Second Draft Chronicles: Next Steps

And we've made it. I promised to keep writing until I felt that I had accurately chronicles my experience writing the second draft of Guardians of Cornerstone and I have. From reconsidering my goal of doubling the word count, to adjusting to a new audience, to reconfiguring the sections, I feel pretty good about what I've done. Now the last thing to do is look forward.

If you have time (and it's summer so you might) to skim through three and a half years worth of posts in this blog then you'll see that many of them are riddled with self-doubt. As an aspiring author I'm setting myself up for a lot of personal rejection and unfortunately it's just a trade hazard. Harper Lee, one of the most acclaimed authors I've read once wrote, "I would advice anyone who aspires to a writing career that before developing his talent he would be wise to develop a thick hide." I have to take her advice as I head into the next phase, which is receiving feedback.

When I finished the first draft of Guardians I was willing to let anyone read it. Then this past September as I started to rework the entire plot I decided that I didn't want anyone reading the first draft because I knew that Guardians was going to become so much more. At this point though I need fresh eyes. There are parts of the story that I know don't work but quite frankly I have no idea how to fix them. And then there are parts that I love and I hope other people will as well. But in order to gain this feedback I need to brace myself for criticism which I may not want to hear.

It's amazing that anyone ever finishes a novel. Good writers read and when you read what's already out there it can be the most enjoyable intimidation experience. I'm not trying to emulate anyone but there are authors I love who when I read them I think, I can't do what they've done. But at this point I do believe that my story is one worth telling and I'm going to keep working until I get to share it with everyone.

For this final post of the second draft chronicles please enjoy Kalynn trying to pick SHana up after her moment of great failure.

            There was a knock on the door. “Shana!” More pounding. “Shana you have to let someone in.”

            Shana stayed silent and kept reading her book.

            Kalynn continued to knock. “This someone has hot chocolate charms.”

            A bolt of navy light struck the Lock Charm and the door swung open.

            “Make the hot chocolate then.”

            There was a clink as the charms hit the mugs. Green light sparked and Shana could smell the hot chocolate.

            Shana returned to her book. Right now it was easier to focus on someone else’s life.

            A mug blocked the page. “Normally I wouldn’t like you ordering me around but you’re sad. Drink this.”

            The drink was rich and sweet. “Thank you.” Chocolate always made everything better.