Today I started my final readthrough of the novel, and am currently through 8 of the 32 chapters. Some minor spelling and punctuation fixes, a couple of clumsy sentence rewordings and one small continuity gaffe fixed. Onward and upwards!

Yes, that’s it, it’s done! Well, apart from one final readthrough for continuity. And sorting out those chapter bumpers. And feedback from test reads. But still – happy dance!

Today’s planned novel rewrites got derailed by instead writing 600 words of feedback to the excellent Dissecting Worlds podcast about Milton’s Paradise Lost. I do plan to turn it into a proper article at some point, mostly because finding the pictures to go with it would be great. (Blake _and_ Dorre? Yes please.)

Penultimate chapter’s editing complete! Next – re-reading the whole thing to make sure the final chapter actually gets all the loose ends.

Currently working on the penultimate chapter, and it is a beast. Having to split it into two chunks, as I think it deserves that much attention. That sets me up for the last chapter to also include a general re-read.

Home late from being out with people in the pub, then edit a chapter where my characters are all the pub. I guess that makes some kind of sense. Still, I made some clunky dialogue less clunky, so I am happy with that.

Continuity hole plugged in chapter 29, as well as some judicious editing. Next up, everyone goes to the pub and I get to try to repair some very clunky dialogue. This could take a while.

Spy chapter rewritten! Pub discussion expanded! Still not 100% happy with this one, but this isn’t final draft, so that’s okay.

Exciting chase chapter now edited. Vagaries of 1920s Dublin public transport has been immortalised. Minor trivia about character stolen from family history included. Huzzah!

Another chapter down! Six more to go. Last two may take a bit more effort, though…