Well, finished the first draft at least. And I’m happy with it! As far as first drafts go, I think it’s very good.

It’s about 12% too long (target is 5,000 words, and it’s currently 5,600-ish). There’s a part in the middle I need to trim a bit, and then a bit more I have to add to the end, although that has to be a net negative of six hundred words (or so). But the structure of the story… I’m really happy with it. I think it’s good!

It also involved me writing one of the local universities in the hopes I could chat with somebody in their Indigenous Studies department, because one of the characters is Anishinaabe and I want to do them respectfully. I think I did a good job, but I don’t want to just assume… so I reached out, we’ll see if they have somebody who can handle future-Indigenous issues on staff. And who has time to talk to a small-time author like myself!

Hey, I’m self-aware enough to know that I’m small-time. Otherwise I’d hire a Sensitivity Reader and call it a day. They might just suggest that! But that’s okay, at least I’ve asked.