This is a short blog post to update the major rewrite of Novel4, which is coming along faster than I had hoped. The key was to just start writing, and an idea for an engaging subplot presented itself. I was able to excise the character I wrote about last time with the untoward relationship and replace that subplot with the new one. In fact, I wrote so much on the new subplot that now the novel is far too long.
I had one final vexing problem: how to make the last major plot twist that was driven by the excised character in the first draft. I finally realized that I could create something very similar if I rewrote that character minus the objectionable relationship. Now that character will play a much smaller role. Whether the idea actually works remains to be seen. I have not yet done that rewriting but hope to finish it this month.
It is so exciting, though, to see the second draft of the novel coming together. It had been so daunting earlier in the rewrite. There will still be a huge amount of work to do after this second draft is finished. I’ll have to cut tens of thousands of words. Even harder than slashing so much will be raising the quality of the language. I trust, however, that time and effort—and a healthy dose of imagination—will make those jobs as fruitful (and enjoyable) as this current task.