I don't know about you, but starting around the first of July, I am totally and completely 100% over summer. Living in Georgia, summers are not fun. They are hot and humid. And if you live in one of those glorious states out west (or any other place in the world) where humidity is pretty much non-existent, then I kind of hate you (Not really. Can I come and visit?).
I just re-read To Kill A Mockingbird for about the fourth time in my life, to prepare myself for the release of Go Set A Watchman, and Scout has one of my favorite lines regarding a southern summer. . .
Men's stiff collars wilted by nine in the morning. Ladies bathed before noon, after their three-o'clock naps, and by nightfall were like soft teacakes with frostings of sweat and sweet talcum. . .
Around July, everything starts to melt in the oppressive heat, and I am utterly useless. Heat just takes the energy right out of me. I find it hard to motivate myself to do anything during the sweltering hours of daylight. Even writing can be a chore, which is weird because it is mostly, for me, a cushy indoor sort of activity.
That's not saying that I haven't been writing at all. I've actually made good progress with this final draft. I finished editing and revising my outline and now I am almost complete with Part One of After Ever. I believe that in previous posts I referred to Book One as Beneath These Falling Stars, but I've now changed the title to After Ever. BTFS may be used for a future book in the series, we'll just have to see.
But the book is divided into five parts as of right now, or at least, that's the way I see it. And my writing group has read the first four chapters and has given me great feedback. We'll have to talk about writing groups and the advantages/disadvantages of being a part of one in a future post.
The only other writing news I have at this time is that I signed up for the Atlanta Writer's Conference this November and I'm really excited. I have reserved a manuscript critique with two editors, one from Harper Collins and one from St. Martin's Press. I'm really excited and nervous about those. I'll also discuss the AWC more as we get closer to it. If anyone has ever been before I'd love to hear about your experience as this will be my first time attending.
Ya'll stay cool now, you hear?