Crafting Magic: My Journey Through the Third Draft of Embers of Fate
Hey, fellow adventurers in the land of books and magic!
Firstly, an apology for missing last week. I had to move my oldest kiddo into his freshman dorm. My mama heart is struggling a bit, but we must move forward!
Today, I’m excited to share a behind-the-scenes look at my self-editing process as I work through the third draft of my debut novel, Embers of Fate. It's been quite the journey, filled with late-night epiphanies, stubborn plot twists, and more Sonic drinks than I care to admit. (Seriously, Sonic, you can sponsor me anytime!)
The Third Draft: Where the Real Magic Happens
If the first draft is all about splattering ideas onto the page like a toddler with fingerpaints, the third draft is where you take that colorful chaos and start to sculpt it into something that (hopefully) resembles a masterpiece. At this stage, I’m not just tweaking sentences or checking for typos—I’m diving deep into character arcs, tightening up the plot, and making sure the pacing keeps readers on the edge of their seats (or in our case, cozy reading nooks).
Incorporating Beta Reader Feedback
One of the most rewarding—and nerve-wracking—parts of this process has been incorporating feedback from my amazing beta readers. They’ve been my fearless adventurers, bravely venturing into the uncharted territory of my manuscript to point out what works, what doesn’t, and what made them laugh out loud. It’s been invaluable having their perspectives, especially when it comes to tightening up scenes or adding depth to characters. Their insights have been like finding hidden treasure along the journey, and I’m so grateful for their input. Apparently I start way too many sentences with the word but, who knew?
Editing with a Plan (and a Dash of Magic)
I always start my self-editing with a plan. For the third draft of Embers of Fate, my focus has been on:
Character Consistency: Making sure each character stays true to themselves—no sudden personality shifts unless there's a good reason for it. (Looking at you, mischievous sidekick!)
Plot Holes and Loose Threads: It’s like hunting for hidden Easter eggs, only these ones threaten to unravel the entire story if left unchecked. Spoiler alert: I found a few, but they've been vanquished!
Pacing and Flow: I’m making sure that the story has a rhythm that draws readers in and keeps them hooked. It’s a bit like composing music, really—each scene needs to hit just the right note.
Dialogue Polish: I want every line to feel natural, revealing information about the character and moving the plot forward without any unnecessary fluff. Plus, adding a touch of humor here and there never hurts.
The Great Name Change Debacle
Now, a funny thing happened along the way— I discovered that I changed the spelling numerous times on not one, but TWO different characters. Poor Pip and Max couldn’t get their full names spelled correctly to save their lives. You’ll be happy to know that’s fixed now. LOL
What’s Next?
With the third draft nearly wrapped up, Embers of Fate will soon be headed to the capable hands of my editor for proof and copy editing. This is where the manuscript gets its final polish—think of it as the literary equivalent of a spa day. I’m both nervous and excited to see how it all comes together, but I know that each round of editing brings us closer to the final version of the story that’s been brewing in my heart for so long.
I can’t wait to share Embers of Fate with you all. It’s been a labor of love, magic, and more than a few creative battles, but I’m so proud of how it’s shaping up. Stay tuned for more updates as we get closer to the release date!
Until then, remember to keep your quill sharp, your imagination wilder than a dragon’s breath, and most importantly...
Stay enchanted.
—Dani