I'm wondering if my main character needs to have some more inner monologue. Maybe a bit more of seeing what is happening in that head would give the character some more depth. OTOH, I don't want to convey things that should be conveyed via actions and dialogue.

I also wonder if I need some more description of physical settings.

Revising is tough especially since the draft kinda sucks.

Yeah, if he can't manage to do anything with it in a year, that does seem like he's abandoning it on his own.

Yep. I suspect he might be relieved to have you say "This isn't working out."

And Allyson, you are not a hack. You are a talented writer suffering from a crisis of confidence.

ION, I have to write an email to my agent about an idea for an illustrated children's book. And, um, work on the proposal for the book I've already talked to her about.

Oh that's right! I need to talk to Pete about a commission for Phillip, the Vegetarian Zombie!

Is 40 pages into a 500-600 page book too late to finish off the physical description (relevant later to some extent) of the main character? I worry about jarring a reader out of the current mental image, but perhaps I'm just concerned needlessly as long as the book is internally consistent.

I settled in to do some writing after I've taken the NyQuil. We'll see how that goes. . .

Aimee didn't care about the men chasing after her anymore; this looked like a good place to take a nap.

Aimee didn't care about the men chasing after her anymore

This sometimes happens with Aimee/Amys. ::nods::

I'm done with the revision of chapter 6,well the first revision anyhow. I think that puts me at 10% through the first revision run.

I started chapter 7 revised and actually added words to a scene. I haven't read it aloud yet, so I don't yet know how the NyQuil fueled writing went. Plowing ahead.

My wife has now started a blog about helping me write.

[link]

She seems to think I'll get published. I'm much less optimistic, but we'll clean the hell out of this manuscript and then give it a shot.

That's a great idea for a blog, Gud (You might tell her the correct spelling is "go-fer". Or, you know, not). That concept of support is very very important to people who have to carve time out of their day for their art or craft.

When H was carving and painting figurines, or making pysanky, to be given to others as a gift from our family, I was in charge of the music, backrubs, sandwiches, fresh tea, kid wrangling, parent wrangling, and kibbitzing about color and design. And when I was working on the last drawer novel, I would eat when a plate of hot and delicious food was put between me and my keyboard. Physical and practical support is invaluable to someone with limited time to devote to their art.

oh god, this conversation is going so badly. moral support, please. my hands are shaking. i feel terrible. i might start to cry.

I'm sorry it's going badly Allyson. This is about redoing the chapters I assume? You're doing what you have to, he let this go for a year, you're not going to be able to move forward without him not holding up his end.