Piles and Piles

So the funny thing about being someone who likes to write, but doesn't particularly like to edit or revise, is that I have amassed a good pile of words that are in serious need of touching up.  OK, in some cases they are in serious need of complete gutting, rewriting, and pumping up entirely to create anything of value.

But, that said, that doesn't mean I am under any delusion whatsoever that the works are, themselves, in good shape or infallible.  It is just I have never really "gotten into" revising a work.  Part of it, I am afraid, is that I don't have a good methodology yet.  Part of it is that I have only two works that I think are worth the effort that it would take to get them into a polished package.  Part of it is that I find it easier to remove than add, but most of my finished drafts are about 25,000 words too short (thanks to my comfortable NaNoWriMo pacing).  And part of it is pure laziness.

The problem with this approach is that I still like writing.  Which means that, year after year, I am adding to the piles of unfinished, unpolished mountains waiting for me to extract the ore within.

I'd love to say, "This is the year!" but I am afraid that is not entirely a pledge I am willing to make yet.  However, I am determined to at least start looking at the sludge piles, hoping to transform some of them into something worth for the slush piles on agents' and editors' desks.

Only time will tell.  I did, however, update my word count block at the left to keep track of what I've got in the inbox awaiting revision or completion.

For now, I'll continue working on White Rock, since finishing the first draft is key.  At my current rate, I'm targeting early May for that one. 

Then I will start looking for a methodology to apply to Seven Doors and see if I can't generate something worthwhile.

At least I enjoy it...