The Reluctant Scribe is finished. I think.
The planned changes have been made, new sections added, a final read through done.
In addition, I’ve rewritten the prologue to address some of my readers feedback, “We don’t know where you’re going with this, Ruth.”
Now it should be much clearer.
The passage of time has really helped me to take an objective view of my novel. Now I know what to do and am making the necessary changes.
I’m taking part in Misha and Beth’s Five Year Project and my five-year goal is to write a novel and get it published. This is my update on progress this month with my novel, The Reluctant Scribe.
My most recent – and most helpful – critique was by a retired professor of English literature. She suggested my character needed more reflection and more internal dialogue in certain places. And she thought the ending was too abrupt (another reader made the same comment).
I printed off the whole thing and read it through again. It’s 5 months since I last did this, and the passage of time really helped me take an objective view. The final decisions made by my main character seemed obvious to me at the time of writing, but with the benefit of distance I realise that the story would be made stronger with more exposition.
Showing is great. But sometimes you have to do a little telling too!
I’m taking part in Misha and Beth’s Five Year Project and my five-year goal is to write a novel and get it published. This is my update on progress this month. (I was tempted to write ‘lack of progress’, but that would be defeatist!)
I’ve been doing lots of writing-related activity. But nothing that’s going to get The Reluctant Scribe published.
I’m taking part in Misha and Beth’s Five Year Project and my five-year goal is to write a novel and get it published. This is my update on progress this month.
A few months ago I sent my novel off for review by an adult historical fiction author and editor. Her comments were very positive and she provided me with a number of useful suggestions to consider.
What have I done with my novel since then?
Nothing. Absolutely nothing. Absolutely NOTHING at all.
I have sent my novel of for another review, to an adult historical fiction author. Here are her comments and recommendations.
I’m taking part in Misha and Beth’s Five Year Project and my five-year goal is to write a novel and get it published. This is my update on progress this month.
I have sent my novel of for another review, to an adult historical fiction author. Overall, her comments were very positive: “you quickly drew me into this very different world and in no time I was happily living alongside your characters.”
Ruth Livingstone 