It is done! And yet far from finished.

Drafts of Books 1 and 2: Written. Book(s) 3 (and maybe 4 and 5): To Be Written.

Enter I now into the world of editing with jubilation, trepidation, determination, and fear.

It is quite powerful to become what you've known yourself to always be.

Now the real work begins.

Book 3, I will be writing you within this coming year, but you'll likely have to come more slowly, as I polish your predecessors into works deserving of review, and, God willing, publishing -- though that will be quite some month's yet.

... You know, it's funny. I realized on, er... Wednesday this last week that I would finish my book(s) earlier than anticipated. And when Friday came, I piddled and barely wrote. Then I wrote more in earnest, but still piddled on Saturday. And I've been piddling all day today, Sunday.

It is almost like I fear being done with the drafts.

The fun part comes from the creation. The true, TRUE work comes from the editing.

So I've a new focus. My focus is now on polishing books 1 and 2 into publishable manuscripts WHILE AT THE SAME TIME, beginning book 3. I will not fret about starting book 3 at the start of 2021, as I did with book 1, but I do wish to continue the creative process itself.

(I started writing on 1/4/2020, actually, and finished today, 12/13/2020, thusly writing two first-drafts of two fantasy epic novels in 11 months, together compiling a total of 456,749 words and 676 typed, single-spaced pages -- needless to say, I KNOW I have some editing and cutting down to do).

It's very excited and very daunting. I cannot wait to polish the books and share them. At the same time, the notion of wrapping my brain around all the nuances and side-characters, and sub-plots, while editing the plots of books 1 and 2 to make sure each book has its own exposition, rising action, climax, falling action, and resolution, while still adhering to the over-arching plot across the series... Well, it feels like I'm trying to understand and memorize George R. R. Martin's work -- like, even though I created the characters, understanding all the mess that has gone on in these two books is... a lot.

I have my notes. In fact, I have a notebook with tons of scribbles involving plot structure that must still occur, as well as some other ideas and questions I have floating around. I also have a massive stack of note cards for easier, quicker reference so I don't waste time flipping through my notebook. So instead, I flip through my note cards... Many of which simply have a name and no details written because, at the time, I was like, "Paah, I can do it later." 

Well, my friends, later has now come, and I cannot tell you how long it took me to search the document for someone's last name (because of course both books are housed within the same, active document, even though I HAVE separated them into their own individual files now that their drafts are "complete").

So. I think the next step, because I have never edited such a massive manuscript before (honestly, not sure I've edited really anything I've written; like, TRULY edited), I think I will print it.

Yes. I plan to print all 676 pages and 457k words... likely, double-spaced and double-sided. My goal is to read it as a reader and make notes and correct confusing moments, finesse others, cut out hopefully a lot of superfluous words or descriptors, and synch these mother truckers down to under 200k words a piece.

(Ha! Hahahaha. Oh, spells, but let's hope so, because those publishing guidelines aren't very lenient when it comes to first-time authors such as myself with such door-stopper-like manuscripts).

Alrighty.

So that's the plan.

2021 will be comprised of a TON of reading, editing, and, as I figure out the definite nuances of the world I've created (which I KNOW them, but do I KNOW them enough to rattle them off in a single paragraph? That, I do not know. My instincts say no), I also hope to begin and get a good chunk of book 3 started.

I hope you join me on this journey. I know it's sometimes hard to tag along without knowing any details, but I'm still figuring out how to do that without giving away what I've written, giving away ideas that other writers can steal (inadvertently via subconscious plagiarism or outright thievery), and yet while still spinning some more interest from you all who have deigned to read these lengthy blog entries thus far.

I'll figure it out.

A copyright ought to be in there somewhere, I think.

I'll figure it out.

In other news, fellow writer Nicole Bennett and author of Amazon's The Candy Store (short, sexy reads) plan to go in together on a writing podcast. Being that we have completely different styles and interests, we hope to offer something new and refreshing to the world of writing for not only our readership, but other up-and-coming writers as well. (She also has a blog, so check it, y'all.)

Stay tuned.

I love you all.

I'm excited to share with you this world I have created, by the grace of God and my wonderful, obnoxious, prattling Muse.

Huzzah!

I FREAKING DID IT, YALL!

Now to make it REAL. And available for your reading pleasure...

~ J. R. DuBois, author