The Read-aloud Draft

Blue skies and summer-like temps are on the Oregon platter today, but aside from a quick run up Bald Hill before lunch, I will be inside my house, inside my office, inside my head. Where I will be going over my middle grade novel, Walking the Plank (previously known as The Really Real Reality Show), once last time before sending it out for beta. 

 

By now I can no longer see the forest for the trees, so instead of obsessing over whether or not the dramatic and emotional arc actually work (I'm hopeful that they do), and the scenes pop (again, hopeful if not sure), I'm focusing on the sound and flow of the story. It's time for the Read-aloud Draft!

 

Which means I will probably be all gravel and wheeze (is that a word? if not, it should be) by the end of the day. 

 

But, hey, that's a small price to pay for all of the little fine-polish improvements I hope to make. 

 

Hope. If anything, we writers are hopeful.