Plans For The Future And Junk

I'm nearly 88k into DARK WATER. I'm close to the end, but not as close as I'd like to be. Meh. I like to overwrite things, so it's probably going to exceed the 100k limit I preached so hard to my boyfriend. ("I'm definitely not going over 100k. Not this time." Yeah...suuuuure. I think I knew that was bogus the moment I said it.) But it's no big dealio. That's what editing is for, after all.

I'd like to finish the first draft some time in July or August and get through the first round of edits before September. 

Y'see--I've got it in my head that I am participating in NaNo this year. I couldn't do it last year because I had too much on my plate. The way things are working out this year, I should have DARK WATER ready to pass around to beta reader (which I still need to find...hmm...) by the time NaNo season rolls around. If I get things done on schedule, I'll even get a couple of months worth of planning/plotting time.

I've already chosen a project.

It's another YA fantasy, tentatively titled CAGED. (Mentioned in THIS POST.) The premise is pretty unique, IMO, so I'm rather excited about that. But what's really got me eager to work on it is the MC. 

It's a guy! 

I know right?! 

I've never worked from a male POV before. Squee! I'm so super excited to give it a try.

Meet the newest addition to my MC lineup, Finch Bettencourt.

 Or...Calum Worthy, technically.

Let's just say Finch is a knight-in-training, questing for the secret his father used to give him and his little sister life.

So yeah--I'm doing NaNo this year. No ifs, ands, or buts about it. I think it'll be a good lesson in time management. (Which I totally need. No joke.)

 In other writing related news, I've done a lot of thinking about my query for DARK WATER. (Jumping the gun a little, I know. But it's never too early to start planning!) The one I've got right now is complete crap, but hey--you gotta start somewhere.

I've also been thinking about my OPHELIA rewrites. I've got lots of good ideas simmering, so I shouldn't have much trouble once I get around to it. But that probably won't be until after I've sent off queries for DARK WATER. (So...awhile.)

In non-writing related news, I realized the other day I like my coffee black. Or "black as midnight on a moonless night" as agent Cooper would put it. (That's a Twin Peaks reference.) I dunno...I put too little milk in my coffee by mistake the other day and instead of adding more, decided to just go with it. It was surprisingly good.

That's all for now, folks!

What are your plans for the rest of the year?

And beyond that? What are your plans for next year?

HAPPY WRITING, LOVELIES!