I've gone as far as gleefully posting a picture of me in a red pioneer neckerchief (with the typical pioneer salute), a bra, a tutu, and holding a shot of vodka, I am THAT happy to be done with this draft. This book has been giving me nightmares. When I started out writing it, I loved it. Slowly, especially after completing the 1st draft, I started hating it. By the end of the 2nd draft I hated it so much, I wanted to quit writing it and quit writing in general. Then, again, slowly, while writing the 3rd draft, I fell in love with it again. And! Yesterday! I! Have! Finished it!!!

Half of the book is gone. Can you believe it? Both 1st and 2nd drafts were close to 120K words (118K and 117K, respectively). By contrast, the 3rd draft is only 61K words. I cut out 50% of the bullshit and, frankly, to those of you who beta read the first two drafts, how did you guys do it?? I look at them now, and go, YUK. Did I really write this shit? Ugh. Interesting, right? Because while I'm in the middle of writing, I don't actually see how yucky it is. It takes time for me to distance myself from the story emotionally to see the writing itself. Hence, multiple drafts.

Now, if you have nothing else to do with your time, you can beta read the 3rd draft. CLICK HERE TO GET THE PDF. Just make sure you send me your feedback by the end of next week at the latest, so I can incorporate it. Okay? Okay?