After the editing

The time immediately following an intense period of revision / writing / editing can be weird. A manuscript has been foremost in my mind for weeks and then I send it to my editor, or to someone else involved in helping it become a book, and there’s a lull.

Now, to be honest, this lull is mostly symbolic, because while I’ve been doing the above-mentioned weeks of work in the manuscript in question, dozens of other things have piled up. However, there’s an empty space in my heart and my mind.

This last round of revisions on the next book after Appaloosa Summer, was one of the most intense I’ve ever gone through. And, I did something a little different when I was done.

I went winter camping.

And, you know, it seemed to work well. For the weekend my only concerns were warmth, shelter, and food. Anyone who has camped knows time and priorities get shifted while you’re living in a tent.

Now I’m back and ready to let a new manuscript crowd into my head. Oh yeah, and try to catch up on those dozens of other things that have fallen by the wayside …

Here’s what my time “after the editing” looked like:

Those tire tracks weren’t there when we arrived – we broke trail to get in.

There was lots more snow than in the city!

The “facilities” were primitive, but in a picturesque setting.

This isn’t where we slept – but there were all kinds of neat things to discover in the woods.

Wet snow, wet mittens. These will smell like campfire the rest of the time we own them …

So, that’s a recap of my post-revision weekend. Now back to work!