59: Finishing The Wounded
5/28/2013
I did it. I just finished Chapter Seven: The Wounded. The seventh and last scene turned out well, I think. I haven’t read it from beginning to end yet, but it feels good. The language felt clean and it was visually evocative. The little details between Diallo and Alena worked out well. Now I have to come up with the chapter illustration and epigraph. I also want to reread and edit the entire chapter tonight so I can begin transcribing my official first draft tomorrow.
It feels good to be done with another chapter. And three days before my deadline!
I just finished rereading the entire chapter. Took about 3 ½ hours for 47 pages. There wasn’t as much editing required as I feared, and it was better and smoother than I thought it would be. When I go to rewrite it in a week or two, I’ll reread it all again for last minute touches. But I think it’s good to go for my first draft. I’m happy.
For the chapter’s illustration I’m picturing a battered portrait of Diallo’s face. That will be hard to come up with, but the payoff will be big if it works.
Present-Day Reflection
7/23/2026
As noted before, what is now known as Part Two: The Wounded, from Book Two: Tears of Stone, is probably my favorite segment in the series so far. And my younger self seems to be in agreement with me. I even have some good ideas for the illustration of Diallo’s battered face that I can proceed with. Though I have yet to work out how I’m going to use illustrations in any versions of my future publications.
Anyway, I have more immediate issues to address before I can allow myself to move on to reworking the second book. I’m eager for it though.
