The Black Pearl First Draft -- Day 85:

I've been up since four this morning. Typing since six. It's a cold and rainy, two-pots-of-coffee morning on the first day of a three-day weekend. I checked my e-mails and blogs then started to work on my MS again. The final edits are going well, I'm nearly half way through it. But when I'm done, I'll have to read it ... again.

I was recently asked if I let others read my works in progress. Only a trusted few, but yes, absolutely! I thrive on feedback. Getting another's perspective is as critical to me as research. It's especially important in the early stages when I'm focused on developing the plot and the characters. While I'm zooming in on those things, it's very easy to overlook important details.

Under normal circumstances, I wouldn't be as concerned about getting it "perfect" in a first draft. But I'm counting down. This manuscript is due on my editor's desk next week. Wish me luck. 62,517 words and counting!