Quick update on "Scorpion 2"
I just had a rather panicked email from a reader asking me if "Scorpion 2" was, quote "happening at all".
Short answer: Yes, it will happen. Promise.
Long answer: I was sidetracked. I have around 15k useable words at the moment and I have a ton of ideas, and I'm almost sure I know how it ends, but the Muse is still very much in "discovery" mode. That's when books slowly solidify out of that diffuse mist of "ooooh, I want to write" and actually take shape. This is a critical stage that cannot be rushed. There's no way to shorten that period. Basically, it's still incubating. While I have the general "set-up", or the starting situation with most major players in position, I need to get to the main developments/main plots, and while I have a ton of material, I have no real clue yet how the pieces fit together.
What does that mean?
It means that the book will be written. A book will only *not* be written if there's not enough material to write it. If I have no ideas and no passion. For Scorpion 2, I actually have both. There are a lot of secrets that I want to tell and reveal, and I do love my characters (I can't wait to share Runner, Blood and Graukar with you, and shock you with the demise of the high priest - because that'll certainly shock the hell out of me).
Now, what has sidetracked me?
Around a week ago, I had a sudden flash of inspiration. I was finally working on "Scorpion 2" again, and suddenly I had this idea that is about WWII and Paris. And I had the movie. A voice (his name is Yves). I fretted and freaked out, and then my partner said: "Hey, you're not living off writing, follow the energy - do what really excites you."
A-fucking-men.
(It is, BTW, the thing I tell young writers asking me for advice what they should write... I tell them to write the one that keeps them up at night.)
Now, I wanted to be all dutiful and serious and hardworking and give you guys "Scorpion 2", but basically it's not *quite* ready yet, not quite ripe, and I'm being selfish and rather than push "Scorpion 2" through, I really want to write the new story, which I call, affectionately, the "Two Birds" book.
I hope you'll forgive the delay, but I promise you a better sequel if I can play with this one first.
Short answer: Yes, it will happen. Promise.
Long answer: I was sidetracked. I have around 15k useable words at the moment and I have a ton of ideas, and I'm almost sure I know how it ends, but the Muse is still very much in "discovery" mode. That's when books slowly solidify out of that diffuse mist of "ooooh, I want to write" and actually take shape. This is a critical stage that cannot be rushed. There's no way to shorten that period. Basically, it's still incubating. While I have the general "set-up", or the starting situation with most major players in position, I need to get to the main developments/main plots, and while I have a ton of material, I have no real clue yet how the pieces fit together.
What does that mean?
It means that the book will be written. A book will only *not* be written if there's not enough material to write it. If I have no ideas and no passion. For Scorpion 2, I actually have both. There are a lot of secrets that I want to tell and reveal, and I do love my characters (I can't wait to share Runner, Blood and Graukar with you, and shock you with the demise of the high priest - because that'll certainly shock the hell out of me).
Now, what has sidetracked me?
Around a week ago, I had a sudden flash of inspiration. I was finally working on "Scorpion 2" again, and suddenly I had this idea that is about WWII and Paris. And I had the movie. A voice (his name is Yves). I fretted and freaked out, and then my partner said: "Hey, you're not living off writing, follow the energy - do what really excites you."
A-fucking-men.
(It is, BTW, the thing I tell young writers asking me for advice what they should write... I tell them to write the one that keeps them up at night.)
Now, I wanted to be all dutiful and serious and hardworking and give you guys "Scorpion 2", but basically it's not *quite* ready yet, not quite ripe, and I'm being selfish and rather than push "Scorpion 2" through, I really want to write the new story, which I call, affectionately, the "Two Birds" book.
I hope you'll forgive the delay, but I promise you a better sequel if I can play with this one first.
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Tracy
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Jun 09, 2011 11:43AM
I expect the panic was in response to a commenter on the Jessewave review earlier today who said something about the sequel being a while in coming "if it even gets written." I can kind of sympathise; it can be hard waiting for something when you're *in love* (however euphemistically). But it's rather like candy or ice cream: nice in small quantities but too much all at once leaves you feeling a bit ill. So I'm willing to wait, assured that it'll be worth my while! *raises single brow* It--no, make that they--better be worth it! *grin* 'Cause WWII-Paris sounds interesting, too (and I may have to finally actually finish watching Casablanca, since WWII does seem to be going around a bit now, and all I know much about is the South Pacific campaign.)
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I remember how Scorpion started. You were playing around with an idea for a short sex-filled fantasy piece that was supposed to be quick and easy. And then it grew. LOL.
So I like what comes out when the Muse drags you down these interesting summer detours. I'm sure Yves will enjoy it too! :)
Meanwhile, S2 will sneakily flesh out in the back of your subconscious and be full of all kinds of unexpected goodies when you finally get to it.
So I like what comes out when the Muse drags you down these interesting summer detours. I'm sure Yves will enjoy it too! :)
Meanwhile, S2 will sneakily flesh out in the back of your subconscious and be full of all kinds of unexpected goodies when you finally get to it.
Tracy - I just saw that. Oooops. That reader freaked out a lot over it, so I wondered if I'd said anything on my blog or forum, but really didn't think I had. But yeah, it will happen. Definitely the sequel - the prequel needs a lot more work. Kate - yeah, see where the short sex-filled summer diversions get me. INTO TROUBLE. At least this time I won't have a soul-sucking job that slows me down unnecessarily.
It doesn't seem to me like you said anything that implied it wasn't going to get written, although you did blog at some point, I think, that it was going on a bit of a back burner. And, sadly, with a lot of authors, that frequently means, "Sorry, no go." But you've been very clear that, while it's not happily queued up waiting the polite amount of time to be released (and why am I getting this vision of a book all dolled up in Victorian widow's weeds, awaiting the moment when she can remarry...?), it's definitely on the stove, as it were, cooking merrily away. And I do believe I have murdered enough metaphors there for one day...
LOL. Now I see Kendras in Victorian widow's get-up. My poor brain. You broke it.
Ahhh. So that's how he gets into the priest's temple!! I was wondering.
*chokes laughing*
*chokes laughing*
Heh. I am EBIL like that...Oh, God, now I'm seeing it, too...my mom will look at me funny if I burst into random spontaneous laughter, and *how* am I supposed to explain that one to her, I ask you?
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