Finished a chapter rewrite and read through/edited v7. Again.

This is not at all how I edit. And neither am I usually that full of joy! And nor is the view out my window at all like that. I don't wear red nail polish ... anyway, here are my instructions to AI: Woman with white pixie-cut hair, thick black-framed glasses and wearing black, editing typed papers with a red pen. She is looking pleased with herself. She is sitting indoors at a desk with a window looking out onto spruce trees, a river and sunshine.

65-68. Saturday 18 April – Tuesday 21 April 2026

Because I wanted to get through version 7 and be ready to send Crime Writing for Beginners to my friend’s brother (CW) before my mum arrived on Tuesday afternoon, I put my head down and got on with it. Which includes rewriting chapter 2, which was far easier than I expected.

                For chapter 2, I printed it, read it, wrote out the points I wanted to make in the rewrite and then typed out a new version. I did end up copying and pasting a few sections, but the first re-draft was pretty much half the length of the previous version and I think already read better than the longer, first version. I reread it and tweaked a bit, then decided to reread the whole thing again. Which I did.

                With five minutes to spare on Tuesday before I needed to drive to Lockerbie to meet my mum, I finished rereading my manuscript and sent it off to CW. Perfect timing to have a break.

                On Saturday and Sunday, I didn’t do a massive amount of work but I’ve decided not to write here on weekends. On Monday, I finished quite late in the evening and on Tuesday, I had no time.

                Finishing this version, I actually did feel really happy. I felt like I’d achieved something. I now know it’s close to being finished.

                My plan is to start again next week, another read-through for proofing and I need to work on my synopsis and two-liner.