New draft

I've been working hard on a new draft of my novel. My editor sent me a list of things to work on, so I'm taking care of those things. She found some obvious things that need to be fixed that I was totally blind to. Of course, yesterday, I realized another major logic flaw so I had to backtrack to fix it (something about bad guys chasing good guys for no apparent reason other than that I wanted an action scene). Sometimes I feel like I take one step forward and then three steps back. Anyway, I hope to have this draft finished in a week, so that then we can tear it all apart again.

Of course, this week is also filled with music arranging (or deranging?), getting cars fixed, teaching music, and for the big one: pinewood derby is next week. I wish I had more time to help my son with his car, especially since this is our last year in the racing circuit. My sons are getting too old!

Busy week

This week, I've been involved in the American Leadership Academy Broadway Blast in Spanish Fork. It's a musical show put together by Rick Lunt where he has a professional band (which I'm a part of) backing up his students. It's a really good show and fun to do. This is the third time I've worked with him and I'm always impressed by the quality shows he puts together. It's a lot of work, though, crammed into a short period of time (one week).

Of course, this is the week when my editor contacted me about changes to my book. It's exciting to get to the next stage, but a little daunting, too. I'm starting to feel a little rookie nervousness. I know that I'm not a great writer (yet). I have a long ways to go and a lot to learn. I just hope that I am good enough to help my first book be successful. Of course, this is where the editor comes in, to help me past the many rookie mistakes that I'm making.

If anyone tells you that being a writer is easy, shoot them.

Official author

It's official. I am an author. I now have a Library of Congress CIP number. I don't know what it is, but I have it!

Constant improvement

I'm always reading new things to improve my knowledge of writing and music. It's amazing that after studying music for over 30 years and getting a masters degree, there is still so much for me to learn. With writing, it's even a bigger prospect. I know a little, but every time I read a book about writing, go to a lecture/panel on writing, or listen to a podcast, there's always something new for me to learn. It's exciting and scary.

For instance, I'm doing yet another draft of The Dragon War Relic. Every time I read it, I find more things that need to be fixed. Part of that is because each time I do a new draft, I have new knowledge that I can apply.

Why did I have to pick two arts that require a lifetime of study?