Revision will do that. Look at that word--it says re-vision. You're looking at your story anew. I think I enjoy revision and refining the vision better than getting the story down rough, but that's just me. I'm a tweaker by nature.

No, not that kind of tweaker, the kind who stands in front of a table arranging and rearranging the objects on it until they make a *perfect* and balanced display.

Yeah, revision can be an addiction. "No wait, I can make this *even better!*"

I probably prefer the rough draft process, but there is something satisfying about polishing too.

Now that I've done some revision, I'm much more sensitive to using words that tell emotions, starting sentences certain ways, using passive voice, and other stuff.

Also, thanks for being willing to look at more chapters Bev.

Oooh, I should be getting my copy of MS Word tomorrow. I've been spending a lot of time in my word processor and Open Office has worked well enough, but it just isn't as good as Word. Also, MS Office for home use is unexpectedly cheap.

I finished chapter 5 revised, which is a misnomer because the content is all new. Tonight hopefully I will have time to read through it and tweak a bit before moving on to chapter 6 revised. Another chapter that will need heavy reworking.

I'm looking forward to chapter 7/8. They'll need work, but not the almost complete replacement I've been doing so far. Also, a couple of really interesting characters come into play. After that, I'll probably revisit chapter 1 and 2 again.

Help me set the scene: LA fender-bender between a rich guy in a midlife-crisis Ferrari and some college kids in a mom car...how long would they wait for the cops to show up? Would they feel inclined to stay in their cars? (I've been involved in an accident or two, but wheelchairs are always tied to the floor)

I don't know about LA, but here people get out of their cars and will wait quite awhile for the police if there is damage.

Ok, that's sort of what I pictured, but I'm only sure what to do when people are having coffee or something. Minor damage, but there's some.

You don't have to get out of the car, but you probably would if you're not injured, just to check for damage, etc., and talk to the other driver.

Unless someone doesn't have insurance or is drunk, or otherwise doesn't want the police anywhere near them, you're going to wait, unless it's a really minor fender tap or something.

Yee haw! Chapter 5 of the revision is finally done, you know, for this revision. I went back and rewrote a good deal of chapter 4, but it is for the best. I cannot wait to get done with the revision of 6 and finally start getting on with the plot. At the end of chapter 6 I will be at the end of chapter 2 in the rough draft. What took 16,000 words will now be done in 11,000 words (approx.) with an entirely new chapter that didn't exist in the rough draft.

Friday morning I was in a "This is utter crap!" frame of thought. Now I'm back in a "Hey, this might actually be good." frame of thought.

Friday morning I was in a "This is utter crap!" frame of thought. Now I'm back in a "Hey, this might actually be good." frame of thought.

Every writer's lament. ;-)