Through the end of 2020, I edited my barebones manuscript. My two main goals were to 1) re-familiarize myself with the story and 2) figure out what parts I needed to flesh out. I also color coded scenes, according to perspective and who the main character was with.

Despite color coding, it still took too long to find specific parts. So, I created an outline based on scenes. I know we’re taught in school to start with an outline before writing, but it was at this point that I wrote my very first outline for my manuscript.

The outline enabled me to mark the spots I needed to flesh out. I called those spots “filler scenes.” My initial goal was to complete those scenes by mid-January. That didn’t happen. So, I changed my goal to finishing by the end of January. That didn’t happen. So, I changed my goal to mid-February. That didn’t happen. So, I changed it to the end of February.

Guess what!? It finally happened. February 26, I wrote the last word of the last filler scene. Woot.

My next three (simultaneous) goals are:

• Start creating a list of agents to reach out to
• Start editing (again), with the filter of including more descriptive thoughts for the characters
• Figure out what I’m going to do to celebrate!

One of the things I’ve learned is that even if we need to push a deadline, we can still accomplish what we’ve set out to do. And, it’s worth it! What is something worthwhile you’re still pushing toward?

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