Structural edits - the Christmas book

Several followers are tracking the progress of my Christmas book ‘FROM SHETLAND, WITH LOVE AT CHRISTMAS’, so I’ll happily share this week’s news.
 
Back in March, I was given a month to complete ‘structural edits’ for my submitted manuscript. This involves rewriting specific scenes as certain elements were lacking or too subtle to convey my original meaning. For instance, one character sounded ‘sterner’ than I ever intended, a minor character needed removing as he was surplus to requirement and another couple needed more emotion in a certain scene. The ‘biggie’ was that my epilogue needed drafting. I hadn’t written a full epilogue prior to submission as I wanted to know if my editor agreed with the journey so far. Now, I had the green light, so needed to produce the goods by crafting the final few pages.
 
Mmmmm, this is where experience comes into force. Over three weeks, I wrote the epilogue five times. I deleted it on four occasions. Seriously, that is not my writing style. I tend to think, muse over the details and boom, write it! Not with this epilogue. I wrote the scene from the view point of one character, but didn’t like it. Rejigged it three times using the view point of others … then deleted each one. 
 
At this point, I knew I had to trust my instinct and be patient. In each deleted epilogue, the details, descriptions and dialogue where all there, but each one felt wrong to me. The magic was missing. Years ago, I would have panicked. Not anymore. I’ve learnt that my brain will always throw up the ‘magic’ if I give it time to ponder. 
 
The days were passing, my writing time was dwindling and still, I had nothing. It’s like having all the ingredients for a cake but not being able to bring it together successfully. 
 
Then boom!  
 
My imagination suggested the perfect stage setting which could showcase the necessary details and create the magic. It meant I had a shed load of research to complete - which is a first for me at this late stage. I had a tough week, filled with early mornings and very late nights, but it was necessary if I wanted to do the book justice. 
 
Then comes the final moment when you’re ready to press ‘send’ and you pray your editor loves the epilogue.
 
Thankfully, she did! Which makes that final week worth every moment.
 
I can now relax, switching my imagination to another project, as my Christmas book moves to the next stage of ‘copy edits’. 

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