A Pause, A Switch, An Outline
A good afternoon to all!
After a last burst of energy (and no small amount of “ennui” and Outside World intrusions), I’ve decided it’s time to once again pause work on the draft of Revelations, the fourth book in my Alternate History series Cross & Flag. No matter how flexible, there’s always a deadline for any book, and I felt I couldn’t extend the one for this draft any further without getting even more exhausted and depressed at the slow pace (I’d originally hoped to be finished at the end of June or in early July, so that should tell you both how much more there was to write than anticipated, and how fixated I was on finishing the draft this year, despite the flagging stamina and multiplying distractions). Like with other projects paused short of the finish line, there’s no small disappointment–but also a fair amount of pride to have gotten as far I have, and hope/eagerness for the next project(s).
The last, I’m happy to say, has been vindicated over the past week or so, with a switch to work on A House United, the sequel to my earlier AH work Dixie Curtain. I don’t anticipate too much new material will be added in the time left before the next scheduled project, but a major gap that had tormented me during the last round on this one is almost closed, and I hope to have the setup for the plot’s major events (a coup, a chase, spy-vs-spy intrigues galore) finished by month’s end. Also, when the energy or inspiration during AHU work seems to diminish, a backup’s in place: restarted outlining for a blended AH/scifi series (working title: “Alien Ark”), which centers on a very different nature behind the 1947 Sikhote-Alin meteorite and a (fictional) storm of other meteors which impacts in its wake, causing widespread damage in a world still recovering from WWII…and heralding something far more dangerous. This one probably won’t be finished before the 30th, either, yet I expect to have the key elements, actions and plot arc set down, ready for when I begin draft work next year.
A mixed kind of month, to put it best, but at least it hasn’t been completely idle or at loose ends–both far worse, when it comes to writing. I hope to have better news when returning here next month; in the meantime, pass along the upcoming sale (links below) for the whole of my current Cross & Flag series (a sign that this collection will be finished, before too much longer), and enjoy the proper start of Fall!
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09BMG32TN
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BGX8M57T
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CGLK4W6T
