Book War – First Draft Final Drive

I finished this week’s chapter–22–yesterday evening, and now I believe I can see my way through the rest of it.  Last month I revised the number of chapters up from 22 to 27; now it looks like that estimate will hold, leaving me five more chapters to write.  I will be shifting some elements around within the final five–carving off back third of 22, combining it with 26 and moving the combo chapter into the 24 slot, for example–but nothing more daunting than what I’ve already done.  The biggest change is that I am cancelling the break I’d planned to take between 23 and 24.  There are five chapters left and five weeks until I’m planning to travel to Va Beach for the Justin/Nicole wedding/cat’s pajamas; whether it’s sound strategy or not, finishing the first draft in advance of that trip just seems like I thing I need to do.  The risks inherent in it seem manageable to me, but in the event I lose my mind I’d like to have this draft finished first.  If I end up back in the psych ward with just one chapter unfinished, well, that would really stink.