WIP it good!

Approaching 2 years into what will be my seventh published novel, I am still in the process of discovering what the book is about.

Life, certainly; but what else? The manuscript is currently 85,000 words, the ‘excised’ document 70,000.

The conclusion is envisioned but not written down. I’ve now gone back to the opening chapters, seeking to clarify the theme, motivate the reader, apply craft, say something important, break new ground.

This is not a complaint. I’m reporting on the process. It’s a form of therapy, common to the activity.

In other news, I’ve been told my stand-in cover design (a concept, composed to accompany WIP essays) elicits comparison to Japanese tentacle erotica.

First off, my audience isn’t supposed to know such things exist.

Also, dang.