leslieann

Probably didn't add more than 200 words today but a lot of tidying, polishing, considering. This month has been more about spending time and pondering than about getting words down, which makes sense because I am not drafting. It's okay. I think keeping a loose record of the work is still beneficial to me, just as the zoom sprints are helpful.

Removed a chunk per editorial review, added part of sarah scene, fixed pawn shop...getting clunky again. Need a focused period of writing here.

Probably not done yet. Had a brainstorm while driving yesterday about a necessary scene with grandmother. Not sure I can pull it off but that's how I feel about this entire project. Still working at it but time to record words for today.

completed the scene with the kids' chorus, started a scene with conversation with Brooks. Time for a bit more disclosure, and also to see Emma lying to him. Things look "normal-ish" until she starts getting the texts which happens on Monday. Mae still hasn't told her to stop drinking, but she's hiding it a little better. Mae needs to be irritated and frustrated with what she knows is going on, but it has been going on for years. and before this with Eloise, so Mae is paralyzed.

Spent part of my writing time reviewing audio files for sea stars. Am building transition and smoothing scenes for the current ms though. Building more realistic relationships with the children.

Spent time wrapping up chapter 5 and starting 6. Had to add a section or two about the children's chorus, and ch 6 needs to start some days later...not sure how to do that since the original draft had a super tight timeline Not a lot of new words but some better ones.

Not sure how to count some of this writing because I am revising and in some places that means FEWER words and in others, the word count grows. I am only hoping the ms is improved and that I don't discard things I might want to use later. Keep working. That's the key.

Worked on ms. trying to avoid the big info dump in chapter 5 but also share information.

worked on chapter 2, embedding the backstory from toronto and getting some of Mae's more realistic reactions.

Working on the start of the rewrite now that I understand my characters better. Why did I think she could just show up and not have to explain herself? this is going to be much better. But there is a lot of work to do on it.

Still working on character list, notes for upcoming new words. Words recorded are the current character list