Jobsworth
I suppose that I should probably have managed to get more done over these last few days, but I'm satisfied nevertheless.
The plot outline for Muse-that-was is now complete; 83 notecards (or rather Impress slides, but let's not quibble) worth of stuff, which I shall proceed to sort through on Sunday, are the final result.
Although I'm far from done with the thing, I think I can finally see the golden syrup of truth through the molasses of story. At least one subplot has been excised in the note-making, without destroying the rest of the tale (remember that stories are woven, not told; plucking out a plot is akin to plucking a loose thread from a rug - you never quite know what's going to unravel), and in fact parts of the tale have been strengthened as a result, having to stand on their own merit rather than rely on something that never really worked. Also, bar the places where I have notecards but no prose for bits of the story, I've expanded all those NOTES IN CAPS that I left in the manuscript for myself, which is both immensely satisfying and a great relief.
If I can get the second round of edits done by the end of the year I'll be tremendously happy. If I can get copies of a coherent tale out to beta readers early in the new year, I'll be flying.
And novel the second is waiting in the wings, tugging impatiently on the curtains, begging to get in on the act.
Not yet, though.
Tomorrow, Sarah and I are going to see this lot (MySpace link, sorry) at the Manchester Academy, which should be fun (and, beforehand, noodlesdoubleplusgood). The last time I saw them was in Preston in 2000 or thereabouts; I'm reserving judgement on how well they've aged in the meantime.
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