I planned novel 4 to be 58k, with 23 chapters. Or that was what my plan told me it would be. In fact, I wasn’t that far off!
Draft 1 came in at 24 chapters and . . . 58k.
(A little dance is called for)
However, redrafting saw changes galore and the word-count let alone the chapters skewed beyond control. Sometimes out character deviate from the path opening u[ new subplots and twists that we just have to explore. And with that the novel changes with the original ending getting either swiped or remodelled.
By Wednesday 31 October, novel 4 will have been redrafted, and at the moment, I’m feeling chuffed with it. The paper-edit will begin straight after, although many would wait, I just can’t. Of course, whatever changes I’ve made now, will surely bamboozle during the scribbles of paper-editing. Red pens at the ready!
So, as things stand: novel 4 will be 69k made up of 29 chapters. Quite the change from draft 1 wouldn’t you concur?
Certain things made me expand on draft 1 to increase the size.
a) The characters deviated journey that enriched the plot
b) An agent stating that 58k for a YA Sci Fi was low, and at least 10k would be required.
Rest assured, I didn’t just add 10k for adding’s sake. Nope, I redrafted and by luck, the count came in higher.
The next 3 weeks will be focussed. I must paper-edit and polish novel 4. Because, come December, I want to start the sequel to novel 2: Disconnect. If I plan to hit the epub market, then I want to have parts 1-3 of the Disconnect Series typed and hyped.
2013 could be a strange year.
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