The polishing of my first novel - The Heater and The Hack
My journey into writing came with a kind of time capsule method for how I felt the narrative should be approached. Much like the authors of old, I don’t pander to readers who want a Dick and Jane narrative or simplify things to meet the lowest common denominator. That approach has done a couple of things for me—some helpful, some... less so.
First off, it’s made it incredibly hard to find an editor who can help, not only in with the complexity of the subtle foreshadows and reveals, but in a way that’s also financially sustainable. So not only did I have to learn how to write the story I wanted to tell, I also had to figure out how to edit, lay it out, and publish it myself. I’m still learning, still refining. But I needed to get this story out there, in some form, so that if something ever happens to me, at least the core story exists.
As I grow in the craft, I’ll continue to revisit and update the manuscript (cleaning up phrasing, fixing small issues, and clarifying things here and there). But the heart of the story—the narrative itself—is complete. That won’t change. What may change is the finesse. The finish work. The sanding and staining on the carved wood.
I appreciate feedback. I want feedback. I may have strong opinions on modern novels that feel overly processed or diluted, but I’m not out to knock anyone else’s style. I just prefer stories that challenge the reader, that trust them to think, to interpret, to feel the story for themselves.
Some night, after a long day—when I am trying to get an idea banged out on my keyboard, eyes closed... fingers incessantly tapping away, only to open my eyes and find my fingers were hovering over the wrong keys... I hope that my narrative still finds someone that can interpret or appreciate it for the thought put into it. Should I have enough time... this will flesh out into a massive project, of which this is only the beginning.
This is the first book in the first trilogy of three. This will be followed up by a rendition of a language primer acquired by one of the characters in-world, a fictional non-fiction language book. The imagined story will span a total of 2500ish years (mains) and I will be writing supplemental adjacent stories as well. My intent is to provide a playground upon which others might want to break out their big-wheels and take a ride.
I am, by my very nature, typically shy(ish) and anti-social (to an extent), but my writing has forced me out of this shell. Now I try to be open to interacting with others, so if you feel the need to send me a note, or befriend me, please don't hesitate, and I will do my best to respond in kind.
And if you're here, reading this—thank you. Whether you stick around or not, it means something that you stopped by.
First off, it’s made it incredibly hard to find an editor who can help, not only in with the complexity of the subtle foreshadows and reveals, but in a way that’s also financially sustainable. So not only did I have to learn how to write the story I wanted to tell, I also had to figure out how to edit, lay it out, and publish it myself. I’m still learning, still refining. But I needed to get this story out there, in some form, so that if something ever happens to me, at least the core story exists.
As I grow in the craft, I’ll continue to revisit and update the manuscript (cleaning up phrasing, fixing small issues, and clarifying things here and there). But the heart of the story—the narrative itself—is complete. That won’t change. What may change is the finesse. The finish work. The sanding and staining on the carved wood.
I appreciate feedback. I want feedback. I may have strong opinions on modern novels that feel overly processed or diluted, but I’m not out to knock anyone else’s style. I just prefer stories that challenge the reader, that trust them to think, to interpret, to feel the story for themselves.
Some night, after a long day—when I am trying to get an idea banged out on my keyboard, eyes closed... fingers incessantly tapping away, only to open my eyes and find my fingers were hovering over the wrong keys... I hope that my narrative still finds someone that can interpret or appreciate it for the thought put into it. Should I have enough time... this will flesh out into a massive project, of which this is only the beginning.
This is the first book in the first trilogy of three. This will be followed up by a rendition of a language primer acquired by one of the characters in-world, a fictional non-fiction language book. The imagined story will span a total of 2500ish years (mains) and I will be writing supplemental adjacent stories as well. My intent is to provide a playground upon which others might want to break out their big-wheels and take a ride.
I am, by my very nature, typically shy(ish) and anti-social (to an extent), but my writing has forced me out of this shell. Now I try to be open to interacting with others, so if you feel the need to send me a note, or befriend me, please don't hesitate, and I will do my best to respond in kind.
And if you're here, reading this—thank you. Whether you stick around or not, it means something that you stopped by.
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