Summary:

Another book completed! Really excited about branching out into nonfiction – but also really keen to get back to novel number five when I can find the time/energy. Too much paid work – not a bad problem to have, really.

 

Monday:

I wrote reviews for an audiobook – Gideon the Ninth by Tamsyn Muir – and a physical book – The Other Bennet Sister by Janice Hadlow.

 

Tuesday:

Having thought I might take the whole of this week off, I suddenly had vast amounts of stuff to do!

My boss from my old office job got in touch yesterday, asking if I was available to do a large proofreading job on a report at short notice. So I rearranged my schedule for the week to fit it in, as I didn’t want to say no.

I actually managed to complete half the report, edit the first third of the new version of the ADHD book, and provide comments on the first five chapters of a Revision Club writer’s novel. I also did my GYWO discussion post for the month – but didn’t get round to working on any of my own projects.

 

Wednesday:

I watched Ferris Bueller’s Day Off, in preparation for the next episode of the podcast, and made my notes.

 

Thursday:

I made it to the cafe by 8:15 this morning, ready for a full day of editing and writing!

I started with the other half of the report from my old boss, sending it back a full day early, which I hoped would be welcome. I also provided comments as well as technical proofreading, which I had said I wouldn’t be able to do in the timeframe – because I just can’t let things go unremarked if I see something that may need attention…

I provided comments on the next third of the ADHD book, and the next four chapters of the Revision Club novel.

Later, I did some scouting around for UK agents looking for YA queer fantasy and did my first five queries for Legacy! I was encouraged when I was variously told to submit the first chapter or ten pages, or the first three chapters or 10,000 words – and it turned out my first chapter was ten pages and my first three chapters were 9,500 words. So, apparently, my pacing is good!

 

Friday:

I started out by making some additional notes for the podcast, collecting quotes from critics, both for and against the film, so we could discuss who we agreed with.

Next up was a new client project – developmental editing for a young writer’s first novel – a YA fantasy, which is very much in my wheelhouse these days.

I also read and commented on the next few chapters of the Revision Club novel, which I was really enjoying.

Later, I sought out four more potential agents for Legacy and submitted to them – though I made a major faux pas in not properly following the guidelines for one of the most prestigious agencies in the UK, and now I want to crawl under a rock and never come out. Hey ho!

 

Saturday:

I wrote a review of Arcane by Sever Bronny, which seemed initially as if would be a high fantasy Harry Potter, but found its own way to a new story quite quickly.

Later, the final contribution to Meditations came through, so I inserted it, edited it and declared the first draft finally complete! I emailed it to my editor, the meditation teacher who inspired it, and also offered the TL;DR writers a chance to give feedback.