November 2023: Better Late Than Never
Better late than never! November was quite the month! My newsletter is now in circulation. Anyone who signs up will receive an exclusive advcance chapter of Lester before it is released. Sign up for my newsletter on my homepage.
For the second time this year, I packed up all of my worldly belongings and moved to share a home with my best friend and fiancé. While this was always the plan, our circumstances had changed considerably so we decided to advance the timeline from June 2024 to now. I had some apprehension about the decision because of the usual disruption it would cause, but the biggest source of my concern was that I wanted to finish the first draft of my second novel, Lester, before I uprooted my life again.
For a little context, I started Lester back in January. I completed about six chapters before I began edits on Wonderland in March that continued until its release in May. Over the summer, my focus was divided between events and marketing for Wonderland, moving in June, a vacation in August, and life just throwing things my way. It was difficult to get into a regular writing practice for Lester. When Chris suggested I move in by December 1st, I was worried if the draft was paused again, it would be too hard to get my bearings back to complete it after another interruption. Instead, I chose to push forward and finish before the move.
Now with the first draft complete, I am concerned about how much work will be required to develop the second draft. Between the unstructured approach I took to writing Lester and rushing the final sections, I already know there are weak points and plot inconsistencies that will need to be shored up. The story is lacking, and I know it. This is why we edit. The content of the novel required a massive undertaking as I chose to write every chapter in two sections: a story about the history of Lester or my POV character and then the other half back to the main narrative. It is a different type of novel than Wonderland, but one that I hope those who follow my writing will enjoy just the same. Lester’s first draft has three times the word count of Wonderland’s, a fact I uncovered while writing this newsletter. That alone helps me set aside some of my misgivings about how well I executed the first draft. Over the Christmas holiday, I will complete my first read through before I begin my second draft.
Between the completion of Lester and my move, I have begun to settle in and am incredibly happy we made the decision to join households rather than wait. After spending so many years living apart because life just is what it is, it brings me so much peace to share a home with my best friend.
Which brings me to my last bit of good news, I have started work on my third novel. In truth, I had about half a manuscript already complete. I decided to take an online “Write your First Novel” class during the height of the pandemic in late 2020. The idea had been brewing in my mind since we had gone to Yellowstone in 2019. Unfortunately, things being what they are, I was thwarted by doubt in my capabilities. I put the novel aside half-finished with the hope I would return to it. I honestly did not believe I could bring it into the world the way I wanted to at that time. Now, I know I can. Tentatively, if I am able to release Lester mid-2024, I have hopes to release my third novel “Beartooth” late 2024 or early 2025, but then again, my better judgment says I am being a little overzealous.
It's a lot of news, and I will be very busy this next year, in fact the plans Chris and I have made together, we are laying a path for a lot of things to come. But first, a peaceful end to a busy year.