J.A. Pitts

Novel is done. Honeyed Words first draft is complete

I wrote 17,000 words since Wednesday to finish book 2 in the Black Blade series.

After several hours of brainstorming with my son on Wednesday evening, I had a clear runway to the end of the novel.
From that point, the words flowed like opening a tap. I wish the middle had gone this smoothly, but I have no real complaints.

Proofs from book 1 should be here Monday or Tuesday. I’ll read that straight through, return them to NY, and then pick up book 2 and read it from the beginning. It seems funny to say, but I’ve only written the book. I haven’t actually read it yet.

Should make for good synergy and continuity reading them back-to-back like that. After I do the read and a pass to smooth things out, I’ll get it out to my first readers.

Man, this is GREAT! I’m so happy to wrap this. It’s seriously early but I want it to be better than book 1, so I need some quality time to see what works and what doesn’t. It is also longer than the first one, which surprises me. I tend to be a put’er-in’er, so the thought I may actually cut seems absurd.

The story is what it is. If my exceptional editor thinks it’s long, then we’ll adjust.

But before that, we have the first readers and mine are superb. Top notch folks with good eyes and who are not afraid to let me know when something doesn’t work for them.

Off to chill and make a few phone calls — let the panic set in that it’s a horrible mess. But that’s not today’s business.

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