Koen update

I mulled around several blog ideas, all drifting toward the negative. So I decided it’s been a while since I’ve given a writing update. I’m resolving to stay positive! No one wants to hear me lament on a Sunday. I will not let my insecurities win. Nothing good has ever come from a negative attitude. Ok, affirmations complete—time for the update.

My current work-in-progress, Koen, is at 38,552 words. It is a stand-alone story in the Absolution of the Morning Star’s world and is technically a prequel to Dawn of the Lightbearer. Koen addresses the three-year disappearance of Prince Koen the Gray, Erikson’s father. I admit the book is moving very slowly, but I am putting down about 500 words every day, which is inching me closer to another completed book, and that’s all that matters. Consistency is key. Yes, this is half the rate I usually write, but I’m confident I’m crafting a good book.

So why the slow pace? There is, of course, time. I don’t have enough of it, and when I do, I am exhausted. It is the constant struggle between my passion and what pays the bills. Unfortunately, I am not one with a passion that pays the bills. Thus, I slog. Secondly, I’m approaching this book a bit differently. I love writing dialogue and tend to get engrossed in conversation. I try to avoid internal monologue, so everything happens in these thought exchanges. But sometimes, a reader doesn’t want this stagnant back and forth. They are here for the action! It is not that my prior books were not action-packed, I argue that they are, but I want Koen to be an unbridled thrill. Therefore, I am focusing more on maintaining an intense pace in Koen. The funny thing is the more action there is, the slower I write. Although I’ve been doing this for fifteen years, I’m still growing as a writer. I’m comfortable with dialogue, and therefore I gravitate toward it. Give me an hour, and I can give you an entire conversation chapter. Give me the same hour for an action sequence; you might get a paragraph requiring much work. So I need practice. I’m striving to squeeze in at least one heart-racing moment per chapter in Koen. Yes, it’s hell for my writing momentum, but it is good for the story and thrilling for the reader.

Ultimately, my goal for this book is to shy away from being a selfish writer. I’m trying to always keep in mind that I am writing this book not for me but for them. If I must pull out my teeth to get it on the page, then so be it. It is not worth writing if no one wants to read it, right? Better yet, I want people to read it and like it so that perhaps my passion can finally pay my bills.

Cheers!