The Wars of Meridian - Where am I?

Look at that – you’re here for the update! I recognize that you’ve had to follow along with my writing journey without very many updates. The simple truth is that, starting in November of last year, I hit a rather aggressive writers block centered wholly on the necessity of splitting my beloved book in half. The Wars of Meridian series HAD to become four books instead of three – and that was quite a challenge for me.

Here’s the lowdown. My original manuscript of Godmarked (the first in the series) was 189,000 words, spanning the stories of 6 different characters. It was immensely detailed, and a bit of a long read. After receiving some stellar feedback from my beta readers, as well as some rejections from agents due to length, I had to rework the book. Last fall, I bitterly culled the book to 105,000 words.

I made my cuts by analyzing my three act plot structure as well as the story line regarding the multiple characters I was working with. I halved the perspectives to 3 – and decided that I would move the other three character lines into the “new” second book. Secondly, I recognized that I had moved my characters to a certain climax faster than I needed to – and I was able to expand the smaller rising action scenes in the second act to grow into more robust “third act” material. So I was left with a new plot structure incorporating the main details of my original Act 1 and Act 2. With a few expanded areas of emphasis in plot depth I tackled my next biggest issue. I had an utterly crucial character that literally no-one liked.

Imagine this - a simpleton farm boy out to save the world, and while completely innocent, he is corrupted. Ta-da! You know why I had to fix him. Ultimately the character was a walking cliche that I had given nearly zero effort into to developing. His story was linear, and boring. How did I fix it? I reimagined him entirely. I changed his name from Holt to Senan. I wrote four chapters of experiential decision making, and added layers of mystery that propelled him toward his fate. That... took time. it took creativity that I had never had for the character. But Senan slowly came to life.

I suddenly broke free.

The story suddenly made sense. The fibers I had pulled apart suddenly pulled tight. My story - like a meticulously over analyzed sweater - crocheted into completion once more. Broken, Analyzed. And remade.

NOW - now where am I? I am in the thick of my NEW second book: Awakening. After editing my first, i was left with a powerful set of characters and a dramatic Third Act. All I had to do to make a second bookw as... write a new Act 1 and Act 2 that tied the events from book 1 to the ancillary characters I was now including. W R I T E R ' S N I G H T M A R E.

I was trying to figure out the perfect wedge to jam into a plotline I had already developed. My linear writing process was broken, and I did not know where to start. My story, in response, languished. Months past. Storyboards came and went. Ideas floundered and burned. Nothing. Nothing. Nothing. I started a new job. I got busy. I lost focus and...

Honestly I gave up.

BUT - with enough time listening to me - my dearest came to my rescue. "Do you ever think you're a bit prideful?"

The truth hurt - but it was indeed the truth. I have done everything in my power to create an original world and unique plot without pulling upon outside inspiration. Pride. I had slammed myself into my writers block with enough force to knock me out of writing entirely. Pride.

So... with my tail tucked... I thought of the authors that have always inspired me. Tolkien. Hebrert. Pullman. Elliot and Rossio.

I have now added 30,000 words to Awakening. The pace is incredible. Awakening is a nod to what got me started in the first place. That's my update. I am going to polish Godmarked and attempt, once again, to catch the interest of a publishing agent. Awakening is going to silently grow in the wings. And when its ready, it too shall emerge. Front. And. Center.

In the meantime - here's a little glimpse. A taste. A picture of what is to come. I introduce Komorebi - the archer that never missed: