Editing Bliss

I know, the words editing and bliss don't normally go together, but I'm very exiting to have time for editing this week.  I feel like I've nailed the first six chapters of my new novel and am ready to take on what will hopefully be the final edits of my last novel. 

Two nights ago, while washing dishes and talking with my husband, I figured out what was missing from my last novel, the thing that has kept me from letting people read it from start to end.  I can't believe I didn't see it before - the protagonist needs more direct real-time interaction with the antagonist.  Of course.  How could I not see this?  It's not too late though - today I can begin to finish it.  I am very excited.

It's good to let a piece sit on my desk for a few months if I have a feeling it isn't quite done, but am not sure what it is.  It's cool how our minds take care of things in the background.

When I'm done with these edits, I hope to back up to my children's story and finish those edits too.  I had an ah-ha moment when I was telling the story to my babes.  The story needs to start at chapter four.  It needs to be linear with a very clear timeline.  It needs to be more simple.  I have the story rearranged and just need to smooth it over.  I can't wait to finish it.

I really believe now (now that I know better) that I would have avoided these large revisions if I had done a detailed design before I wrote the first word.  I know for creative people, that would seem to suck the fun out of it.  But for me it works much better.  I have absolute confidence my latest story is solid because I thought the whole thing through before I wrote one word.  And I documented it for myself so I wouldn't forget.

I hope you all are moving along with your stories too.  Do any of you do up-front, detailed designs for your longer works?