Category: Zodiac Eclipse

Quantum writing - both ahead and behind schedule

4/4/2015

In a slightly odd position, being both ahead and behind schedule.

The third outing for Sir Edric (planned to be longer than Temple and Treasure combined) is currently ahead of schedule. Normally, my problem is brevity, but I ended up writing 11,000 words for a section that was meant to be 5,000, and the first draft is on course to be done by the end of next month [after which it will be brutalised by beta readers].

In less good news, Kingdom Asunder is a little behind schedule. Extra stuff (map, cover etc) should all be finished before the text is done, but I'm a bit behind on getting the text sorted. It is still almost certain to be ready this year, but the problem may be if Temple's re-release (by Tickety Boo Press) and Kingdom Asunder run into each other. If that happens, then I'll need to delay Kingdom Asunder so I don't have the ridiculous spectacle of releasing both right next to each other. On the plus side, that would delay the wait for the second part of the trilogy after the first's release, but my goal is still to release Kingdom Asunder, then see Temple and Treasure come out.

Plenty of future projects bubbling away in the foetid cauldron of my mind (steampunk story, a sci-fi novel based on Zodiac Eclipse, more Sir Edric shenanigans etc) but right now my focus is firmly on Kingdom Asunder and Sir Edric's Kingdom [working title].

The free 12 part sci-fi mini-series (one episode per month) Zodiac Eclipse is available at the excellent Kraxon magazine. First part is here.

Don't forget to give Prey: Seven Tales of Beastly Terror a look. It's an anthology put together by seven independent authors, including me, with all proceeds going to the WWF (that's the wildlife charity, not the wrestlers).

Thaddeus

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The Horror!

2/21/2015

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It's a weird thing, writing. Tons of work, very few releases, and when stuff is published it's often weeks, months or even years after you finished it. On the other hand, it's quite nice when there's a pipeline of stuff due to come out.

There are now two episodes (of an eventual 12) of Zodiac Eclipse available, for free, on the Kraxon magazine website. It's my first published sci-fi foray, so far Gertrude seems to be going down quite well.

Also recently released is Prey: Seven Tales of Beastly Terror. Seven independent/self-published authors contributed a horror story each, with all proceeds going towards animal charity (WWF). It's my first horror story (many firsts this year). Particular thanks to LK Evans for getting me the last spot on the boat, Tom Conyers for his work putting it together, helping me with feedback and artwork, and Chance Maree for formatting [which can be rather more difficult than it sounds].

An e-book version will be forthcoming, for now it's a physical edition only.

On larger works: Kingdom Asunder's still going through the beta reader mill. I don't envisage enormous changes, but that may change depending on feedback (important to remember when getting critiques you don't have to take *all* advice, and different beta readers may have diametrically opposing views).

As mentioned before, Sir Edric's Temple should be re-released at some point this year. Sir Edric's Treasure will also come out, though that may be early 2016 (both are being published by Tickety Boo Press).

I'm also working on a third Sir Edric adventure, although that's very much in early stages. As always with comedy, I have no idea whether it's amazing, dreadful, or somewhere in between.

So, after a 2014 which largely involved writing lots and few releases, tons of stuff is coming out. Huzzah!

Thaddeus

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2015: The Plan

1/16/2015

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Last year was a bit fallow in terms of stuff I released.

There was the milestone of getting my first published short story out (Saxon & Khan, part of the Malevolence: Tales from Beyond the Veil anthology), but that was the only story of mine released in 2014.

The reason for the fallow year was just a matter of circumstance, in the same way that Journey to Altmortis and Sir Edric’s Temple were released a few months apart in 2013, and didn’t reflect any slowdown in how much I was writing (quite the reverse, to be honest). Hopefully, 2015 will be a bumper harvest.

I’m very glad to announce that the first of 12 episodes in the Zodiac Eclipse mini-series is out now at Kraxon magazine. Zodiac Eclipse tells the tale of Gertrude Jaeger, a crippled bounty hunter coerced into piracy on the infamous ship The Sun Dancer. One thousand word episode will be released each month of 2015.

I’m endeavouring to get Kingdom Asunder self-published this year. It’s hard to say when, precisely, as it’s currently being brutalised by a small army of beta readers, whose hard work beating out the weak spots is greatly appreciated. Kingdom Asunder is a fantasy novel which occurs in the Bane of Souls/Journey to Altmortis world.

Those who enjoy comedy may be pleased to know that the second edition of Sir Edric’s Temple (published by Tickety Boo Press) has been pencilled in for release in 2015. Sir Edric’s Treasure, the follow-up comedy, will also be published by Tickety Boo, possibly this year, possibly next.

I have a number of short stories in the pipeline with several anthologies. They range from sci-fi to steampunk (which was surprisingly fun to write. I’m giving serious consideration to a full-length steampunk novel). Can’t say which will be given the green light, or when precisely they’ll be out, but I’m hoping for at least one short story (within an anthology) to be released in 2015, in addition to the 12 Zodiac Eclipse episodes.

So, at the maximum extent this year could see about sixteen short stories and three solo efforts, and the minimum should be twelve short stories and one solo effort. Either way, it’s a lot more than 2014, so stay tuned for announcements on new releases.

Thaddeus

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The Middle of the Tunnel

10/7/2014

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Perhaps the most difficult stage, in terms of making progress, is after the first draft is done and I'm knee-deep in the first redraft (which is pretty hefty for Kingdom Asunder). It's over a year since I started background work (ironically, I only started Sir Edric's Temple, soon to be re-released and traditionally published alongside the sequel, because I didn't want a massive gap between releases) but I'm still miles away from the end. There's no light at the end of the tunnel, yet. I know there will be, but it's a bloody long way off.

I've done most of the redrafting for this first pass. I still need to insert the substantially rewritten portion of the start into the first draft. Almost all the finickity little changes are done and the largest substantial change has been written, but I do still have some more big changes to make.

I'm hopeful it'll be ready for release in 2015. If so, there's a chance I'll have three books coming out that year (Temple's re-release, Sir Edric's Treasure and Kingdom Asunder), not counting several potential short stories as parts of anthologies and another project.

Mind you, that will follow 2014, in which I have released nothing, so it's swings and round-abouts (or peaks and troughs).

I haven't begun making changes yet on Temple and Treasure (editor/publisher suggestions), but I'm hoping there won't be too many or too difficult changes, particularly for Temple, which has generally been well-received.

Back to KA: I anticipate, after finishing everything on the to-do list now, at least two more major redrafts. I have lots of things set in stone but several major plot points are still changeable (mostly a matter of timing rather than reversing decisions). I'm also finding the strange problem of lack of humour, possibly because I spent so much time with Sir Edric and Dog, and their shenanigans are pure comedy.

Thaddeus

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Something finished, something started, something redrafted

8/25/2014

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I've very nearly finished Sir Edric's Treasure. Much like Temple, I seem to have a blind spot a mile wide, and have great difficulty telling whether it's any bloody good. Temple went down well, but that's no guarantee Treasure will do so, despite the many improvements made by changes following beta reader suggestions (thanks once again to Springs and Prizzley).

Proofreading takes me a long time, although I'm running a bit ahead of schedule so far. I'm hoping Treasure will be more or less done (in terms of the text) by the end of this week, or next week at the latest.

However, it won't be released for some time. I can't go into the reasons now, but they're positive rather than negative.

Another thing I can't into much detail is a strange new project I may be embarking upon. Unlike Treasure or Temple, it won't be too long and should not distract from my impending redraft of Kingdom Asunder (my main focus, after two Adventures of Sir Edric and various short stories, will be firmly on Kingdom Asunder once Treasure's text is done).

I am going to have to thoroughly change the first few chapters of KA. In addition, some characters need more time, the plot requires rebalancing, and I'll probably have to write a new battle scene. In many ways, big changes are easier and more enjoyable than small ones. They're almost like a first draft, part 2 (draft harder), whereas small changes involve fiddling with existing scenes and chapters to try and bend them into a new shape. It can be tedious, takes longer, is more difficult and harder to assess when it comes to productivity. Writing whole new material has the handy productivity rating of the word count.

I'm considering slightly reducing the death toll. Each of the major deaths makes sense, but a flurry occur all at once and it makes the plot feel a bit lopsided. One could definitely be delayed to the next book, and might even fit better there.

However, with most major plot points I'm happy, and I'm especially pleased, at this stage, with how the two lead female characters have turned out. A couple of the chaps need more meat adding to their bones, though, particularly the Esden brothers and perhaps Sir James, the cross-dressing knight.

Anyway, even going full steam ahead I do not believe there's any prospect of Kingdom Asunder being released this year, though I shall work hard on it. The mystery smaller project, if it occurs, will be released in 2015.

Thaddeus

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Quantum writing - both ahead and behind schedule

The Horror!

2015: The Plan

The Middle of the Tunnel

Something finished, something started, something redrafted

About Me
I've always loved reading
and writing, particularly fantasy and classical history. I'm also quite into F1 and politics and have no idea why this section is double-spaced.

Archives

Categories

Quantum writing - both ahead and behind schedule

The Horror!

2015: The Plan

The Middle of the Tunnel

Something finished, something started, something redrafted

About MeI've always loved readingand writing, particularly fantasy and classical history. I'm also quite into F1 and politics and have no idea why this section is double-spaced.

Archives

Categories

About Me
I've always loved reading
and writing, particularly fantasy and classical history. I'm also quite into F1 and politics and have no idea why this section is double-spaced.