My first draft is done!

Based on my previous projections, it was going to take me into the first week of April to complete this first draft, and with how hectic my entire March has been at work, I am so pleased to announce that I got it all done by 11.50pm on 31 March 2025, in just under 3 months. That was after working all the way until 10pm too. Woo!

For the first time ever (as I haven’t been doing this on my previous drafts), I was able to write these grand words:

But as anyone who’s been through the process would know, it is still far from a presentable product. In fact, the whole thing is even messier than what it was as a first draft because of all the substantive changes I’d made. So the amount of work left after this draft is…

Daunting. 💀

1. Address the notes I left for myself
   Yes, there were plenty of parts I skipped and left as notes for consideration because I wasn’t quite what to do with them at the time and I’m hoping that looking back again after some time away would give me clarity.
   Goal: 1 week. Gonna take this opportunity to slow down a little for the first time in 3 months as well and spend more time on books and tv.

2. Rewrite
   I think this is going to be a bit more complex than a “standard” rewrite (sigh). Because halfway through the first draft, I decided to overhaul the story setting so much that all of the world history, society, political system, description, etc. will also need to change. The only thing I’m really keeping is the main plot. So currently, the story is 50% based in its old world and 50% based in the new world. Even all the location and character names have changed. It’s an absolute mess. 😒
   Goal: end of June 2025. Tidy it all up and get everything in a cohesive manner. Will involve rewriting (again) the starting chapters and various other scenes, mostly in the first half of the story.

3. Edit & synopsis
   The most uncertain stage at this point, not knowing how the end product of the rewrite is going to look. But if all goes well, hopefully this is going to involve minor developmental changes only and I can get down to more of a line-level edit plus develop my synopsis at the same time!
   Goal: end of July 2025.

If I get through all that, I’m going to feel like a winner.

I am a staunch believer in the fact that reading makes better writing. So despite the limited time I have, I’ve made sure that I continue to read whenever I can—in and out of the genres I read.

The most unexpected find this month has to be Medieval Myths & Mysteries by Dorsey Armstrong. I usually struggle with staying focused and interested throughout audiobooks, but this held my interest all the way. Each story and lecture delivered by Armstrong was so entertaining and eye-opening, and the book ended by drawing parallels between Game of Thrones and real medieval events. Definitely made me feel like I’m on the right track with my own story, which is based in a world loosely inspired by the Tang Dynasty of China.

While on a family trip to Melbourne last week, I also picked up the (Apple) pen and started drawing on Procreate again! I didn’t finish anything, but it was nice just to make a start on something new and re-familiarising myself with the functions again.