Writing Again

So, after the body horror show that is Medieval and Renaissance angel iconography, why don't we chat about something nicer, eh?

I'm finally writing new stuff again and it feels great. With all the editing and worrying about betas lately, it's nice to take my mind off all that and create something new. Hopefully I'll have it done soon and be able to put it up here on the blog for you guys to enjoy.  And yes, it is the short story I've been teasing for a while. 

I want to talk a little bit about that. Not so much the story, because I'm going to post the actual story, but about writing it. See, the short stories I've posted here on the blog have been cannon to my story, but utilizing one character in each that didn't belong to me. They were commissions, if you will. It was really fun to play with someone else's toys for a little bit, and yet still be able to expand and explore my own world. Coming together is super fun and, of course, getting some killer artwork in exchange doesn't hurt either. 

I think the funnest part of the new short story, though, is the research. See, I've had to to a LOT of research for The Paladin, and so when I wrote the first two short stories (Wolves and Wild Roses & Val's Blog) I didn't really have to look into a lot. Except for a few cool things about Theodore Roosevelt, but still. This new work is not cannon to my story and, in fact, has absolutely nothing to do with The Paladin. So I'm working in a new world, with new characters. I'm researching the characters I'm playing with, the world, the magical rules, the layouts, and how to write this particular genre properly. There's SO much going into this that I'm honestly a little overwhelmed. 

That's not to say it's harder than writing The Paladin, but it's harder than I expected for a short story. Honestly, I was a little cocky and figured this would be a week-long job, but it's been a couple months now and I'm only one and half chapters in. I'm thinking it'll be somewhere around 20 chapters, but that's a rough estimate. Hopefully I'll have it nice and streamlined while still maintaining an entertaining and engaging story. 

On that note, I'm really trying to ramp up my drive for Beta Readers! Yes, if YOU want to read The Paladin before it's published, this is your chance. If you're reading this blog, you obviously have SOME interest in my novel, so why not give it a shot? It's super easy; just read the novel and give me your feedback. No worries about editing or checking for grammar. Just read. 

And remember folks...
​Be Excellent To Each Other.