A little work here, a little work there -- it adds up after a while. Draw the Line is up to about 97,000 words. Writing out a few notes to direct me in the story has been the best thing I could have done. It's also adding more to the story than I had expected, but that's okay. If it goes to 120,000 words, I don't mind, as long as it tells the story I want.
And it is, finally, focusing better. I also know a lot of where the rewrite needs to focus. The plotline is there, but needs tightening up -- another reason why I'm not worried about it going long. It also needs far more care in building the alien races and their cultures. I have the notes of what I want, but I need to work that into the story better.
Obviously, at 500 words a day, it is still going to be a while before I get the first draft done.
I am also working on the massive rewrite of the much older book, Rat Pirates. This one is such fun that I really like working on it, and wish I had more time to devote to it. It is over 40,000 words already, though, so it's moving along quite nicely. I probably have at least another 100k to go on it. LONG book.
I sent off a query this afternoon, too. You never know if it will work until you try. And these days, it doesn't even cost you anything to try -- many agents and publishers work online. I find it kind of fun, to be honest -- but then, we all know I'm a bit odd!
Better to think it fun, though, than fearing and dreading it.
