Checking In- the last 10%

In reviewing my manuscript, I find a lot of conversations that are okay, but on rereading, don't 'pop'. That's what I'm fixing right now. Adding bits of humor, deleting the jokes that don't work, adding little details and motivations for minor characters. Pulling all the threads together, answering all the questions.

I find myself getting really excited as I take details that I'd already written in and understand why there were there. There's a specific character who's chewing gum all the time, and I realized it's because she's just quit smoking, and when she lapses, it explains her intense reaction to something else. Piecing that together made me so happy and it really helped that scene to shine.

I've gotten most of my grammar bugs/plot issues worked out and am surprised to find that this stage is fun. I am shocked at how giddy I feel. It's almost as much fun as the first draft when I thought I would be done in a few months. Don't laugh. I really thought I would do some light edits and it would be ready. Thank goodness I didn't start querying then.

I'm about 25 pages shy of being half-way done with my last major edit. I've called in some babysitting favors for my preschooler so I can work through some entire school days and then I will be sending it out to beta readers, hopefully by Friday.

I'm a bit anxious about my pitch session in 13 days, and haven't been sleeping as well as I'd like, but every chunk I get done makes me less anxious. I think I could sit down with said agent and say that I've written a story that he will be interested in. And believe it. That feels good.

Happy Writing!