The Cursed Witch post-beta editing is going slowly. Soooooooooooooooooooo slowly. Not because I'm not putting in the time! I've put in *checks* 18h31. Just for Chapter 2. Out of ten chapters. I've spent 43h51 on this round of editing so far, and I'm not even a quarter of the way through.

I can never write a story in this way again.

It doesn't matter that the changes do seem to be making the story better and more interesting (although I'm still concerned about pace). It's just hard to work on ideas I had 2 years ago when I have more ideas, concepts, life questions I want to dive into now. But mainly, if I'm aware of how much work is ahead of me, and that I won't be able to take on much of anything else during that period, I suspect I just won't start. I don't have any genius ideas that feel worth that much effort. Just a lot of concepts I think are pretty cool.

The main thing is that doing structural edits at this very late stage of the story is likely too much, too late. I suspected it would be, but now I sure as hell feel it! I guess if I had the kind of brain that can work on this for several hours in a day, it would matter less, because I'd still have time to explore all of the fun things, but I can't right now.

I've been trying to teach myself to be a bit more chill about how I edit during the *checks* 191h57 (sob) and 50 millions (actually 4 or 5) rounds of editing, but clearly I don't know how to be chill about editing. Did I mention it took me 30 hours to write the first draft, and that I always say I prefer writing to editing? Something is skewed here.

I don't think a "better editing process" is what I need right now. I think more work in the early phases is where I should look next. ( Read more... )

I started alternating these edits with more lighthearted activities, like a fic I'm writing for a new fandom :) Obviously, that means editing will take even longer but it's keeping the insanity at bay, which is great! I recommend that! XD Unfortunately, I also feel like my writing is flat and lifeless at the moment. I know this kind of feelings ebb and flow over the seasons, and I just have to (gently) push through.

Progress is being made!! :) It's just a little bit harder to feel good about it at times. Step by step.

Community Thursday challenge: every Thursday, try to make an effort to engage with a community on Dreamwidth, whether that's posting, commenting, promoting, etc.

Commented on booknook.

Signal boosts:

• fan_writers continues to see a lot of active discussions around meta about writing, if that is of interest to you! :)