Wanting To Scream

 

Happy Thursday, Wonderfuls!

I have been over here writing like there's no tomorrow.

I found out that, in order to release 606 by October 27th, I needed to submit my manuscript by today.

From my other books, I thought it was by the 24th. 

OK, Aria. PUSH LIKE HELL!

So I finished, printed out the paper copy and started doing what I thought was a final paper readthrough for typos. 

OMFG! No it was NOT!

Turns out, that using Grammarly to fix things like punctuation and my predisposition for run-on sentences, took all of the scare factor away. Then I added ChatGPT: 'Act like Stephen King's Editor and check flow and repetition', which then took paragraphs and moved them out of order.

So, as I went paragraph by paragraph, through each chapter correcting these things, I flattened the story so much that it would be perfect for a term paper, and was beyond awful as a memoir with any real readability.

I didn't realize this, and then 

I started my 'typo' readthrough at 9pm, and by 5:30 the next morning, in handwritten edits, I had corrected through about chapter three.

The manuscript was a disaster.

SO, with a deep breath. I got some sleep, and then went back to editing. 

It's coming along, but definitely won't be ready for uploading today.

So, I have to move my launch date, but I'd prefer to do that as opposed to releasing garbage.

Too many people gave me their stories, and too many people who lived in the town when we were there have reached out for me to let it ride in the condition it was in.

So, in order to preserve the story and GET IT RIGHT, I'm postponing the launch. 

Not by much, I hope. But I will not go to publication until I'm satisfied.

So, while I'm ready to scream at the amount of work left to do, if I want You to Scream (which was the whole purpose of telling the story to begin with!) or to even not be embarrassed by the quality of the book, I have to do it. I was a reader long before I started getting serious about writing, and in my day (GenX, Baby!) they only published professionally written and edited books. I know how it should read, and until it's there, it's not done. 

I've got my fingers crossed for October 30th, but at this point, I'm just going to have to be satisfied with whatever date works after I fix the condition the manuscript is currently in.

May you all have wonderful weekends. I will be over here pulling my hair out in pursuit of literary greatness.