The ink flows. The words – some well-formed, some crooked and crawling – bustle across the page. There is a heartbeat. There is life.
Continuing my year of writing recklessly, things feel like they are going well. Having shelved my paranormal thriller for the moment, I feel freer and clearer. I am all in with my fantasy trilogy.
Wild Roses
I plan all of my novels by hand. It is the only way I can get my brain to work. Also, I plan in reverse. Saying “I write the ending first” is not entirely correct. It would be better to say that I write the end of the final climax first. That way, I know where I am going and everything that happens has a setup.
I leave the final-final resolution until the very end. I think of it as a little reward for getting to that point.
Anyone who has read the Silent Symphony knows that I am all about endings. The real trouble is getting everyone to that point. That’s a discussion for another time.
I’ve placed all my focus on the Court of the Wild Rose trilogy, a story where the truth is obscured. In other words, a story all about payoff. (Hopefully, this will make sense when all three books are out).
I’ve completed my planning for book 3. It’s all there in many, many handwritten pages. Maybe too many pages, according to my wrist, elbow, shoulder, and my grippy, achy finger parts. I feel like the story is solid and the characters are interesting. It is a matter of making good on my own promises.
Now to plan books 1 and 2. I can do them in chronological order because all the hidden mechanisms and secrets have been fully worked out. I hope to not spend too long on the planning phase as I hope to get stuck into drafting for book 1 before the end of this month.
Other Horrors
I haven’t forgotten about the Balar series. Sales have been rather dismal of late, but I understand that this might be due to the fact that they are short stories. Apparently, this is not the way to build an audience, as I touched on before.
Book 4 is planned out, and I have started crunching out prose. However, it will have to wait until I’m done with the fantasy trilogy.
I am also planning to release a Book 0, a prologue novella, which might help get people into the series.
Look, despite the flagging sales, I still believe that there is something there. Book 3, the Evil of Balar is the best thing I’ve yet written. Best book ever? No, I’m not saying that. It’s just that I know my own work, and I know that I have yet to better that.
I believe that the issue is that Book 1, the Curse of Balar, is the weak link. It doesn’t hook the audience. It doesn’t give you a reason to stay in the spooky town. I think I figured out how to do this in the other two books, but that won’t help matters much. Book 1 is the first impression.
This is a good lesson going forward. Book 1 matters a whole lot.
Free Book!
In an effort to keep things alive, I am giving away the eBook version of Book 3 of the Balar series for a limited time!
Get The Evil of Balar Free Here!
Simply click the above link and enjoy a horrific adventure of monsters, murder, and more!
If you do pick it up, I would really appreciate your honest opinion on my work. This is the only way I can improve as a writer. Please review it on Amazon, BookBub, or Goodreads.
That’s All For Now
Until next time, I’ll be writing. I am excited to share this fantasy adventure story with you eventually!