Re-Reading, pp 1-57

After last week, I decided that I needed to re-read all the pages I've written if I am going to able to write the end of this novel in a way that really works. I started this book over four years ago, and, frankly, I can't remember everything that I have written. The end of the novel needs to have elements from the entire book, so I need to look at the entire book. That seems like a pretty logical way of approaching things, right?

There was a part of me that just wanted to keep writing and not spend two or three weeks reading back through. I am sure that hesitation comes from just wanting to be FINISHED. But also, there is fear that I will find something that will make me think that a major revision is needed. I have been so optimistic in the last five months about this book. I just don't want to find out that it was all in my head.

Well, I printed out the whole manuscript yesterday, and I must admit that I felt pretty accomplished seeing all those pages sliding out of the printer. Because of a hectic work schedule, I wasn't able to read them. Today, I got up early and gave a look-see.

The verdict: not bad at all. At least not in the first three chapters.

One thing I am noticing is that there are a lot of cool character details that I introduced and dropped. For example, one character keeps golf pencils in her purse and she pretends to smoke them when she gets nervous. Well, if that is her habit, it has to be her habit all the way through. I have a little notebook where I am writing such things down.

Tomorrow, I'll read the next 50 pp.