Draft!

Last night I finished off the draft of THE NIGHT SERPENT (title approval pending). Of course, it also has about five pages of single-spaced notes attached to the margins about where I have to go back and add/change/delete/enhance/etc the manuscript, to get it from first draft to submission draft. But the story, she is done. Under word count, of course, but I always do that on first draft. No matter what the contracted-for length, I always come in x under. It's almost funny...

I fully expect the contract to hit my mailbox today. Timing is everything. Nope. I win!


ETA: amusing back-and-forth with my editor this morning. Cursing bad. Hot sex good. And I'm alllllll about the subtle. Really. ;-)
ETA2: For them as interested, the soundtrack for this book seems to have been Acoustic Alchemy, specifically "The Very Best of AA." I think "Same Road, Same Reason" was the soundtrack to my dreams last night, too.
ETA3: It must be a draft. I'm cleaning.

novel_in_90 sitrep

As some of you know, and some of you don't, matociquala started a community called "Novel in 90" wherein the goal is to take small but steady bites out of the novel-writing business. Call it the anti-NaNoWriMo. 750 words a day. That's all.

I joined as a way to make sure that I got going on Retrievers5 (aka DOWN INTO DARKNESS), even as I was plowing through on the Nocturne. I wake up in the morning and, while the caffeine makes itself ready, I write. I don't try to force myself past the 750 word goal: it's enough to keep moving, page by page.

So. A week in, and I report my progress: 5,900 words, out of a projected 100,000.

Seems like nothing, doesn't it? I'm averaging 843 words a day. Small, steady bites. If I keep this up, I'll reach draft by April (contract due date is 1 April). Once TNS is handed in, though, I'll probably be able to double my count for most days. The trick is not to falter. Slow and steady.

We'll see how it continues.


(in the meanwhile, I have a short story that's due and tapping its foot impatiently at me...)

tah-dah!

The Editor and the Publisher have spoken unto me, and it's Official:

The Night Serpent by Anna Leonard will be a Nocturne title in (probably) Spring of 2008.

Everyone raise a glass to welcome "Anna" to the multiple personality folder. No, she's not getting her own LJ or web site - you'll have to come here to get the dirt.



For those wondering, "Anna Leonard" is for my dad, Aaron Leonard. It just seemed right. :-)