Afarin Rava: First Draft

Monday, January 6, 2025

First Draft

On September 10, 2024, I shared a post:
https://afarinrava.blogspot.com/2024/09/novel-first-draft.html

Today, January 6, 2025, I will begin the editing process.

I read my first draft this morning, and yes, it's messy, but it may not be as "poopy" — I love your book Bird by Bird, Anne Lamott! — as I thought.

Reading my draft after such a long time made me realize that my subconscious mind may have led me to write certain parts in a particular way to allow my future self to stumble into brilliant ideas... like a plot twist I didn't see coming.

So... when you finish your first draft and get ready for round one of editing, instead of cringing at the chaos, ask yourself: Why did I write this? Your subconscious might just have a genius reason. Trust the process — think of your draft as a treasure map, and think of every strange choice as an X marking the spot.

Pun-Pulsing Purr

Dive into the playful world of language with Pun-Pulsing Purr! This book is a treasure trove of puns and linguistic surprises designed to delight readers of all ages. Whether you're a word nerd or simply someone who enjoys a good laugh, this collection will tickle your funny bone and stretch your imagination. Perfect for fans of humor, language enthusiasts, and anyone who loves to play with words, Pun-Pulsing Purr, written by a cat and edited by her human, is more than a book — it's a celebration of the art and joy of language itself. "From a quiet garden and a rock, through whiskers, paws, and a well-timed meow, I found my way into the home of an editor who could help me spread my insights and brilliance, one clever tale and thoughtful word at a time. Somehow, the editor understood my every meow, and I found my family."

Dearest Devised Darling

Dearest Devised Darling: Anthology is a dedication to the brave heroes and enchanting heroines who have touched our hearts and taught us valuable lessons through their struggles and adventures — and to the authors who created these cherished characters. The contributors to this anthology, who wrote letters to their favorite fictional figures, are — in alphabetical order : Jay Armstrong, Wendy Bayne, S. S. Bazinet, Gail Boenning, Jane Cornwell, Holly Dobbie, Humzah Farrukh, Umiemah Farrukh, Marni Graff, H. C. Helfand, Ewan Lawrie, Trish MacEnulty, J. G. MacLeod, Sallie Moffitt, Natasha Morningstarr, Chris Palmore, Afarin Rava, Diane Riley, Nina Romano, Carolyn Ruffles, Edward Selender, Denis Shaughnessy, Wendy E. Slater, Paul Spalding-Mulcock, Diana Stevan, Vicky Whedbee, Gerry Wilson, Wanda L. Worley, and George Yuhasz.

Dear Twelve-Year-Old Me

Over thirty writers hoping to make a positive change in the world have contributed their valuable life experiences and advice to children and adolescents. This book is a collection of priceless life lessons shared by random people, each of whom wished they could reach out to their twelve-year-old self and whisper their precious lessons in a way that their younger self would hear, believe, and learn. Many thanks to B.H. Arias, P.D. Austin, Jerome Berglund, Mike Bowerbank, Rocío del Mar, Holly Dobbie, Hannah Downey, Glenna Gill, Ilya Gutlin, Claude Inkwell, Althea Hogsett, Karen Hoffman, Margaret Lindsay Holton, Roberta Beach Jacobson, Heather Lynn, IA McCleery, Kelly Miller, Sallie Moffitt, Danielle Moody, Natasha Morningstarr, Chris Palmore, Diane Riley, Nina Romano, Gloria Worley Ruberry, Edward Selender, Claire Sheehy, Leif E. Slusher, Paul Spalding-Mulcock, Vicky Whedbee, Peter B. Williams, Charles Dan Worley, and Wanda L. Worley, whose contributions brought this book to life.