The Manuscript - Part 3
In which The Writer talks about the second half of the edits of her first draft
If you didn’t see my previous two posts where I talk about process for drafting and editing then they can be found here and here.
This is the next instalment of my little diary kept when I was editing the first draft of Looks Real Good Now. I kind of just forgot that the second half of this would also be the second half of my book and therefore full of spoilers and so there is a lot of redacted stuff because while I am loving sharing this, I also don’t want to give it all up.
12/02/24 - Chapters Edited: 24 & 25
Favourite Line - Come on Homily, let’s go get mad at Christmas tourists
Thoughts - these two chapters felt fun to edit
- getting to play with their dynamic in this new context is fun
- managed to get a couple of mirrored moments in there which felt very satisfying
- feeling like I’m on more solid ground with part of this now
13/02/24 - Chapters Edited: 26 - 28
Favourite Line - Instead of talking he took one of my hands and stuffed it in his coat pocket pulling me closer to him in the process
Thoughts - felt more prepared for the sexy stuff this time which allowed me to play around a bit more
- fun to delve deeper into this dynamic now
- I still really like the nature of their first kiss. Something a tad absurd about it
14/02/24 - Chapters Edited: 29 & 30
Favourite Line - “What have I got to do to get lucky?” “Exist on a day that ends in y.”
Thoughts - this session was actually mostly fun - loved the scenes I was editing
- getting to firm up their interactions more is feeling much easier as the early version of these characters seem to be more aligned
15/02/24 - Chapters Edited: 31 & 32
Favourite Line - “Would you have been less annoying now if I’d woken you up with a *redacted*”
Thoughts - these two had me giddy today - their dynamic is so much more fun now that we are firmly in this territory
- learned that first draft me also had the foresight to keep track of a certain detail which was super helpful
- definitely less precious with previously written words now - a lot crossed out
16/02/24 - Chapters Edited: 33 & 34
Favourite Line - She knows what she wants and it looks like it might be you she wants
Thoughts - so much of these two chapters felt hard - Teddy was hard to figure out and I need to firm up their dynamic, but it feels better
- The conversation between Coach Fitzpatrick and Liam also felt sticky
- don’t know how happy I am with the declarations - cut a lot might have the potential to add some stuff back in on third drafts
19/02/24 - Chapters Edited: 35 & 36
Favourite Line - Redacted because it’s a whole ass spoiler and I’m not giving it up that easily
Thoughts - the *redacted* conversation was a tricky one - it is needed but why? how can I make it better
- a lot of negative thoughts swirling around now that I’ve realised the deadline for a query is approaching and I’ve not a response (I never did hear back from this particular query which was gutting but gave me a push to pursue other avenues, like self-publishing this book)
- needed Chapter 36 because it was fun and helped firm up their sexual dynamic and was a joy to edit
- drawing to a close with this edit and that makes me feel some kind of way - deep down I am very proud of this story
20/02/24 - Chapters Edited: 37 & 38
Favourite Line - *redacted* Liam fucking Mulligan
Thoughts - once again this felt hard trying to figure out the dynamics with a side character
- parts felt really sticky and hard to unpick and stitch back together
- felt difficult to figure out some of the emotional stuff
- am still loving their dynamic
21/02/24 - Chapters Edited: 39 & 40
Favourite Line - And we have another redacted one
Thoughts - this came with a lot of crossing out which ultimately felt good because the words weren’t serving the story
- playing around with these two is so fun and I love them so much - so nice to fall in love with these characters again over this editing process
22/02/24 - Chapters Edited: 41 & 42
Favourite Line - Oh no. I’ve seen you in love before *the rest is redacted*
Thoughts - In a lot of ways it is obvious that I was striving for an arbitrary word count because there were a lot of unnecessary words and passages that could be cut
- I do still love the tease of something between *redacted* and *redacted* although I think there might be more space to make them stronger characters
- the Liam/redacted interaction still felt a little sticky, but I think this version is a bit better
23/02/24 - Chapters Edited: 43 & Epilogue
Favourite Line - If he was was there would be no other eyes but mine that see it
Thoughts - Ugh, I’m finished. it always feel so anticlimactic to finish something
- loved getting to tie this up
- I really like the ending of this. It felt fun and a little sexy
- this story feels solid, even when I thought it was shit, looking back on it now it feels solid - I can’t wait for it to out in the world
- onto the next phase
What this revisiting of this section of my project notebook has taught me that the whole editing process was a rollercoaster of emotion. Mostly I thought that it was hellish and sticky as everything but I guess it was all worth it for the moments where it felt fun and I liked this book.
I sent it to my editor proud of it (and I added a whole bunch of words again as it moved from third draft to second draft) and as I create graphics for Instagram there are parts that I do really like. There is obviously space for improvement and I am bracing myself for the inevitable moment where my comma usage gets called out but overall, I like this book. Moving into further edits and tightening things up/adding key bits where necessary doesn’t feel like a chore. It feels good.
And it’s out December 3rd. Available to pre-order now.
Jumpin’ Jumpin’
What I’m reading -
ARCs read - Whisky Business - Elliot Fletcher (out today), Manila Takes Manhattan - Carla de Guzman (out now), Playing the Field - Becky Ward (out August 1st), The Woman at My Wedding - L.G. Davis (out June 13th)
Other books - We Are Worthy - Alisha Williams
Currently Reading - Ana Maria and The Fox - Liana De La Rosa, Herc - Pheonicia Rogerson and Long Live Evil - Sarah Reese Brennan (out August 1st)
(Bookshop links are affiliate links)
What I’m watching - Finally finished watching Beef. Also watched Good Luck to You, Leo Grande, which was a fun watch.
Title Inspiration - Still The Manuscript - Taylor Swift