So I’ve rewritten the whole book . . . . changing it from close third to first person. This means it’s gone from what Edie (my protagonist) saw, what Edie felt, what Edie did, to what I saw / felt / did.

I’ve been considering this change for a while and finally bit the bullet two weeks ago after chatting with my editor. I tried out a couple of pages and liked the immediacy of the text. I’ve been able to simplify not only my prose, but also my thought processes. I’ve also managed to chop out about 9000 words along the way. Amazing!

On this first person edit, I’ve significantly reduced the role of one of my characters whom I ADORED. I was spending far too long with him, so I am now going to save his devious charm for another story. But that has let the Footman have more space and I’ve fallen head over heels for him again.

What else have I been doing?

Well, I’ve made it clearer that the Footman is a thinking / feeling being from the outset as that wasn’t coming though clearly enough. He’s not just about the breeches ladies!

“And by the way, I thought you should know, the gentlemen was incorrect in his summation. I assure you that I have original thoughts. Very many. Are you not curious about what I am thinking, right now, M’lady?”

The Footman on meeting Edie

I’ve made sure that all my characters are reacting how I know they should, and making sure I have actually written that down, rather than assuming the reader knows it because I know it!

I have taken out some of my more exuberant descriptive paragraphs. And some cereal which was stuck in some hair.

I have attacked a group of people with a golf ball (not me literally, this happens in the book of course).

Edie’s friends are away for the summer and I have been thinking about them a lot and the roles that they play in her decision making process . . . with support, beration, teasing and the occasional question which I think the reader may want answering.

There’s an allotment now, instead of a plant pot. That’s growth for you (ha ha ha).

Sadly I have removed several of what I considered my funnier moments as they weren’t necessarily moving the story along. (But I have kept them handy in case I can squeeze them back in at some point).

I have actually been super busy with loads more as well . . . . can’t think what now off the top of my head! I’m giving myself today off to reflect before I start another run through of editing.