I did it.
I wrote another book.
Ok, in fairness, I wrote another manuscript. The book part will be a few weeks longer yet as it still needs to go through early reads, professional edits, and formatting. But I wrote another book.
So what, you might be saying. You’re a writer — a novelist — that’s what you’re supposed to do. I thought so too until I tried to write this one.
However, this time was different from the rest.
Perhaps it was the fact that it is the final book in my science fiction trilogy. It was as if my characters refused to share their story with me, knowing it likely was their last.
Perhaps it was the new house or the new job. Maybe my brain needed its old combination of background and routine to get into its groove.
Perhaps it was my family. The kids are getting older now. I am unfortunately finding they aren’t as willing to go to bed before the sun completely sets, just because their mom needs to hit her daily word count. Nor have our weekend become any less full.
Perhaps it was simply me.
amuse yourself with more writer problem memes at https://writerblueprint.com/writing-memes/
I should have finished this manuscript in February. That was my intent. I would take a break from the blog for the holidays and focus, instead, entirely on it. When February passed, I said, eh, it’s a short month anyway, I’m not that far behind.
Weeks stretched into months and still the most glorious words in the writer’s language, ‘the end’ continued to elude me.
I wrote during this time. Don’t get me wrong, but it was a steaming pile of word turd mixed with verbal vomit left behind to fill a blank page and little more. Thanks for that imagery, you might be thinking. Just be glad you weren’t the one expected to clean it up.
This is all to say, I might be late, but I’m still here.
I set a goal — I missed it — but I didn’t let a self-imposed deadline stop me.
Instead, I found a way to finish what I started.
I wrote a book.
My manuscript is off in beta reads, but I am looking forward to seeing it on the shelves soon. Until then, I thought I would share its initial description:
Side effects may vary.
Juliane’s woken to a world she barely recognizes with no memory of the days leading up to her time in cryogenic stasis. Plagued by guilt, Stephen longs to sleep without being haunted by the faces of those he’s lost. Both are seeking more than answers.
Meanwhile, the defeat of the Watch has created an opportunity for a new world order to step in and take power. On one side, there are the Sorcerers, a group of super-humans whose abilities come at a terrible price. On the other—Beastmen, genetically modified individuals lead by one of the people responsible for the plague and economic collapse starting it all.
Juliane is on a mission to restore her legacy.
Stephen is out to save his soul.
Can either stop the upcoming war before it destroys what’s left of humankind? In this struggle for survival of the fittest, they may have to find a way to save themselves first.
You can find the first two books in the series here:
Book 1: The Fair & Foul – https://books2read.com/u/mKJePy
Book 2: The Watch & Wand – https://books2read.com/u/mYgJ9G
Or you can learn more about my other books by visiting my books page.
Always such a bittersweet moment to finish. Congrats on forging through the rough parts!
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It is. I love these characters, but am looking forward to something new. Thank you!
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Way to go, Idaho!
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🤣 I knew it wasn’t going to be a sprint, but I didn’t realize it was going to be an ultra-marathon
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totally. and I love that Gandalf meme. That will be me at some point–when I finally get back to work myself. Did you get the Toy Story reference?
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But of course. 😂
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I figured, but also wanted to double check for safety reasons.
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Ha!!
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Great job! As a fellow writer whose latest manuscript has been languishing for over two years now, I admire your perseverance. Well done!
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Thank you! Seriously, why don’t these things write themselves?!? It would make my life so much easier.
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Well done on finishing it! Do you think I’ve got time to read the first two before the third one is out?
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As much as I would love to say, ‘no! I’m launching next week,’ I expect you do.
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Oh crap – not at the rate I read lol
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Ha!
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Well done! All good things take time, and it must be so satisfying to be at this stage:-)
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I wish I was a faster writer, I really do, but at least I am that much closer to winning this race.
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I am at the same point you are with my novella, Ally. I have just sent it off for developmental editing. I think how easy or difficult it is to write, depends on your frame of mind at the time. I sometimes find it really hard work and other times the book seems to write itself.
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Congratulations! My frame of mine went from yay, I’ll just tighten up some of this plot line I cut from books one and two, easy peasey, to how in earth did I write two books in this series already?!? It turned out I was right to cut out those storylines as they proved to been entirely unsalvageable.
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I had that same experience with Through the Nethergate. It is difficult to cut out great bits that just don’t fit, but it has to be done.
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Ugh. Hate that for you.
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