The writing course has come to an end now, and I find myself scrambling to stay on track and finish this draft in time for my self-imposed deadline of the end of August.

I am crafting an (almost) entirely new version of my novel, after I was advised by the course leader to rework the plot with more action and pace. The main characters and ultimate goal remain intact, but it needed shaping into something more exciting, more immediate for our fast-paced world.

My writing tends to lean towards the introspective, and while there is a place for that, it doesn’t work so well for genre fiction. And so, with a great deal of work (and a healthy dose of imagination), my inner world has expanded and my characters have moved forwards in ways I would never have predicted when I first got a flicker of an idea for this book.

I am moving towards the finish line now, and the end is in sight; though, as always, I have deviated from my original plan and the story has surprised me.

I am also trying to plant seeds for a possible sequel, and am enjoying creating new realms within my fantasy world, even if I don’t end up using them. Creativity is play at heart, after all.

I’m intending to spend the autumn editing and revising ahead of our soft deadline of submitting to an agent for feedback by the end of the year. This is a huge opportunity that the course has to offer me, and will help give me real, practical experience for crafting my submission package. Exciting times!