BLACK GROTTO: Update

BLACK GROTTO 

Update: Chapter 28 Is Finished

I just finished chapter 28 of my new fantasy novel, BLACK GROTTO. The title of the chapter is "Alone", and the book is now almost 130,000 words. I have one chapter and an Epilogue left to write, and I've been working on this book ever since May of 2015.

Recently, I've begun looking at how I write each chapter much differently. I still plan the entire book, generally, and make sure that the details and events in each chapter connect well with those in the rest of the book, but I'm also beginning to look on each one more critically as a story in and of itself - a story with a solid beginning, middle, and end. It takes me longer to write each of them as I flesh out every word, sentence, and paragraph to a greater degree, but hopefully through that process, the reader will enjoy the book more and be able to actually see the scenes and characters much more clearly. For me, this has been a wonderful "C-Change" in the way I write, and my work on BLACK GROTTO has precipitated this new way of thinking.

Also, I can tell that my vocabulary, phrasing, and the way I write conversations are all improving, which is making the job of writing more fun and creatively interesting for the reader and for me.

I'm extremely excited to release this new fantasy book for you to read, and I hope it won't be too long before it's available. I'll let you know more as time goes on.

Back From My First Long Break From Writing

Cave of Dreams 

Changes in Style

Today, after six weeks of R&R from writing, I've gone back to work on my new fantasy novel, Cave of Dreams. In sequence, it comes after Beatrice, but it is being written so that you can read it without having read the first book. 

This really was my first long break from writing since May of 2013. Since that time, I've been writing about six to eight hours a day, five days a week. The break that I just took was sorely needed.

Today, though, I re-read Cave of Dreams to the middle of the ninth chapter. The change in the style of my writing is obvious. I take more time to picture more moments, painting as vivid a picture as I can of what's happening so that the reader can clearly "see" the story. Also, I'm slowing down so that the important and interesting details are portrayed. I believe both of these writing techniques are adding depth and texture to my work.

I had a great time reading the book again today, and tomorrow I'll get back to work and complete the ninth chapter.

Also, this book has more character descriptions, and I think I'm doing a better job of helping the reader understand the characters, not only by describing them better, but also by crafting the words they use in conversation in such a way as to indicate more about them.

I'm very excited about the Cave of Dreams and hope it will be my best work to date when completed.