When your redraft starts to resemble an instruction manual, it’s time to take a break.

Structure is so tricky. It holds a story together, and propels it. It can help generate suspense and heighten emotion. It has so many important jobs to do, yet should be invisible, or at least unobtrusive, like the seams and darts that shape a beautiful dress.

I’m working away revising my next novel, which will be the third in my trilogy of fairytale retellings, after Stepsister and Poisoned. And even though I’m ripping my hair out at the moment, I can’t wait to tell you about it. I’ve been spending my days with a whole new cast of characters, all of whom I’ve grown to love.

Ok…most of whom I’ve grown to love. One of them…well, she eats love for breakfast. More to come on that soon!

And in the meantime, back to Second Draft Hell!