Top of the something, Space Crew!
I have emerged from the confines of the writer’s cave to give you all a well-deserved update.
Turns out the manuscript, and my mental health, needed more reworking than expected. I am declaring it now, and please don’t scream at me: I am a month behind!
(best if you imagine me shouting it like this)
So March is wrapping up, and so is this story, finally! At last! The end is on the horizon. I expect that in one week I’ll be finished writing and onto editing.
Here’s the updated total timeline:
To compensate for my lateness, I’ve made sure to boost the quality of this thing, so I’m expecting editing to take half what I had planned (about two weeks). This means that if you think about it, I’m only a couple weeks behind.
Beta readers wanted! The next phase requires a couple of people to read this thing for early feedback. I have some folks in mind, and I have specific requirements, but if you’re interested, hit me up on Twitter (@acbaldwin) or by email at acbaldwinbooks@gmail.com. No promises, but if I need you I will call on you.
So that about sums up the remaining work. I’m really excited about this story after a lot of progress has been made, and I can’t wait to make it a reality.
Your Silly Space Captain who forgot their drawing tablet today, -AC
Top of the New Year, Space Crew!
This is your Captain speaking, and I have a couple months’ worth of news and updates to share with you, so bear with me.
What was going on with this book again?
I’ve had some questions regarding the book’s funding status even now, so I want to remind you of some great news: we got the greenlight for publication via Inkshares! We officially reached Quill sometime before the funding period ended, so don’t fret; this book will be coming out and you will have it in your hands (or on your reader).
I mean, that’s cool, but, like, when?
I want to show you a piece of a timeline today. But the thing is, publishing requires a lot of steps. A lot of back and forth. There’s writing to tie up, editing to impel, beta-reading to endeavour on, and after all of that: getting slotted in the ever-expanding Inkshares printing and release schedule.
So though this is the question I’ve had the most, I cannot realistically give you an official release date. And rather than risk disappointment now or later, I’m going to focus on what I do know.
About the manuscript
There’s a huge (huge, HUGE, HUUUUGE!) difference between a draft and a polished, publishable manuscript I’d be willing to share with betas, let alone the world. You’ve gotten some sneak peeks of the writing in my updates, but you may have noticed they’re of variable quality. That some excerpts grip you more than others. But I want to give you a joyride of a book from cover to cover, so that’s just not going to cut it.
Also, sometime after the first draft was completed, I realized I had to rewrite about 1/3 of it to deliver a way cooler ending. I mean, I guess I could give you the boring version, but it’s significantly less fun, and I’m all about having an evil plan. So please be patient as I rework the story and weed out any inconsistencies.
Wow, this is taking longer than I thought, Cap
Well, yes. Some of that is writing. And some of that is the fact that this is my first publication, and I had a lot of life things to take care of so that I could put more focus into this.
I spent a great deal of time last year in promo, and it nearly wiped me out, to be honest. It isn’t my strong suit. I love making these newsletters and sending you silly doodles, but campaigning and begging you all to buy copies was far too salesy for my usual taste.
As a result of spending so much time on book promo, some other hobbies and professional goals started to suffer. And while in theory "full time writer" sounds great, this is my first publication, so I don’t have that luxury.
I guess I understand...
Thanks. I’m glad you do. And for your understanding and compassion I will make sure you get a book that is filled with fun, fear, and adventure.
So what can you tell me about the timeline?
All right. Doodle time.
Here’s the manuscript alone. I have no reason to believe it won’t be done in February.
Now, I know you want the big picture. Especially you writer types who are giggling at the idea that a finished manuscript is actually ever finished. I can only approximate here, so the idea is to show you the steps involved and tell you why they’re so important.
The actual writing will be wrapped up soon, but then we have crucial items to address to make sure you’re getting a quality product.
So, Space Crew, this is what it’s looking like. I hope it isn’t disappointing for you. As it turns out, writers are people, and writing professionally is about a lot more than writing. I also hope you still believe in this book. Let’s make 2017 a spacetastic year.
Your Sprightly and Srs Space Captain,
-AC
It was finally time to select the twelve.
“Citizens of Palunia, welcome to what I can only hope will be the end of an ancient and perilous journey. A journey we keep fighting toward, time after time, triannually, hoping against the odds that our travellers will seize our ancestral treasure from those who banished us, and in turn also seize the Traveller’s Cup.”
“He must have some kind of blessed artifact to project his voice this far,” Westalyn murmured.
“Yeah,” I said, tho. . .
It was finally time to select the twelve.
“Citizens of Palunia, welcome to what I can only hope will be the end of an ancient and perilous journey. A journey we keep fighting toward, time after time, triannually, hoping against the odds that our travellers will seize our ancestral treasure from those who banished us, and in turn also seize the Traveller’s Cup.”
“He must have some kind of blessed artifact to project his voice this far,” Westalyn murmured.
“Yeah,” I said, tho. . .