Introduction to the Accountability Post 2021 Week 40
This is a big week, and the week after next will be even bigger. So much bigger, in fact, there’s a non-zero change I won’t write Accountability Post 2021 Week 42. And it’s all because of a correspondence I received today. Before I get into that, though, I want to talk about the progress I made this week, because it wasn’t bad at all!
Accountability Post 2021 Week 40 By the Numbers
In the previous week, I hit 113,231 by writing 8,990 words. Here’s what my progress looked like this week:

I wrote on five of seven days this week. That’s about as much as I can expect at this stage.
This week, I was able to write 9,545 words, and now the total stands at 122,776! I also wrote on five of the seven days during the week. I think that at this stage, given I have a primary career and family responsibilities, that’s the best I can hope for. So all in all, a very good week!
The Series Title Revealed!
This is a big week, and that’s because I received a message via Reedsy today. The developmental editor I hired is ready for the manuscript for Book 1: 61 Cygni. So, today, I turned it in. There is a now a Microsoft Word version of that manuscript out in the wild.
On the plus side, that means the book has taken another step towards release. On the negative side, it means that the editor might deliver unto me bad news.
Remember Snoopy? He mailed a manuscript to a publisher once. The published rejected it, then added a note: “PS: We note that you sent your manuscript by first class mail. Junk mail may be sent third class.” Though I laughed, I have to admit that I didn’t think it was really that funny. It hit a bit close to home. Some day, I’ll have to write a post of the top (or bottom!) rejection notes I received back when I submitted paper manuscripts in the 1980s.
In this case, I’m afraid I’ll get feedback that’s devastatingly negative. Which would be fine, everyone being entitled to their opinion and all, but that’s not actually my real fear. My real fear is this: That the devastatingly negative feedback will be objectively correct. That I still haven’t honed my skills enough to be ready to be published.
The edit is scheduled to start on October 11, with feedback due to me on October 15. So, my Accountability Post on the 18th might not happen. Historically, I need time to consider and internalize devastatingly bad news. Which may or may not require the help of several quality beers. I’d hate to drown any sorrows in the cheap stuff, after all! My writing might suck, but I have my standards.
All that said, let’s pretend for a moment that the edit will come back and say something like, “Wow! It’s ready to go! Sorry you wasted your money hiring me!” I can’t publish without a title, can I?
The series will be called: Evolution’s Hand. The first book’s full title, revealed here for the first time to the world, will be Evolution’s Hand Book 1: 61 Cygni. The second will be Evolution’s Hand Book 2: Epsilon Eridani. The third, keeping in the spirit of “pretend,” will be Evolution’s Hand Book 3: Sirius.
Evolution’s Hand. That doesn’t sound too bad to me!
Scorecard: Goals for Accountability Post 2021 Week 40
Previous Week’s Goals
Here are the goals I laid out for myself for this week:
- Finish Liam Martin’s Pinch 2: Done!
- Finish Ira Malhotra’s Pinch 2: Done!
- Start Helmine Stein’s Pinch 2: Started!
Yes, I managed to hit all three goals for the week! It was a close thing, though. I had to flesh out TCP’s Board and the set for the Board room. But it came together. I have to say that I’m suitably heart-broken at Martin’s Pinch 2, and Malhotra’s Pinch 2 came together better than I’d anticipated. And Stein, the main antagonist, continues to come through, with her two henchmen and supporting cast, in ways I didn’t anticipate.
Next Week’s Goals
This coming week, I intend to:
- Finish Helmine Stein’s Pinch 2
- Finish Jack Booth’s Pinch 2 (this is going to be a tough one!)
- Start Dek Conrad’s Pinch 2
The big challenge with Booth’s arc is that I’m trying to accurately portray a character on the autism spectrum. I based one of Booth’s aids on someone I know, and I have other experience in that subject, so I’m confident I understand what I’m trying to say. I’m just not sure I can get it across in the right spirit. Guess we’ll see!
What Do You Think?
Have you used Reedsy or other service for a development edit? I’d love to hear about your experience! Please feel free to drop them in the comments!
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