Revision is daunting, and each revision is daunting in it’s own way. It always feels like a strange and unwieldy process. How to begin? Where to begin?
I began by making a list:
- easy changes
- harder changes
- hard changes
When starting out, it’s best to begin with easy changes, and work up to the more challenging ones.
I was stopped in my tracks at the first heading. What was the name of Hortense’s school? What was it called at the time?
This simple question plummeted me into Google-land research, which, in the way of the Net, opened up wondrous worlds.
Then, of course, I was compelled to post to my research blog, Baroque Explorations:
Handwriting samples: Napoleon’s, Josephine’s, and that of Christophe Duroc.
On-line research: subscription publication—an 18th century method of fund-raising?
Yes, a form of procrastination, I know.
It just now occurred to me that my deadline is five weeks off, and that I am travelling for most of it.
Full stop.
I believe it time for me to make a list of essential changes, never mind easy, harder and hard.
As Napoleon would say: Basta! Get to work!