Kid in a candy store

I’m two-thirds through my first read-through of Koen, the stand-alone prequel to my Absolution of the Morning Star series. When I say first read-through, I mean it. It is my first time traveling from beginning to end. I haven’t read the first few chapters in more than half a year, which gives substantial distance from the prose and allows a fresh perspective on the story.

I refrain from re-reading my work when I write to avoid getting bogged down. I’ve learned over the years (sometimes painfully) that much of it will change during editing anyway, so why waste time tinkering with it? Sometimes, this is hard, especially if you’re stuck. Returning to the beginning and gaining confidence in re-reading your prose is very nurturing, but it’s an illusion. You’re procrastinating, choosing to dwell in the past instead of bravely facing the future. At most, I will re-read a few paragraphs of what I wrote the night before to get into the flow and then advance, even if it sucks, and I have to write and re-write until I find something suitable. I am a strong proponent of moving forward at all costs. If it’s junk, that’s what editing is for.

The first read-through is my favorite part of the writing process. Still, it can also be scary, as it’s an introduction to how much work is ahead of me during editing. Luckily, Koen is a reasonably linear tale, and I haven’t gotten lost yet. Writing a prequel when you are three books into a series is a difficult task. Some will enter my world through Koen and others with Dawn of the Lightbearer, so I have to walk a fine line between those who don’t know what will happen and those who do and still make it interesting for both. I think I’ve accomplished this, but only time will tell. The most crucial purpose for Koen was to explain what happened to him during his three-year disappearance and why he changed from the emperor’s favorite son to an enemy. This I managed to do, and I’m ecstatic. The journey feels long but not dull and should satisfy those reading it for action and adventure and those who love to immerse themselves in a fantastical world.

After the first read-through, I will start editing for content. I liken this to being a kid in a candy store with limited funds. It is my hard-earned money, but everything looks so damn good. I can’t buy everything, so I must be strategic with my choices and decide on my favorites. This scene is too sweet, and that is too sour. I always buy this one, but I’ve never tried that one. This one here is bitter but in a good way, and that one is spicy, but I like spicy.

There are just so many choices! But I shouldn’t complain. Shopping in the store is the best part because once I get home with my bag of sweets, I will gorge until my belly hurts, and then I will be sick of sweets for a time. I will finish the book, and then the process starts all over again with Destiny of the Daystar, the future book four of the Absolution of the Morning Star series.

Cheers!