I’m deep into the main revision for my special project, cleverly code-named ATLANTIS I, which should also give you an indication of what it’s about (I’m not into secret project names…I would never call GNW3 Puppies III, for example, as I’d just end up confusing myself). I was estimating about 20,000 words, but after building out more of the story during the revision, I’m giving it space to expand to 24,000.

It’s got a long way to go, of course. Here’s my typical project process, deadline freelance work notwithstanding:

1. Complete rough draft.
2. Wander off to corrupt the youth/watch How I Met Your Mother/drink more coffee.
3. Return to project a few days to a couple of weeks later and perform BAR (Big Author Revision).
4. Off to editor; she gives it a general proofing but also looks for plot holes, weird stuff, inconsistencies, boringness. My editor saved the ending of DBG.
5. Make whatever changes necessary; send off to beta readers.
6. Make whatever changes necessary. Final author proofread.
7. Off to Le Editrix for a thorough proofreading.
8. Cover art misadventure begins.

This time around, I’m adding another step:

9. Get the bloody thing formatted.

I can and have formatted my own books. They’ve turned out fine (albeit very simple) but it’s a pain in the ass. Since this one is supposed to be short, I may take one crack at it myself, but after that I’m going to hire on someone and happily pay him or her to do it for me.

(I’m told Scrivener formats ebooks, which is part of why I purchased it, but after four months of use, I can’t seem to warm up to the software. Word might be all kinds of evil, but it’s the best processor for me.)

Not much else to report. Had a nice long weekend without other projects – ended up taking Saturday off and then really cracked down on Atlantis I today. Tomorrow I return to other work, and the great juggling act of our time (heh) resumes.

Cheers!