No. IV: 75 Hard Writer Edition
Notes on editing my novel, pitch contests and agent interest
“There is no greater agony than bearing an untold story inside you.”
— Maya Angelou, I Know Why the Caged Bird Sing
Dear Friends and Future Readers,
It’s been a while since I last shared my thoughts with the 30 of you who believed in me from the very beginning. The truth is, I’m a stupidly empathetic person, someone who feels everything a little too deeply, especially when it comes to my writing. So, what happened? I got a negative beta reader. And to say she tore me apart would be putting it kindly. In fairness, she warned me she was “blunt,” but I wasn’t ready for that kind of honesty… not yet. I stepped away from writing, set the manuscript aside, and only returned to it on April 20th. For the past few months, I’ve been revising with a new mindset. One that’s more grounded, more focused, and fiercely determined to make this the best novel it can be
Editing Update
My editing process will look something like this:
Rest and Reflect. Set my manuscript aside for at least two weeks. This gives me a fresh set of eyes when I return. In this time, I’ll think about the emotions, themes, and questions I have about the novel.Structural and Plot Editing. My main focus areas will be the plot, characters, setting, and pacing. I’ll ask myself questions like “Do the characters’ arcs feel complete?” I’ll look at individual scenes and chapters, bridging everything.
This is an extract from my first letter. Out of my six editing stages, I’m currently in the thick of the major structural edits for my novel. How I approached it was simple: I reread the entire manuscript and took notes chapter by chapter, outlining both the issues and the moments I loved. Unsurprisingly, I ended up completely changing my main character; her goals, her appearance, her entire storyline. It was a massive shift, but a necessary one. Now, when I look at her, I see someone distinct and alive. She’s a character I’m genuinely excited for you to meet. Writing someone with such a complex worldview, especially in terms of morality, has been a real challenge. She’s endured more than most people could imagine, so researching mental health and religion to better understand her has been fascinating.
Alongside revamping my main character, I also made the bold decision to rewrite my entire novel in 75 days. You’ve probably heard of the 75 Hard writing challenge. I adapted it, added my own writing goals, and shaped it to fit my routine. With my writing group on Discord, we’ve been checking in with each other every day. With 60 days to go, I’ve written 30,000 words out of 100,000. So far, my goal still feels strong and entirely within reach.
No. III: My Month of Rest and Relaxation
“I'm taking some time off. This is my year of rest and relaxation.”
Life Update
Who’s been watching Love Island USA? Because I have :) Chelley and Olandria!!! My two queens.
Jokes aside, these past few months I’ve been thinking deeply about my novel and my future as an author. After receiving difficult feedback from my beta reader, I realised that being a published author is going to require a different mindset than the one I’ve had so far. I thought back to December, when I gave myself a deadline to finish my novel and did! I repeated to myself every day that if I wanted to be an author, I needed to act like one. Now I know I need to think like one, too.
For fun, I entered the #MupPit pitch contest on Twitter (X). I wasn’t expecting more than a handful of views, especially with the new algorithm, but I ended up getting over 1,000 views and two agent likes. I was ecstatic. It felt like such a relief to have someone take an interest in my work. That, plus the kind people on TikTok, who leave comments excited to read my book, made me emotional. I almost got ahead of myself and queried them right away, but then I remembered my quote, closed my computer, and took a breath. All I want is to become a successful author, and that won’t happen if I rush at the first sign of interest. The most important thing is having a finished, polished manuscript I’m proud of. It was hard not to leap at the opportunity, but it mattered more to me to perfect this novel than to make a move I might regret.
June has been a month of starting over and stepping back. My manuscript is stronger than it’s ever been. The agents aren’t going anywhere. What’s mattered most to me is learning patience and facing my setbacks with a clearer mind. I’ll never stop reminding myself that everyone is on their path, but I’ll also never forget my dreams or the years of hard work I’ve already poured into them.
Thank you for being part of this journey with me. On my bookshelf, I’m still reading Babel by R. F. Kuang. Please don’t attack me. I’m a slow reader, and spent months not touching my books. What’s on your reading list this month? Visit my link tree to follow me on social media and stay updated with my writing. Until next time…
Love,
Megan Kazembe
P.S. The woman in the photo is R.F. Kuang, a Chinese-American author and academic. One of my favourite authors and inspirations. Her work includes The Poppy War trilogy, Yellowface, Babel (my current read), and now Katabasis, her newest release.