Swampy Middle, I Will Own You

So, I'm in the middle of my revisions, which, because I'm doing the chapters in order, means I'm also in the middle of my book. And it's going well, but it's daunting.

Not for the usual reason -- that after an exciting beginning and before a stupendous ending there often rests a lullish middle. Author Timothy Hallinan has some advice for tackling that kind of middle.

Nah. Revision on BRIAR's middle is a challenge because it involves more new text than other parts of the book. This is a result of having created a new POV character, drastically changed another character's psychology, and altered a third character's history. These three decisions are now intersecting to create the writer's equivalent of Goldman's Fire Swamp. When I'm not dodging flame spurts or flailing in lightning sand, I'm wrestling R.O.U.S.s.

But like Westley and Buttercup (okay, mostly Westley), I'm gonna win against this Fire Swamp. And, like Westley, I'm enjoying the challenge.

[And, honestly, any excuse to post a pic of PB-era Cary Elwes is excuse enough.]

New likely finish date: November 30. I'll hold onto the manuscript for a few days afterward to make sure I haven't made some tragic mistake in the heat of revisions, and to address the notes Super-Agent Chris has offered on partials so far.

Don't know about you, but I'm looking forward to jumping out that castle window onto a white horse and riding off with my peeps to the melodious voice of Willy DeVille.

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