I finished writing a new novel this week.

It’s always an exciting moment, coming to the end of a manuscript. Finally, all that had work has paid off. I made it!

Soon the fun will start–that fantastic moment when I read it over for the first time and start editing.

I realise many authors don’t share my enthusiasm for the editing process but I love it. I love seeing what worked and what didn’t, experiencing the excitement of reading the story in its entirety for the first time and making sure it flows well.

But not so fast! I have been told (and I know from experience) that you need to wait at least a couple of weeks before you start editing.

Aw, but I want to do it NOW! I know it hasn’t been a week yet but …

I’m taking it as a good sign that I’m enthusiastic about this one. It’s called Our Own Kind (it was previously called The Monster and the Bombmaker) and I know there are a few things I need to change, as I made changes as I was going through when I discovered a couple of things weren’t working. So I’m definitely going to need to do some heavy editing before it’s ready to show to my publisher.

Thinking of that work doesn’t stop me from being excited, of course. I can’t wait to see it come together. That’s the most exciting part about writing for me!