Being a Better Writer: Read · 9:15pm Jul 31st, 2023
Hello writers! It’s time for Being a Better Writer once more, and once again we’re returning to a topic that’s so well-worn it may as well have left a groove in the site itself.
Yes, I realize that this topic comes up far too much. In fact, I think it’s made every other list for the last three or four lists. So after today, I plan to retire it for a time. Though we’ll see how long my will on that holds. See, it comes up on the list so often because of how frequently I see or hear sentiment of “Well, I don’t need to read anything to know how to write.” And each time I see that, a small part of my soul dies a little. And the topic is put on the list once again, to drive the point home … but I’ll admit by now it has become a bit tedious.
Still, I’m game to give it one more go. One reason that topics here on BaBW are covered with regularity is because it can sometimes aid readers to come at an issue from a new angle or a new side. So, with that in mind, today I’m going to tackle this topic a little differently than before.
But first, a little news. The draft for Axtara – Magic and Mayhem is now at 98,000 words! Which is still shy of Axtara – Banking and Finance by about 25,000 words. Will the story conclude in the next 25,000 words? Maybe. The magic has now had its moment, and the mayhem is beginning to emerge. Will the story draft be done in the coming week? It’s possible, as I wrote about 30,000 words on it last week. One way or another, I think the draft will be done either this week or next at the current pace.
But then what? I know a lot of you are eager to get your hands on this book. And I’d like to try and see her fly before the end of the year. So …
Well, I have a small trip I’ll be taking Mid-August. Two weeks, give or take a few days. No more. So if I finish off the Magic and Mayhem draft before leaving for that, I can spend those two weeks “disconnecting” before returning to do a pre-Alpha polish. And then at that point? I can start rounding up Alpha Readers. Alpha Edit into Beta Edit through September and parts of October, then maybe see a November release.
None of this is a guarantee. I’m not promising more Axtara in November. There’s no telling what readers will make of our banker dragon’s second outing, and I don’t want to get too ahead of myself. But I can see the path to publication now and start planning accordingly.
Oh, and what about that Jacob Rocke novel that I wrote at the start of this year? I’ll start pre-Alpha on that while Magic and Mayhem is in Alpha, and getting that ready so that after Axtara sees her new release, there’s a new Jacob Rocke novel on the way as well. Plus, while that is in editing, I’ll do the rewrite on that bird-watching mermaid YA story (that one was something like 70,000 words, so it’ll go quick; a single month) and get that ready for editing and then we’ll see the Patreon Supporter vote for the next big book project.
Whew! Yeah, there’s a lot going on. Oh, and there’s one more bit of news I wanted to note. Previously, I was excited to report that Axtara – Banking and Finance could be purchased at Wal-Mart? Well, now you can get it from Barnes & Noble. So if that’s your main source for books, hit up the counter and tell them you want a copy of Axtara – Banking and Finance!
Okay, news over. Let’s talk about reading as a writer. Dive in, hit the jump, and let’s talk about it.
