Martyn Stanley's Blog - Posts Tagged "new-fantasy"
The Blood Queen 1st Draft is complete!
The Deathsworn Arc 3 : The Blood Queen ! First rough draft is officially finished!
It's come in at around 85,000 words! After a bit of editing and tweaking that might go up a bit or down a bit, or maybe both before it's settled! But it's done! I'm so relieved, it's been a slog at times, finishing 'The Blood Queen' seemed harder than the other books, but I'm really happy with the content! I can't wait to get it edited, proofed, polished and tweaked!
It'll still be a while before it's ready to live, I want to get it 'right' first time this time!
It's come in at around 85,000 words! After a bit of editing and tweaking that might go up a bit or down a bit, or maybe both before it's settled! But it's done! I'm so relieved, it's been a slog at times, finishing 'The Blood Queen' seemed harder than the other books, but I'm really happy with the content! I can't wait to get it edited, proofed, polished and tweaked!
It'll still be a while before it's ready to live, I want to get it 'right' first time this time!
Finally some progress!
I've finally uploaded the new 'improved' version of The Verkreath Horror
The new cover looks great, don't you think?
I'm really pleased with it. The annoying thing is, despite three people going over it with a fine toothcomb there are still tiny issues. I know there are three instances in the 'improved' version where I experienced some sort of Freudian slip and capitalized 'north' and 'south' when I didn't need to, which is irritating.
I think the rule is take more time when editing. Perfecting a grammatically flawed chapter must be far easier than perfecting a grammatically flawed book, and a paragraph - easier still!
I'm going to take more time over book 4, I'm going to pour over every paragraph and get it spot on before moving on. It'll take longer to write, but far less longer to polish.
My book 3 is now getting closer too. The trouble is I'm having disagreement with my beta-readers. They are concerned I may be issued with a Fatwa, ala 'Salman Rushdie' because one of my characters criticizes the absurdity of a Torean religion which resembles 'Islam'. They don't like the fact that the holy book of the Savti, currently called 'The Ko'Tar' sounsd too much like the 'The Quran
'.
I reluctantly will probably have to make some changes. I want to explore criticism of religion, but I don't want to be offensive. I think I need to subtly strengthen the counter-argument as well, perhaps by pointing out the comfort people get by following rituals, religious or not.
I hate it, but getting book 3 sorted is going to be a long journey. I wanted it out early summer, but I think late summer is more realistic now.
The new cover looks great, don't you think?
I'm really pleased with it. The annoying thing is, despite three people going over it with a fine toothcomb there are still tiny issues. I know there are three instances in the 'improved' version where I experienced some sort of Freudian slip and capitalized 'north' and 'south' when I didn't need to, which is irritating.
I think the rule is take more time when editing. Perfecting a grammatically flawed chapter must be far easier than perfecting a grammatically flawed book, and a paragraph - easier still!
I'm going to take more time over book 4, I'm going to pour over every paragraph and get it spot on before moving on. It'll take longer to write, but far less longer to polish.
My book 3 is now getting closer too. The trouble is I'm having disagreement with my beta-readers. They are concerned I may be issued with a Fatwa, ala 'Salman Rushdie' because one of my characters criticizes the absurdity of a Torean religion which resembles 'Islam'. They don't like the fact that the holy book of the Savti, currently called 'The Ko'Tar' sounsd too much like the 'The Quran
'.I reluctantly will probably have to make some changes. I want to explore criticism of religion, but I don't want to be offensive. I think I need to subtly strengthen the counter-argument as well, perhaps by pointing out the comfort people get by following rituals, religious or not.
I hate it, but getting book 3 sorted is going to be a long journey. I wanted it out early summer, but I think late summer is more realistic now.
The Blood Queen.
It's drawing closer!
I have an incredible cover, it looks great. Theoretically it just needs lettering - but something seems somehow off with it? I don't know what though! There just seems something isn't quite how it should be?
I love it and in many ways it seems perfect - but there's something I can't put my finger on...
I still need to finish editing and polishing it of course. I need to start thinking about my blurb too. I've never been too happy with my book 1 and 2 blurbs, I don't think they're very enticing - but I don't really know how I could improve them, without spoiling some of the big plot twists.
Book 3 also has the companions facing confrontations with the Isharian Church. I think the atheist aspect of the books is important - yet people don't seem to pick up on it... Part of me thinks I should shout about the atheism, because it's subtle and part of me thinks I should leave it in - but not mention and let people discover for themselves. I am trying to be balanced. The Isharian Church has it's problems, and is responsible for evil in Torea, but I want to portray it as also responsible for good!
I wish I could get it out sooner - I'm really waiting for time to sit down with my editor at the moment, and I need to work out what needs changing about the cover. It's really special though, so I don't want to share it until it's ready.
I will get there! Sorry for the long delay, I just want it to be as good as possible before I release it this time.
Martyn
I have an incredible cover, it looks great. Theoretically it just needs lettering - but something seems somehow off with it? I don't know what though! There just seems something isn't quite how it should be?
I love it and in many ways it seems perfect - but there's something I can't put my finger on...
I still need to finish editing and polishing it of course. I need to start thinking about my blurb too. I've never been too happy with my book 1 and 2 blurbs, I don't think they're very enticing - but I don't really know how I could improve them, without spoiling some of the big plot twists.
Book 3 also has the companions facing confrontations with the Isharian Church. I think the atheist aspect of the books is important - yet people don't seem to pick up on it... Part of me thinks I should shout about the atheism, because it's subtle and part of me thinks I should leave it in - but not mention and let people discover for themselves. I am trying to be balanced. The Isharian Church has it's problems, and is responsible for evil in Torea, but I want to portray it as also responsible for good!
I wish I could get it out sooner - I'm really waiting for time to sit down with my editor at the moment, and I need to work out what needs changing about the cover. It's really special though, so I don't want to share it until it's ready.
I will get there! Sorry for the long delay, I just want it to be as good as possible before I release it this time.
Martyn
'The Blood Queen; - Add it now!
I've created the file for 'The Blood Queen'
The Blood Queen
It's not finished. I've come upon an issue that warrants some jiggery pokery, in order to keep the characterization realistic.
Personally I think my original version of events was fine. However my beta-reader, come muse, come editor thinks otherwise and he's read a lot more books.
It will slow me down, but I'm still aiming to get the book fully edited and polished and released for mid July.
I will try to announce the release date a week in advance.
The Blood Queen
It's not finished. I've come upon an issue that warrants some jiggery pokery, in order to keep the characterization realistic.
Personally I think my original version of events was fine. However my beta-reader, come muse, come editor thinks otherwise and he's read a lot more books.
It will slow me down, but I'm still aiming to get the book fully edited and polished and released for mid July.
I will try to announce the release date a week in advance.
