Thursday, January 10, 2013

Editing - chapter 2, second draft

As I logged all of my early NaNoWriMos to help me figure out what my process is, I probably should do that with the editing too.

The first draft of chapter one is done. Fairly happy with it, although I suspect there will be some issues with POV although I revised it.

Problem: Astrology.

It's pretty clear to me that the world needs an astrology system that's fairly integrated into their worldview.

Now--there's a point in the story where there's a bit of a deus ex machina--at the beginning, to set the story in motion. I could use a star chart as a more logical departure.

I'm not sure though--will this unnecessarily complicate the story? (probably not) Is it helpful? (unclear) Is my resistance mainly due to lazyness? (likely)

Sure, I can just add in some language here and there and explore the system in full in a later novella (which was kind of my original plan). But does that make the system part of their lives? It really should be....

Saturday, January 5, 2013

Editing updates

I've been editing the Perdita story for the past few days and what a difference practice makes!

Granted, it really really helps that it's my own world, so historical accuracy isn't really a problem. I suspect this may be why fantasy seems so appealing to new authors--no accountability to facts outside the story; and you can literally save the world.

Still--I'm looking over my paper copy and making pen edits and it's really really easy.

But then again, I've had a lot of practice by now.