Progress means different things to different people.
The dictionary defines progress in the following way:
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prog·ress [n. prog-res, -ruh
s or, esp. British, proh-gres; v. pruh-gres] Show IPA
noun
- a movement toward a goal or to a further or higher stage: the progress of a student toward a degree.
- developmental activity in science, technology, etc., especially with reference to the commercial opportunities created thereby or to the promotion of the material well-being of the public through the goods, techniques, or facilities created.
- advancement in general.
- growth or development; continuous improvement: He shows progress in his muscular coordination.
- the development of an individual or society in a direction considered more beneficial than and superior to the previous level.
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For the purpose of this post I am going to talk about progress as referenced in #1 above.
In my post titled 2014 – New Year’s Resolutions!!! I stated that one of my new year’s resolutions was to publish my third book; Revenge – the 3rd book in the Blood Angel Series. Well, today I got one step further in that process.
Let me explain.
What steps do I take when writing a book, well… since I am only on book 3 I haven’t really figured all of that out, but here is my basic process:
- Decide on a topic
- Map out a basic outline (I don’t write this down – I just want to know where I think the story will go)
- Start writing… This is when I find out that my characters were laughing at me when I was thinking through the story line, and that they actually have a much different story in store for me.
- Once the first draft has been finished I send it off to editor #1
- Re-writes
- Send it off to editor #2
- Re-writes
- Send it off to editor #3
- Re-writes
- Reread (I normally go through the book cover to cover two or three more times to see if I catch any more edits that need to be made or to make final rewrite changes that I feel are important).
- Publish
Okay… where am I in the process now? The answer is PROGRESS!!! I just did the re-writes after receiving my edits from editor #2. Now I am just waiting for the edits from editor #3 so that I can do the final re-writes, read through two or three times, and then publish.
I know it doesn’t seem like I’m almost done, but trust me I am. That makes me a very happy girl… BUT…
After getting the edits back from Editor #2 I am seeing a trend… so far 2 out of 3 editors have told me that there now needs to be a BOOK 4 in the Blood Angel Series. When I started this series the plan was to write a trilogy… it looks like, unless some major changes happen, the trilogy isn’t going to be a trilogy any more. I guess I have some thinking to do before I get the book back from Editor #3.
What do you think? Have you read books 1 and 2? If you have I would love to know your thoughts… Where would you like to see the story go? Do you want it to continue or do you like the idea of a trilogy?
Either way… progress is progress and I have made movement toward my goal – I AM A HAPPY GIRL!
Nina Soden 