[miss_science]

The compound has a ketone on one end and an ester on the other end.

I proposed to turn the ketone into an acetal to protect it but
a) will the c=o of the aldehyde also turn into an acetal
b) I need to turn aldehyde into an alcohol using a hydride, which will violently react with water produced with the acetal.

What do you propose as a new protecting group for the ketone alone, or if there's a better reaction to keep the ketone while turning the aldehyde to
an alcohol?

[Honclbrif]

a) You switched half way from ester to aldehyde, which one do you mean? It makes a pretty big difference.
b) Use a desiccant to remove the water first, or Dean-Stark conditions to remove water while you form the acetal

[discodermolide]

The compound has a ketone on one end and an ester on the other end.

I proposed to turn the ketone into an acetal to protect it but
a) will the c=o of the aldehyde also turn into an acetal
b) I need to turn aldehyde into an alcohol using a hydride, which will violently react with water produced with the acetal.

What do you propose as a new protecting group for the ketone alone, or if there's a better reaction to keep the ketone while turning the aldehyde to
an alcohol?

Please be much more specific about the compounds in involved here, I am confused by your question.

[miss_science]

a) You switched half way from ester to aldehyde, which one do you mean? It makes a pretty big difference.
b) Use a desiccant to remove the water first, or Dean-Stark conditions to remove water while you form the acetal

sorry, I meant ester not aldehyde.

I want to react the acyl group of the ester with a hydride
nucleophile which can't have water.

Strictly speaking, I just want to write a synthesis on paper, not perform in a lab so how can I include a desicant as a compound/reagent/solvent?

[Honclbrif]

Strictly speaking, I just want to write a synthesis on paper, not perform in a lab so how can I include a desicant as a compound/reagent/solvent?

You're getting to caught up in particulars. Since its all on paper, you can just draw an arrow and write something like "desiccant" or "-H₂O", or "Dean-Stark" under it. Otherwise, you seem to be on the right path.