My novel In Bloom has now completed its third edit. In its second edit, completed on November 23, 2025, we left it at 53 chapters, 499 pages, 140,998 words. Are you ready for the third edit numbers?

50 chapters, 482 pages, 133,069 words.

We’re getting closer! I still think that word count is awfully scary, despite that it’s come down from almost 200,000 words, mainly because even though it’s science fiction, it’s still young adult and I need more trimming.

I accomplished this moderate edit by outlining the story’s main beats while I edited it in the second edit, and then used the outline to cut, shorten, or reconfigure certain parts. I did find it useful, and as you see I lost a good 7,000 words after an already-major chop. But I still want to see a word count in the 120s, so I’ve decided I need one more edit to tighten its belt before heading out to the test audience.

It’s taken longer than I wanted, but I’m ready to wrap it up soon.