The Downward Slide

 

          Hello, gentle readers! Hope you are all well and staying safe!

So, I am officially on the downward slide of my current work in progress. What does this mean? It means the end is in sight. 

I love beginning a new story—figuring out my characters (what makes them tick? How did they get to this point in their lives?) and plot points then writing those first words—I love the downward slide even better. It means I’ve done my job. It means the ‘happily ever after’ is so close, I can taste it.

The downward slide is even more important in this story. I’ve had several issues, as I’m sure you remember….losing words, getting stuck a corner with no way out except to delete sentences, paragraphs, even—gasp—whole chapters! We’re not even going to talk about how COVID affected my writing (there was a period there of over four months where I couldn’t write a blessed word! And yes, that happened with this story and one other that’s still only halfway done). And then, of course, there was that time when I doubted my work, doubted I could pull this off, doubted…so many things that I really had to dig down deep to find my rhythm, find my passion again (I’m certain other writers feel this way sometimes). So much to overcome and yet, through perseverance and the kind, encouraging words of my critique partner, I am sailing, full speed ahead to the end. Whew!

Of course, this is just the first draft (and that’s an accomplishment all by itself). Once I’ve written “The End”, the real work begins—editing, which can be painful, yet so satisfying. I’m sure there will be a lot to delete, but that’s okay. I have a tendency to get a little wordy. 

And on that note, I should head on back to that manuscript. It’s not going to write itself.

Stay well! Stay safe! And remember to spread kindness wherever you go!

Marie