Now is the time on Sprockets when we dance!
I have just now, like 30 seconds ago, finished the completed rough (so very, very rough) draft of my second book. Well, third book written, second to be published. Unless someone swoops in and wants to publish my first book before this third book is put out as my second.
Everyone with me still?
Now comes the fun part- cutting. I write Middle Grade horror/suspense. My first book (second to be written, but first to be published when it comes out in August) was just over 44,000 words long. I was asked to bring this one in at right around the same length. Early on, I asked if I could stretch that. So they hesitantly said 50,000 words. About a week ago, I notified my agent that it was going to come in under 70,000. He said something along the lines of “It sure as heck better!”
Final word count? 70,684.
So I’m close. That said, this is the roughest of rough drafts. I will go through it and I will nip and tuck and there will be some cruel and unusual punishments taken out on frivolent words. Then I have to get it out to my readers, and then get it back and make more edits, then get it to my agent, then get it back and make more edits, and then finally get it to the publisher. All by December 1.
Piece of cake. Just ignore any loud, booming sounds heard coming from my home for the month of November. They are more likely than not simply me pounding my head against the wall.
The official website of author and storyteller David Neilsen! 