Sunday 19th November 2017

Much to my annoyance there was no Sunday sparring today.
Whilst I appreciate that it’s the day after Bucklerthon, I have Wessex Bath in less than a week and… well, I need to train.
Perhaps a day off is what my body needs after a slew of tournaments but given I missed training on Wednesday due to the car, I feel I’ve had enough rest.  A rest is all well and good (and I’ve earned it after my performance yesterday) but I really need to get some solid rapier & dagger practise in.
I didn’t waste the day, although  I could have been more productive.  By the time I enjoyed an extended lay in, had breakfast and dicked around on the internet it was almost lunchtime.
I’m aware that this is my week off work and I don’t want to waste it.   The plan is to get as much work done on the edits of book 2 as possible over this next week.  But given gym, physio and training it’s not as free as it might first look.
I’d love to get the entire book edited this week but I think it needs more work doing to it than can be physically done in a single week.  I always find editing slow, never quite sure what I should be doing.  However, I’ve told myself that at this stage it’s to get it in a readable stage and do some work on the secondary characters.  I fear that’s going to result in a lot of work for certain threads in the book, which will mean time.
I need to keep reminding myself that I’m ahead of myself here.  I have a novel draft of the second book before I’ve even sold the first.  If I can get a first structural edit done on it before Black as Knight goes on submission that’ll put me massively ahead.
There’s also the worry as to whether editing should get easier or whether the more skilled you get, the more difficult it becomes.  I’d hate to rush the edits just to get them done.  But then I remind myself that book 2 may need major rewrites if an editor wants to make changes to book 1.
So, I found myself today constantly pulling back.  Obviously if something was crap or wrong I removed or fixed it.  But I also kept reminding myself that the only thing I should be focusing on is the big picture stuff right now.  The fine tuning will come much later.
And for that reason, I feel I should be able to power through… except I’m not.  I’m either getting bogged down in detail and doubt… or (as I fear) I’m just not being productive.
I got 2 chapters edited in the end, which I guess isn’t too bad.  I then had Craig come over for tea and chat which is always a delight.  It feels like a reward for working hard, except I just don’t feel like I’ve worked hard.
Still, as I tell myself, I was supposed to be sparring today.  Therefore, any editing I got done today was a bonus.
The real work starts tomorrow.
If you want to follow more of my journey, then be sure to check me on my social channels.  Likewise, if you’d like me to expand on any point mentioned above, please say so in the comments.

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