The hardest part of producing a book must be writing the story, right? All that plot-lining, phrasing sentences to fit a character, pacing it just right to match the scenario. Makes sense, doesn't it. But you're wrong. It isn't. That honour goes to editing. Fark! It's harder than hard: it's perpetual friggin misery - I haven't felt this way since CNBC found Greece on the map and I cancelled my subscription to the FT on account of it being such a gloomy read.
So, yesterday, I took time out and had a beer with a friend, promising myself I'd leave Scat alone for a whole day. In any case, we deserved a beer: we'd just had a company meeting. We'd squabbled over who in Hong Kong was the authority on SFC regulations (some guy's mate at an insurance brokerage or the SFC) and then dealt with a whole load of regulatory issues. But beer is a remarkable refreshment and it wasn't long before I realised my promise to leave Scat alone wasn't binding: it wasn't like it was a vow, or anything. There was no touching bibles and I hadn't signed my name. Anyhow, it wasn't long after getting home before I found my 3447th typo, rephrased the sentence right after that, and then deleted a couple of paras.
This morning I reached for the panadol and went looking for the deleted paras. I found them and put them right back. What was I thinking? I've never been a good drinker. Thank God for taxis, paracetamol and a decision I made when sober 14 months ago, to keep daily copies.
Occasional accident to one side, Scat's eager to go. Or as eager as he ever will be. He's just waiting on someone. Actually, he's waiting on a something more than a someone, a favour. A big one.
Meanwhile, I'm tapping away at the sequel and have just passed the 30000 word mark, which means I'm around a quarter of the way to an ending. I'm thinking of adding the first 3 chapters or so to the tail end of Scat's first outing, after the Author Page, just to raise awareness. I've seen it done before. It worked for me. I think they did it with the Sharpe series by Bernard Cornwall. (Go back to typo later. Send apologies to Bernard.)
As Woody would say: "To Infinity and beyond, Onwards and Upwards!" - Scat's about to upload. He's only days away from being shot at form every direction by critics everywhere; if only they can find him. (which reminds me, start marketing...) He's only days away from... Oh, wait! It wasn't Woody who said that, was it? Check web. It could have been that other guy, Buzz. (Mental note: go back and change before publi
;-)
Jim
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