The State of the Cycle 2023

When I started this blog, I told my then-nonexistent readers that this would be a living document of the life of an aspiring novelist: the ups and downs, the positives and negatives, the fears and hopes, and all the emotions that go along with putting yourself out there creatively. But, over the last few years, I’ve done less of that, and looking at it from the outside, I feel like talking less about the work has decoupled me from my writing in ways I don’t like. I have been wanting to address this; the best way I could think was to write my way through it.

I’ve been dwelling on this for a while, and I’ve been putting off this particular post for some time, mainly because it’s not all sunshine and roses. It feels like it’s important, however. A good place to start my re-engagement. For the past few years, I received emails from various readers asking how things are going and if there will be more Bell Forging Cycle books in the future. Those questions asked are valid, and while I have given some standard answers, a more detailed response is well overdue. It’s past time I address these questions, discuss where I am with the series, talk about where it’s going, and explain what else is happening. Welcome to the State of the Cycle, 2023.

Where Do Things Stand?

Book IV, Gleam Upon the Waves, is out, and it’s been out for a while. I’m proud of it. I believe it’s my best work. What reviews it has gotten have been positive, but sales have been relatively slow. I’m not completely surprised. It’s the fourth book in the series, and generally, a fourth book will rank (surprise) fourth sales-wise. It’s the nature of a series. Only some people will continue with a series after the first novel, and readers will continue to fall off as books come out.

I’ve been doing this long enough that I’m not completely discouraged by this. Not every book can be a best-seller, especially the fourth in an obscure and admittedly niche weird-fiction series like The Bell Forging Cycle. I understand that intellectually, and I’ve come to terms with it. But it’s hard not to be haunted by a specter of disappointment. Novels take time, and it’s somewhat disheartening when they land with a whimper. That can have a ripple effect on a writer’s engagement and productivity.

I worry that sounds more morose than I feel, but it’s essential to acknowledge that those emotions linger and can affect production even after you think you’ve come to terms with them. I know other artists across mediums who have faced similar discouragement. Lately, I felt that for me addressing this issue head-on, as I’m doing here, is the better solution. Acknowledge the challenge, put it out there, then deal with it. So yeah, having the last two books launch and quickly sputter out has been a bummer. But I love this world and its characters, and I want to tell its story. If I wanted to write mainstream fiction, I could have. Deep down, my love for my weird little series goes beyond the sales. My goal is and has always been to finish the hexology. There’s a story to finish, and I will do that. This means two more books are on the docket; they’re planned, and they’re coming.

When is the Next Book Coming?

The honest answer: I don’t know. Sometime. But there’s still a lot of writing to do. In the last year, writing for me has been ponderously slow and, for some months, completely nonexistent. Some of that is due to everything I mentioned above. But another part is that writing remains a side gig, and real life and my day job take precedence. I’ve been very lucky at how well the series has sold, but this is still a labor of love.

That said, I am over a quarter of the way through Book V. I’m still excited by it. It will be weird and different, but still, the same Waldo Bell adventure that keeps all of you reading. I won’t go into a lot of details, but we’re leaving the levels of Lovat behind us and heading deep into the Territories. It should be fun and a little horrific. By the time you get to the fifth book in a series, there are a lot of strings, and strings mean knots and those tangles can be complex, which means they’ll take a bit of work to unravel.

There’s good news about all of this. A few weeks ago, I spent a weekend doing a writing retreat on Whidbey Island, and while I didn’t hit the word count I wanted, immersing myself back into the series allowed me a fresh perspective. I managed to untangle some of those knots. I see a way forward, which I haven’t been able to say in months. I have another retreat in October and plan to continue building on that momentum. It’s steps in the right direction, and I’m excited.

Years ago, you talked about a novella. Where is it?

Oh, yeah. I did. Didn’t I? That didn’t pan out as I hoped, and I probably jumped the gun on announcing it. The goal was to write a story from Wensem’s perspective during the events of Red Litten World, but I never managed to achieve the voice I wanted. He works better as a strong silent type, not as a narrator. It had some intriguing ideas, and I have a chunk of it complete. I might revisit it if the muse strikes, but I want to focus on Book V for now.

But there is a silver lining to this as well. Instead of the novella, I ended up writing five interconnected vignettes set in the world of the Territories. The plan (right now, at least) is to have each of these appear as five Interludes scattered throughout Book V. Regular readers might remember that I read the first one during the pandemic for King County Library’s Barely Tolerable Tales. It was a weird one, and they only got more bizarre. They’ll be an excellent addition to the narrative. If there’s enough excitement, I might release them on their own before Book V’s launch.

Okay. So, how can I help?

If you’re reading this blog, you’re already doing it. Your support keeps me writing. Your emails, comments, reviews (text, video, whatever!), and ratings help me tremendously. I can shout about it from the rooftops, but your friends don’t know me from Carter. If you recommend my books, it’ll go much further than any marketing or promotion I can do. (And believe me, I’ve done a lot.)

What’s next in 2023 (and beyond, really?)

As I’m typing this, it is still August, but the last few days in Seattle have felt very autumn-like. It’s currently low-60s and raining outside. The harried nature of summer in Seattle always tends to dwindle as September rolls around, and I relish this time.

What am I doing this Fall? I’m planning to write, mostly. I also have a few editing projects, which might lead to something more. But the writing will be the priority.

I am still planning out what will be the 10th Annual Cosmic Horror Holiday Gift Guide for 2023. (I can’t believe I’ll have been doing this for a decade.) It’s always my most significant post of the year, and readers love it. So expect another entry full of all sorts of Lovecraftian stuff. I already have a lot of great products stashed away, but feel free to message me with anything you think would be a good fit.

Unexpectedly, my free fantasy map tool sets have become the most prominent traffic draw to this blog. Last year was my most significant year traffic-wise; this year is on track to blast past that. I never expected #NoBadMaps to take off the way it has. Thousands of people come here to download my toolkits, and seeing the work they do with the assets I’ve assembled has been humbling. I have Patreon supporters now! Plus, I find building them out is both relaxing and good brainstorming time. It’s become a place of zen for me. I will probably have a few more released before the year is out.

Also, plan on a few more Raunch Reviews because those fake swear words aren’t going to review themselves.

I have a few other ideas that seem daunting right now. In the last few years, quality hardcovers have become easier to produce, and I am tempted. I’ve gotten good enough with audio editing that it could be fun to produce some audiobooks. Not totally sure about the demand for either, but both are things I’m considering.

In Conclusion

So, that is my report on the State of the Cycle. The last few years have been more of a struggle than I anticipated, but I am optimistic about the future. Honestly, outside of nebulous timelines and some disappointing sales figures, this post could have gone a lot worse. As I’ve mentioned earlier, I count myself very lucky as a writer.

I wish I could provide more exact dates, but those will come in time. For now, it’s nice to talk with you about the work, the challenges I’ve recently faced with writing, and what I am doing to solve them. In many ways, I am writing this post for myself as a way to acknowledge my current state. The best way out was through, and I plan to push on.

As I mentioned during my One Thousand milestone moment back in July, I’ve accomplished a lot since Gleam Upon the Waves. It may not all be writing-related, but it’s still creative. I’m proud of the work I’ve made, what I’ve published here, and the fantasy cartographers I’ve inspired. I will keep doing more projects like this, but I plan to prioritize my writing going forward.

If you made it this far, thanks. I appreciate you.

Lots to come. Stick with me. The cycle rolls on.