I’ve interrupted the novel rewrite to show you this:
That’s how many pages I have left to edit.
It’s a thin stack, isn’t it? Only 25 pages thick. Twenty-five. That. Is. All. I’m a slow writer, and it’s given me a boost to see how close I am—now I’m striving to get to the end as soon as I can.
I want to say that rewriting this novel has been one of the most arduous, mind-consuming, brain-draining things I’ve ever done. It’s made walking the Cradle Mountain Overland Track seem like a stroll through a park. It’s made giving birth seem like a little ‘ouchie’. It’s made studying Medicine seem like—actually, studying Medicine still feels like studying Medicine. If I had a choice between rewriting this novel or studying Medicine again, I don’t know which would be worse and I’d decline both.
So that’s why I’ve been neglecting my poor blog. I’m itching to post here more often, but there are only so many hours in each day, and I’ve had to devote them to my novel. While I’ve been writing, I’ve had many ideas for future posts and essays, and I’ve also read more Australian women authors, so I have reviews I want to write, too—some from last year.
I’ll return to the novel now, but before I go, here are some photos from Sculptures By the Sea at Cottesloe Beach. It’s in its final days here in Perth, and I’ve been down with the camera a few times—some attempts were more successful than others. I haven’t been able to get a good sunset shot—always too many people! So, here are some dawn shots:
Book Cave by Juliet Lea
Sømærke by KWY with Lise Kassow, from various vantage points with kayakers in the distance
Early morning kayakers
Rebecca Westlund’s The Red List (Extinct)
Gull prints on the sand
Norton Flavel, Dust
Robert Juniper, Xanthorrhoea and Tree Form
Tony Davis, Manscape
Cottesloe Beach
Karen Macher Nesta, Sea Sponges
Suzie Bleach & Andrew Townsend, A Burden
Russell Sheridan, Pilgrim
Tae Geun Yang, Pig of Fortune #2 (2nd Series)
Harrie Fasher, Boxed
Naidee Changmoh, Fun!
Michael Le Grand, Recoil
Keld Moseholm, Catch Me
Congratulations on getting down to the last 25 pages! Also, thanks for sharing the lovely pictures. I got down there for a short while today but need to find time to finish the round before it all gets packed away…
Thanks, Jolee! I love the Sculptures time of year—let’s hope the heat leaves with the sculptures!
Ooooh, 25 pages is not many at all! Hang in there! (cheering you on from across the miles)
Thanks, Fi. I feel your vibes across the miles! I will hang in there now, most definitely!
Gorgeous photos as usual, Louise – I love all the sculptures too, such an interesting array of styles 🙂
And sooo close! Well done, twenty-five pages is not much at all (says I, only halfway through my editing saga) Very pleased for you and hope you cross the finish line soon xx
Thanks, Helen! These photos show only a sample of the sculptures on display, and some of them are very interesting! They look terrific as an ensemble, though. My favourite is ‘The Burden’.
It really lifted my spirits when I stacked the pages that remained to be edited and saw how few of them there were! I’ve been out all day today and haven’t touched it, so I’m itching to get back to my desk!
Ooh, how exciting! I’ve reached that stage too with Hills and Valleys – there’s a difficult section in the middle of the book and now I’m past it, so the end is in sight and I’m getting excited about the story again. Good luck – can’t wait to hear about the finished version!
I know what you mean—it’s hard work writing through a difficult section in a book. I’ve hit about three humps in this rewrite, and each of them have taken me about six weeks to solve—partly because I’ve needed to play around with it, trial different versions, go off on tangents, approach it from a different angle. And partly because I don’t look forward to sitting down and trying to sort it out! Anyway, that’s all in the past now, and the other day when I saw how few pages remained to be edited, I just about leapt for joy! Good luck with Hills and Valleys—I look forward to seeing it on the shelves, so to speak! x
Thanks, Louise – I hope the editing home stretch is still going well for you xx
I seem to hit little stumbling blocks all the time, but I don’t fret about it anymore. It all falls into place eventually. x
It does – I’m stuck on one now but hopefully will be able to resolve it before the day is out 🙂
I’ve just been stuck on one for a couple of days, and then this afternoon, it came to me! It always does, you just have to wait for it sometimes, don’t you?
Yes, it does – I tried to describe it to some friends this morning, as though it is a very fragile thread that I have to pull carefully, bringing the piece of the story to me. If I pull too hard or too soon, it will break and float away.
That’s a beautiful analogy! 🙂
Thanks, Louise! It’s coming along now, but I need to stop pulling for a little while 🙂
Well done Louise, you’re nearly at the summit, keep breathing long and slow. Lovely to read your blog & devour your photos of sculptures as didn’t get there. Your life sounds balanced if you are getting in sculpture and beach time. Thank you Louise & love from Auckland. X
Thanks, Louise Lane! I’m glad I gave you something nice from home to view. I’m enjoying your Auckland photos, and I hope you keep enjoying NZ! x
OMG you are nearly there. What a journey Louise. It’s a privilege to be able to ride along with you. Thank you for sharing. Rae xxx
I am nearly there, aren’t I? I’ll be doubly thrilled when I reach the end! Thanks for joining me on the ride, Rae! x
I’m thrilled you are so close to the finish line, Louise, good luck with the final 25 pages. And what stunning sculptures! On the beach. Wow!
There’s something quite spectacular about sculptures on a beach—whoever thought of the idea was brilliant! Yes, this novel is close to being finished, although there’ll still be more work but hopefully not of the scale I’ve just attempted. Thanks for your comment. x
You are my super hero. Good luck with it, you’re almost there. I’ll fly over to have my copy signed when it’s published. Although you’ll probably be sent on a national tour or something. The sculptures are incredible. I can’t pick a favourite. Perhaps the sea sponges.
I loved the sea sponges, and they’re even better in the flesh—my photo doesn’t do them justice. I really hope we get to meet one day, Pinky, and I’m sure we will. I suspect we’d get along just as well in the flesh as we do online! Thanks for visiting! x