I’ve been working on the first re-write and edit of my book manuscript for a week now and I’m almost halfway done.  As I was writing my rough draft, I kept a notebook of things I needed to fix later.  This helped me to stay focused on moving my story forward.  There was a temptation to go back and fix things, but knowing I had my list and nothing would be lost helped me to stay on track.

There have been a few typos to correct (but, surprisingly few).  Most of the things I’ve needed to work on in my first re-write and edit have been loose ends that I need to tie up, as well as adding more depth to my characters at the beginning of the story.  By the end I knew them so much better, so it was easy to go back and add things that would help define them early on.

I have to say that I’ve fallen in love with my characters all over again as I’ve been working on  the re-write and edit.  They have become fully developed and unique.  As I read the story, I can hear each of their individual voices in my head.  In actuality, they seem to have taken on a life of their own.

One of the things that was really important to me was to create homeschooled characters that were authentic.  As homeschoolers, we often feel like society is scrutinizing our every move.  This intense and sometimes public critique of our educational choices can sometimes cause us to feel like we have to be perfect in some unrealistic ways.  It’s not unusual to have a complete stranger at the grocery store start quizzing your child when they find out you’re a homeschool family.

Since my book was written for homeschoolers, I wanted to write what the experience truly is … and not just what we’d like it to be.  As a homeschooling Mom for twelve years, I would love it if schoolwork was done on time, without any complaints, and we stayed on track throughout the year.  But, that’s just not how it happens.  I’ve had to appreciate the fact that the things that have thrown us off track have also presented wonderful learning opportunities too.  I’ve had to learn to value the happy distractions and outright potholes we’ve encountered on our educational journey.  Learning to relax about it was one of the hardest things for me to come to terms with as a homeschool Mom.

I wanted to portray a real homeschooling family – characters that your homeschoolers could relate to.  My book isn’t trying to explain or defend homeschooling to those outside the homeschooling community – although, if it accomplishes that, I would be delighted.  No, my goal was simply to tell a story that would be identifiable, comfortable, and entertaining for homeschooling families to share.

Hopefully, I’ll be done with the first re-write and edit of my novel by next week and I can send it out to some close friends for an honest critique before I prepare my final draft for submission to publishers.

Until next time …

Tracey

I made the decision to start writing a novel on January 1st of 2010.  I’ve been a homeschooling Mom for the past twelve years and I wanted to write a novel that included homeschooled children and teens as the main characters.  So, I decided my first novel would be in the young adult fantasy genre with a combination of homeschooled teens and public-schooled teens in the story.

Initially, I thought … how hard can it be?  Had I known then what I know now, I might have considered a different avenue.

Gene Fowler once wrote:

“Writing is easy:  All you do is sit staring at a blank sheet of paper until drops of blood form on your forehead.”

He certainly knew what he was talking about.  I guess the blank, white computer screen is similar to the blank sheet of paper – both stark reminders of your current lack of ideas.

Being the Type A personality that I am, I made a writing schedule and, for the most part, I stuck to it.  I wrote five days a week for approximately six hours a day.  I’m old enough to know that you can’t only write when inspired, but I knew I would have to wring ideas out of thin air when I felt uninspired.

After six months, I’ve finished the rough draft for my first novel.  I loved this poster from the U.S. Civil Service Commission printed during either WWI or WWII (I’m not sure which one).  Victory does wait on my fingers.  I can’t get published unless I finish a book.

So, my first goal has been reached and I’m moving toward my second goal – completing the re-write and edit, putting the manuscript into a box, and actually sending it out to a publisher.

My deadline for sending out my first round of submissions is July 31, 2010.  I’ll keep you posted.

Until next time …

Tracey