Schrödinger's Manuscript
In which I am definitely not overly anxious about things over which I should maybe not be anxious...
It has been a wild and crazy spring here in M.J. Land.
For the first time in a very long time, I am actually on track with the goals I set for myself at the beginning of the year. I don’t really know what to do with that except to keep pinching myself or whatever because it can’t possibly be real.
But as the rather large bruise forming on my arm would suggest, it does seem to be, in fact, real (unlike the bruise. I was just kidding about the pinching myself thing) so this month sees me leaving a newly published project behind and moving on to the next one.
That project is Full Circle, the third book in my epic-ish fantasy series, The Coileáin Chronicles.
So, I’m assuming that anyone reading this post is already painfully aware of this WIP’s history/journey, but just in case someone new has stumbled onto this post, here’s a probably not-that-quick recap:
Last year, I made the decision to make some changes to Full Circle. The beta round went about as poorly as it could go (sucks, but it happens), and the need for change was glaringly obvious. So, I identified the problem areas (a technical term known as ‘all of it’…) and attempted to devise solutions for these issues with the aim of making the story…What’s the phrase? Oh right—suck less. (Dare to dream, right?)
The revisions and rewrites were completed at the end of the year, and the manuscript has been chilling in a (metaphorical) drawer ever since.
I have been very happily ignoring it these many months because I have had other things going on (see: April Accomplishments below) but now we are in a new month, and I no longer have those things going on. Full Circle is scheduled to, once again, become my main focus WIP, and my stupid anxiety brain is in full anxiety mode. (Though, to be fair, it’s not often in any other mode.)
You see, in the drawer, the manuscript is safe. In the drawer, the manuscript still has the potential to be not terrible. In the drawer, the manuscript will not require me to tear it apart again and figure out yet another way to stitch it back together. The manuscript is better in the drawer.
Because as soon as I take it out of the drawer, I’m going to know for sure. I mean, yeah, the manuscript might still be terrible, even if it never leaves the drawer, but as soon as I start reading, I lose the ability to pretend otherwise.
But here’s the thing…The (possibly delulu) goal for this manuscript is to have it out in the world by the end of the year. This year. And I’m officially on the cover artist’s schedule for later this year, so I would very much like to have the manuscript finalized by then.
Which means I’m going to have to open that drawer.
I’m going to have to read this manuscript.
And I’m going to have to hope for the best. Or, at the very least, not the absolute worst.
So, you know, fingers crossed that those revisions and rewrites did their job.
Because I really don’t know what I’ll do if they didn’t.
All right. I’m going to shut up now. But first, as is my habit, I like to end these monthly posts with a look at how the previous month went followed by a glimpse at what I hope to accomplish in the new month. (If you follow me on other forms of social media, you may have seen these already.)
First up, April Accomplishments:
Here’s what’s on tap for May:
That’s going to do it for me today. Thanks for stopping by. It’s always much appreciated.
Stay safe and well, all. 🫶