No. It just means that this story has a beginning, a middle, and an end. It’s arguably the hardest part (I say arguably because whatever stage I’m at always feels like the hardest part lol).
I had so many emotions getting to the end of this draft. It felt like such a long time coming, and I was, of course, excited, but I was also surprised by how emotional I felt knowing my time with these characters would soon be coming to an end. I’m very attached to these fools!
My Drafting Timeline:
I first got the idea for this book in the fall of 2021. Well, it was really more like a glimmer of an idea— a divorced woman runs into her ex-boyfriend in a movie theater in Maine (my main characters first see each other again in a movie theater at the beginning of the book, so it makes me happy that’s still in there).
Then, in spring of 2022, I started a draft of this book while between revisions on another project. It was a wildly different book then, so much so, that when I started drafting this project for real in fall of 2023, I started from scratch.
But then, when I was about halfway through, I realized some pretty major changes I needed to make in the story. I kept going anyway, but that left me with a really disjointed draft. And then at the same time, I was bowled over by a new story idea that I ended up drafting in just a few months (which NEVER happens to me, I do not draft that quickly.) However, I ended up shelving that book because it wasn’t the right time for that project.
By now, it’s May 2024, and I was ready to jump back into this project. I felt refreshed and excited about it, the time away giving me a clear vision for the story, and I was able write a thorough chapter-by-chapter outline. This was something new for me, but something I hope I can do again on other projects (please, for the love of God…).
So, with outline in hand, I started back at the beginning, instead of pushing through the chaotic draft I had. I refer to this draft as draft 2, but it’s really more draft 1.5. There was a lot of new words and rewriting but there was also a lot of revising along the way, too.
I tend to be a clean drafter, so what I have now is pretty solid. Which is a good thing because this draft took me from May-February lol. Although, for some reason, I cannot draft over the summer. Writing always feels like pulling teeth then, I don’t know why. So the bulk of the work was done from October-February. It’s very annoying, and I don’t like that I am this way, but whatever.
That’s four years of this story buzzing around my brain in some form! That’s a long time! And now it’s fully formed. I’m really proud.
What’s next?
I did a read through of my book on my Kindle, and that was very fun. It’s always so exciting seeing it in that format. Makes it feel like a real book!
During my read through, I made some notes, and have since started on draft 3! This revision will be less intensive (hopefully), since I’m not writing a bunch of new words, just refining what’s there.
I have a deadline for the beginning of May to send my manuscript off for critique, so until then, I will be chugging away! I am hopeful that after this draft, it will just be small tweaks and then line/copy edits. Fingers crossed!
What I’ve Been Reading:
I have read SO many good books lately. Like, a real hot streak. Here are some I can’t stop thinking about:
First Time Caller by BK Borison— Holy moly. This Sleepless in Seattle inspired rom-com immediately landed itself on my list of all-time favorite books. It was SO good— the writing, the characters, the tension, the emotion… all of it. I can’t recommend it highly enough.
Long Live Evil by Sarah Rees Brennan— A girl who is dying is given a chance to save her life by going into her favorite fantasy series, but she winds up in the body of one of the villains. This book was so FUN! I ate it up. I’m anxiously awaiting the second book in this series. Also, I am certain I would die like right away if I was dropped into any fantasy novel because my memory is so bad lol.
Rebel Witch by Kristen Ciccarelli— The second book in the Crimson Moth duology was an absolute blast. I was hooked from the beginning and was sad when it ended. If you haven’t picked up this series yet, it is a good one. And now it’s complete, so you can read the whole thing!
I’d love to know what you’re working on or what you’ve read and loved recently!
That’s all for now.
Congratulations on finishing this book, Mallory! It’s so interesting learning about your process as well, which makes me feel less insane even though I still have no idea what my process is for the story I’m currently working on. It’s been almost a whole year and I’m still very much ? but it’s fine. Maybe there’s no one real process to speak of, and I just have to roll with it? 🥲
I cannot wait to read this book!!!!!!