Rabea Scholz's Blog, page 3

Room for writing

I’m incredibly inspired lately, and very suspicious of it. I know, I know, I ought to be thankful, and I am, but it’s been so long that I felt like this that I keep fearing this rush might end. Though deep down I don’t think so, not right now. I’ve cared better for myself this past year, I’ve tended to my Muse, taken time for my writing, been in closer contact with myself through morning pages, so this isn’t a fluke. That’s just my Old Critic’s voice creeping in, telling me I’m not cut out to be this, a writer.

But while it lasts: It’s fantastic! I am now over 40,000 words into Darklight Rest and still haven’t hit “the middle” where things slam to a sudden stand-still. Even better, I’ve failed twice before trying to write this story, and both times for the same reason (I think): It was too character-based, centered only around Liya and Mariany and ignoring the rest of the people and the immense conflicts that could arise from a setting like that. This time, there are half a dozen other characters who have interacted with Liya as much as or more than Mariany, and I have (gasp!) subplots!

Now, I realize this doesn’t sound very confidence-building, coming from a supposed author. But this is first draft, and first draft is chaotic, and I’m just glad it’s flowing as well as it is. I’ll pick up the pieces in revision, and I know that I can. Revision is a beautiful, powerful process that can turn a real mess into a brilliant story. I’m looking forward to it!

Favourite quote from today’s writing:

Just that the sky over Darklight Rest would never be full of stars. Liya wasn’t even sure that stars existed in this place.

My Muse was really with me this morning. The words just flowed from my fingers, beautiful, easy, right. Those are the moments I write for, and would write for even if I could never earn a cent with my writing (now that I already have, I guess that statement doesn’t work anymore; still true, though).

Another cool thing: I keep having little glimpses of ideas for a prequel to Naheli’s Sacrifice. I thought I was done with this world, but the idea of returning to the island, if only to meet those characters again at a different time in their lives, keeps enticing me. It’s one of those that won’t let go, I think. Right now, I’m thinking a young Dhamikhan, coming to the island for the first time, and a story explaining who he used to be and how he turned out to become the powerful Lord Dhamikhan supervising Naheli’s Sacrifice. If Darklight Rest shouldn’t last me through all of NaNoWriMo, I think I’ll be doing this prequel next.

Progress – Naheli’s Sacrifice

After three weeks of being a published author, here are the facts up to date:

I’ve sold three paperback copies of Naheli’s Sacrifice — one to my mother and two to good friends.

The 2nd fifth

Writing has been good lately. Great, actually. I’m writing daily and usually getting at least 1,000 words, which I’m putting down to working less so there’s just more energy left for creative work. Teaching children is immensely creative, but it’s also draining. This school year, there’s just more room for stories in my head.

Darklight Rest & Naheli

It’s really exciting to watch the stats Amazon produces on your published e-books. Apart from being able to see how many copies I sold (three, two of which to family :D) and how many were taken during the free promotion (just over 50 now!), I can see how many pages have been read by readers using Kindle Unlimited. At least, I think that’s what it is — still learning my way around this!

The graph is really interesting and looks like this:

Now, there’s no telling how many people actually share those read pages, but seeing as there are days between those two spikes with no pages read at all, I’m guessing there were only two people. And if that’s correct, it would mean Person A read the entire book (which is about 445 pages) in two days, and Person B read it in one day. Which, although at first glance it may seem sad because there were only two people, is actually great — because it would mean that at least two people found the book interesting enough to read it in just a day or two.

First review

I really hadn’t expected to receive any reviews at all this early in the process, but today I got one. I still can’t believe it. I don’t know who the person is, which feels really strange, because so far the only people who have read… well, ANY of my writing have been friends, family, or members of online writing groups. It’s a good one, too — not a five-star one, but I’m totally fine with that. The comments are VERY nice and I’m… I don’t know. I’m at a loss for words. I always dreamed about publishing a book, but now is the moment I’m sitting here crying because this… knowing someone, somewhere, read my words and liked them… enough to even post about them… this is what I really wanted. I’d be glad to make a living from my writing some day, but in the end, I don’t care that much about sales. My number one goal, which I set up when I took one of Holly Lisle’s classes, was to reach others with my stories. People I don’t know in person, people across the globe.

And now it’s happened. I think this might be the second happiest moment of my life, my wedding being the first one.

Naheli’s Sacrifice is live!

Oh. My. God.

It’s so much. There’s so much! I don’t know where to start, I don’t know how to catch up, there’s just so much to do and tell and brag about! (This is me grinning here!)

Last week, I finally published Naheli! I ended up settling on Naheli’s Sacrifice for the title, and I’m so proud of the cover. It may not be the final one, because there’s always room for improvement, but I think it’s okay for now, and good enough to be out there. I can’t image Naheli is actually being looked at, being read by people!

Of course, the big crash came already a day or two later. Two copies sold: to my wife and my mother.

Goodbye, Naheli.

Writing has been good today again. Haven’t been feeling too well otherwise (maybe it’s the strange weather), but the Muse is awake. And she’s happily throwing plans out the window (see previous post).

Meanwhile, I am trying to get my cover for Naheli set up. I haven’t even completely decided on a title yet. My favourite all this time was The Fourth Rule, but it seems Tree of Glass is more popular with my testing writing partners. I also like Naheli’s Sacrifice, which is really what it is all about. But I need to make a decision soon because once I have the manuscript back from my editor, I won’t be able to wait, I think. I’m only weeks away from my very first publication, and I’m impatient now. It’s amazing, seeing it all come together. I’ve worked on this story for a total of four years… and just found my very first notes while cleaning out my wardrobe. It’s funny, seeing the first ideas that sparked this novel. They have little to do with the final product, but that’s the way I’ve always worked. Of course I had time travel planned for the original version. And other dimensions. Oh, and dark-light angels. And shapeshifters. And three groups of religious fanatic on the mainland. … It’s probably a good thing I managed to stick to one storyline in the end.

I’m missing Naheli. When I had finished my final self-edit, I actually grieved for a few days. It was like losing a friend, someone who has accompanied me for a long time. Maybe that’s what stopped me from really getting Naheli out there for so long. Once I do, her story is set in stone, and we won’t be rewriting anymore. Still, it’s time now. I need to take this next step.

Onward to Arrianha. She also has a story that needs to be told.

Best writing song right now: Nova by VNV Nation.