First, I’m not a perfectionist at all. Every story doesn’t have to be perfect to be released. However, it has to be as close to perfect as I can make it in order to satisfy myself. I feel like I’ve grown so much as a writer that stories I conceived and wrote a year ago no longer stand up to final inspection before release. Believe it or not, sometimes at night I think of new interesting plot twists or solutions to current problems that will make a story better. Both cause rewrites to ensure the smooth progression of plot or enhance a character’s bond in the story. I’ve woken at times in the middle of the night with both ideas and solutions and even new story ideas.
Second, as with all projects it seems that 90% of the effort goes into the last 10% or the story. As I learn more I spot more flaws and strive to eradicate them both from initial and final drafts. I’m learning new story telling techniques every week and adding them to my writer’s toolbox.
Third, since ideas are a dime a dozen, I’ve got more than I know what to do with. There are easily another dozen idea notes, short intro scenes, and even partial outlines for short stories, novels, and extended series, all vying for attention. So I’m trying to work on several at once to keep my energy and interest high and which I believe will some reach fruition and enable me to release a few more to the public.
Short story statuses:
- Completed a pirate story called Pirates of Misfortune, which I plan to offer to my critique group in a couple of weeks. The idea just bit down and hung on so I just had to complete it.
- The Skar Doorishmurk stories A Savage Meeting and Cursed of Broalle, are plotted and half written, just need to fill in the final scenes and they’ll be ready for critiquing as well.
- Storms on an Opal Sea, Cold Justice and Spirit Healer for Hire are languishing in the middle of rewrites as I try to strengthen the plots and improve the writing all around. Taking much longer than initially planned, but hope springs eternal.
Novel statuses:
- An Empire Forgotten is still flapping in the wind with no progress to report. Some day…
- Built for Murder was re-plotted after initial reviews and being rewritten to use the ideas I received and which should make it a stronger novel when done. Managed a chapter and a half today so things are moving along.
And that’s about it. Plugging away slowly with some hints of daylight appearing on the horizon, but nothing definite to report right now.
