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Integral Archer


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Aug
3rd
2014

Done! · 6:02am Aug 3rd, 2014

At the time of my writing this, it’s 1:47 a.m. Eastern Standard Time, and I’ve just fulfilled my promise to myself: the epilogue of Subjunctive is done—and, with that, the rough draft of the novel!

I did it. I promised myself I'd finish the novel during this break. I've done it, and with two days to spare!

When I wrote the first words of this story—back in what, 2013?—I had vague ideas for this novel. I knew I wanted to write about changelings, but what can I do with them? Language, linguistics—there’s a novel, I said. But then I reached the second chapter and production stalled. I realized that the conception of this novel wasn’t done. I had the framework for a potential plot and some general ideas, but had no idea how it would develop or how it would play out.

This is the equivalent of a builder having a few beams towering above him but no idea what to coat it with. He thinks that putting glass on it would be cool, but when and where?

I thought that perhaps the story and the characters were just bad, and I had pretty much mentally abandoned the novel altogether. But after talking it out with my good friend and editor, I had some sparks of inspiration and managed to conceive of a fully functioning novel, complete with plot, conflict, and themes. And now, nearly two years after I had the first inklings of this novel, the rough draft is done.

I've certainly learned my lesson! And this goes for every aspiring writer: PLAN A NOVEL OUT COMPLETELY BEFORE WRITING ANY LINES OF PROSE. Good thing I made this mistake now, writing pony fiction, which is supposed to be the training grounds before I become a novelist proper.

I once again apologize to the readers I had before, who were reading this since 2013 before the EQD publication, and are still reading it. No writer could reasonably expect you to still be following, and I’m incredibly grateful that you still are. My only hope is that the story is as awesome as to justify your waiting time.

My work is not done on Subjunctive. There’s still a lot of editing to do. Who knows what needs to be rewritten and thought over? But, on the bright side, my time working on this will be purely spent on editing and publication; thus, in theory, chapters should be published at a much more regular rate.

The new chapter should be here this week, and the rest of the story will follow. Brace yourselves!

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Comments ( 2 )

Congrats! I look forward to reading a version you feel prouder of than this wonderful raw work. (I also look forward to reading the raw work itself.)

2347764

Hey thanks! But you won't see the rough draft, not if I can help it. When I see the comments my editor leaves on the rough draft, the though of anyone else seeing it makes me shudder. Don't worry; what you'll see is edited and polished and ready for consumption. I hope you enjoy it!

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