As I have read through the draft, I've realized I've not made Captain Roberts' character as consistent as it should be. Roberts is supposed to be a level-headed, intuitive thinker who does not anger or fluster easily. In sections, I have him reacting too harshly or quickly and I usually annotate these sections with "Calm down, Roberts". I also am recasting Victoria's background because since I am writing historical steampunk fiction, I am trying to better keep in mind the regulations and deprivations of women of the Victorian era. Originally I had Victoria tramping all over the world with a quasi-adopted brother named Jules as a companion, but I have decided to make Jules an actual blood brother of Victoria, plus changed some other aspects of Victoria's background to make her more consistent.
There is a terrific mess spanning about 30 pages and located halfway through the book that needs either heavy revision or exorcism and I'm not sure quite yet what would best befit it. I will be approaching this section sometimes next week, and it will be a sticky mess to wade through, that I know.
My goal is to have Draft 1 revised into Draft 2 by the end of the month, where I will then hand it over to a couple loyal beta readers to get some feedback. So far, I feel that I am on track to have a published version ready by the end of February, so keep your fingers crossed!
Right now, I am looking for full-time work after realizing quickly that waitressing is unlikely to support a mortgage. My brother Seth told me about an interesting job as a medical helicopter coordinator which I think would tie in quite splendidly with my steampunk writing because the job would entail learning about things such as latitude and longitude. As I was writing the cover letter for my application, I considered working this in but decided that it would look a trifle unprofessional to say, "I'm writing a fantasy book about airships and this job would really help me learn more about how stuff flies." If I get an interview, I will try to bring it up, but I didn't think I could express this in a one-page cover letter without looking like a total dweeb. Hopefully by the end of the month I have secured either a full-time job or an offer of one because I am broke as a clock right now!
Yesterday, I had a lovely 33rd birthday party with some great friends, and steampunks were in abundance. The wonderful Matt M, operates his own antique and parts-selling business and this was his gift to me:
Yup, these are awesome! I can't wait to make stuff out of this. I was glad to see the larger gears too as these are generally pretty hard to find, When I take apart the watch, there should be some nice tiny gears in there too. Okay, what shall I build first?
I'll be praying about the job - it's sounds like one that would be kind of fun, too, which always helps when you are working.
ReplyDeleteAnd you turned 33? So Craig & I are actually older than you by a few months? Wow! You were so mature and carried yourself so well in our days back at TFC that I always thought you were older than us by at least a year or two. Hope you had a terrific celebration despite the nasty bug you've been fighting.
Thanks so much! You are kind to say I was mature: I look back on myself as being an introverted snob. I really had to loosen up and grow up some! I imagine Craig is just as goofy as he was back in college and you still as kind and poised. :)
DeleteAw - you're sweet. He's definitely just as goofy, that's for sure. I was pretty introverted, too. He thought I was a stuck-up snob the first time we met because of my shyness.
ReplyDeleteHe he, remember Jenny, my roommate junior and senior year? She told me senior year that when we first met as freshmen, she thought I was kinda stuck up and not someone she wanted to get to know. I too had to grow out of my shyness and learn to be more of a people person. Now I'm pretty extroverted, so I imagine a lot of my old college friends would be surprised to see how much I have changed.
DeleteWe are still good friends with Jenny. She's married (almost three years now, I believe) and just told us a few weeks ago that she is expecting! (You can find her through my friends on Facebook, she is Jennifer Shannon now.) Anyway, it seems introverted people often come across as stuck up until they get to know people. I'd guess you'd have to be at least a bit extroverted to enjoy dressing steam punk. ;) I have a picture of all of us posing, all dressed up, before one of the artist series concerts. I'll have to find ti & scan it for you!
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