Friendly Advice & a Milestone

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My mind is whirring with story possibilities, so I’ll keep this short like I promised.

Progress is my middle name. Well, at least it was this past week. Usually, it’s just James. It’d be kind of weird to have your actual middle name be a traceable measurement.

As of today, the thirteenth of February, I have reached roughly the 50% point of the first draft for the sequel to The Shadow Over Lone Oak. I worked diligently since last Monday to reach this point. Currently, I am about to finish the tenth chapter of the novel. One character’s point-of-view narration is almost entirely finished.

Here’s some non-specific, juicy details about the project so far (non-spoiler):

Death Count: 4
Kiss Count: At least a dozen. Gets kind of saucy.
Number of POVs: 6 (with perhaps 1 additional POV to come)
Times that Lone Oak has been referenced: Too many to count. Seriously. This novel is basically “Side B” to TSOL’s “Side A” in terms of how it contextualizes the events of the first book.

Overall, while I can see revisions on the horizon, I’m happy with how the book continues to flow. I was worried that a sequel might be more troublesome for me to handle, but so far I may actually enjoy writing it more than the first. I’m trying not to jinx it.

No sneak preview this week. I’ll let you in on a little secret (that’s not so secret to anyone paying attention): they’ll be distributed every two or three weeks. Probably three. This way, I don’t spoil anything crucial to the plot while drip-feeding you teasers. I want to lure you fishes in—not cook you for dinner!

If you’re a writer, I think the best advice I can give for keeping up a solid pace is to draw from whatever sources you can. Movies, television, video games, other books, life, nature, belief; all of these are great institutions from which to gain inspiration. Your craft is yours, whatever you do, but you are not a lone soldier on a vast battlefield. Lean on your comrades and they will never let you down.

Whether you’re a first-timer or stuck on novel #93, this just works. If I’m struggling with a scene or a chapter, I check out other media or ask my friends/family for input. Remember that there’s nothing new under the sun and you will always find something or someone who can help you achieve that which seems improbable or impossible in your writing. It’s already been done, but that doesn’t mean you can’t do it better or, at least, differently.

I hope you’ve enjoyed this update and the tiny piece I had to share. Have a great Monday. God bless.