Monday, March 25, 2013

Update on projects


I really don't have a ton going on right now. I just wrapped up rather intensive revisions on II Crimsonstreak for Candlemark & Gleam. I still have a few things to shake out, but it's much stronger than it was before. That's the great thing about having an editor: they really help you stand outside your work and see how other people view it. I know there are writers out there who don't think they need help like that...but I think a good editor is essential for a great book. There's no way II Crimsonstreak was ready to go in the form I submitted. Part of that was my eagerness to get it out there. I should've worked on it for another month before submitting. Then again, sometimes you get so close to your work that you stop being able to actually "see" it, so sending it off and getting feedback was probably for the best.

I used a very light outline for II Crimsonstreak. Since that book needed so much reworking and lacked focus in many respects, I'm attempting a tighter plot for III Crimsonstreak. You see, the second book ends on a cliffhanger that I have to resolve. I was already about 70,000 words into III Crimsonstreak, but the revision on book two helped me see some real problems with the third book. I sat down and wrote a five page outline based on some of the stuff I'd already written for the book. I immediately deleted four chapters (about 10,000 words) and started revising what I'd written. What about the other approximately 60,000 words? Some of that will remain, some it will be modified, some of it will be merged with other parts of the book, and some of it will be scrapped altogether.

Once I get III Crimsonstreak into better form, I have another novel that I'm about 50,000 words into. Before I continue with this book--a kind of Three Amigos/Galaxy Quest/Redshirts mash-up--I want to check my character beats and get a tighter focus on how I resolve the plot. My outline isn't very detailed. After rereading the book two weekends ago, I think it's a great concept and the writing is very strong in points. I want to change around some character traits (one character is very whiny at first and then isn't so whiny later in the book...and I like the latter version) and get some specific notes on plot points I want to resolve.

I don't define myself as a plotter or a pantser, although reading the above probably makes you think I'm closer to the latter than the former. I outline my stories and write character bios/sketches, but as the book develops, things change. I see nothing wrong with "going with the flow," but it's clear to me that I struggle to resolve those changes with the existing progression of the book.

I've written about 9,000 words on another project that's heavily inspired by Les Misérables with a little Revolutionary War and masked avenger flavor thrown in for good measure. If I can pull this one off--I have ten page outline for it--it would be somewhat more literary than any of my other books. I'll just have to see what happens.

Spring in Indiana

Spring in Indiana is lovely as long as you can avoid the AT-AT walkers.



At least some people are happy about "all that snow."


Thursday, March 14, 2013

Revisions away!

I've sent my revisions to Candlemark & Gleam.

I delivered II Crimsonstreak a couple days before deadline. Seriously, it always feels good to beat a deadline. The book is much stronger now. I'll still have some tweaking to do before its projected Fall 2013 release, but most of the heavy lifting is done.

I'm looking forward to another book launch!

Wednesday, March 6, 2013

Another revisions update and an event

I'm cruising through revisions for II Crimsonstreak--and by cruising I mean "doing a lot of work on a book that had its share of problems that needed to be fixed over a period of several weeks." The deadline is March 15; I'm about 83% done with revisions.

My last update on the blog from February 22 noted that I was about 33% finished with revisions. So I've made good progress in the span of a few weeks. Revisions are one of those things I dread a little bit as an author. I knew the book would need some work, but I didn't really consider how much work it would need. The first Crimsonstreak book was a relatively light edit. The sequel is a different story.

I could write a blog post about the reasons why. Actually, I should do that...just not right now.

I should also mention that I'll join several fellow authors in Madison, Indiana, on March 16 for the Authors Fair at That Book Place. It's the third year for the event. I went last year to support some of my author friends...this year I'll be signing and selling books. For more information about the event, check out the website for That Book Place.