Writing Log | Week 16
Day 1 — Sunday
Goal for the week: tackle 4 chapters. Feels achievable, and this section is going to have some heavier edits. My stretch goal is 6 chapters total, which will take me through the first act.
Quote of the chapter I love:
Trust was a thing long-fought and hard-won. It took hours and smiles and history. It had costs, whether sweat or blood or oath.
Wrapped up Chapter 7 right as my son woke up from his nap. Maybe I’ll get another chapter started during his afternoon nap… or maybe I’ll read instead.
Day 2 — Monday
Up at the crack of dawn to get started on Chapter 8 before my son wakes up for the day. I think he’s already stirring, so I know I’ll need to return to finish the chapter later this evening…
Sneaking in a bit more writing before bed, but most of Chapter 8 will have to wait for tomorrow.
Day 3 — Tuesday
Sneaking in a bit of writing before work.
Got through just a couple of paragraphs this morning, but back this afternoon to chip away at some more.
I just added a few juicy lines that I’m happy with:
There was something off about his tone, nearly bitter. His eyes bore into the brushstrokes on the canvas, pupils large in the dim light of the gallery, nearly eating away at the gold of his irises. I fought a shiver.
Day 4 — Wednesday
Woke up early to continue working on Chapter 8. I sowed in a bit more foreshadowing to complement some of the new story beats I worked on in my edit prep.
Next up is Chapter 9, which will require considerable editing. I know I won’t get it all done today, but I’d like to make at least a little progress.
Day 5 — Thursday
Woke up early once again to work on Chapter 9!
One quote from a previous draft that stays and is a big part of our villain’s motivations:
“Victors tell lies. Lies are written and repeated. As time passes, they become truer and truer until nobody knows better.”
I was able to cut a couple hundred words this morning and clean up the opening before my son woke up for the day. More later!
Thinking back on it, I may actually want to rewrite this chapter from scratch without looking at my old version. This needs new life — and so that’s going to be my goal for Friday & Saturday. Today, I’m going to do a little freehand writing as I think about the new Chapter 9 and see where that takes me.
Day 6 — Friday
Up before dawn yet again to work on Chapter 9.
I’m also thinking ahead to Chapter 10 this morning — have some notes to weave in, sowing more suspicion in the FMC’s mind about the MMC, and she’s going to use part of this chapter to interrogate someone about him. I’m glad that Chapters 11 and 12 will remain pretty much unchanged, just a couple of small tidbits to add to each.
I also just rethought a section at the end of Chapter 8 and cut down word count again. Yay!
Decided to log back on to write a bit more tonight. I made cookies, have a glass of Cabernet, and Norah Jones playing… I’ll put off the new material in Chapter 9 until I have more energy tomorrow. For tonight, it’s Chapter 10, which has always been a fun one.
Day 7 — Saturday
Finally getting down to business and writing Chapter 9 from scratch. Scrivener’s snapshot feature is incredibly helpful, since I can save the old version to reference right alongside the new draft.
Finished the chapter after an hour-long sprint. SUCCESS!