No, not as in drug addict.
And no, that is not some cool new slang for a Twitter addict. (Denial is bliss.)
I’m referring to the constant tinkering I do to my MS. Creating a solid second draft has become…impossible? Or rather subjective, because I can’t seem to leave well enough alone. You see I am working on my MS, from beginning to end. Doing a strong once-over for basic grammar clean-up and crap-cut. (Crap Cut is an official term used by most editors.) I’m refining what I have while highlighting the problem areas. Occasionally I must go back and clean up a plot thread and...here lies the problem. That's when I get twitchy and I find myself tweaking the surrounding area.
Just a little nip here, tuck there and the next thing you know, I’ve redrafted X chapter....again. Sure it’s better but I got off task and I still haven't edited to the end.
Technically 2nd draft is drafted in stages. First chapter is on its forty-eleventh draft. The next few chapters on a 4th draft and the end few chapters still in first draft form because I HAVEN’T FINISHED YET!
I want to carve out time. I have the best intentions to ignore my children to get it done but I find tiny excuses to read blogs or twitter jump and the next thing you know that twenty seconds of piece I had, has been eaten by the Time Suck Monster.
Yes, I know I digressed from tweaking to edit stalling but it’s all relevant.
Okay, today I am going to get serious. I’m going to un-plug…starting tomorrow. Don’t read me the riot act, I have to take said ignored offspring to the fair today. Gotta ease the guilt somehow. Geesh people, you're relentless.
Tonight…if I’m not too tired, I’ll tweak the end chapters that I am avoiding because I hacked two chapters and have to rebuild the bridge to the end of my book. *gasps for breath* Wish me luck.
