No rest for the wicked... · 4:41pm Dec 11th, 2023
The first chapter draft for C&C is off to prereaders, weighing in at a whopping 17,775 words. So far I’ve gotten one of those prereads back with another in progress, and the initial feedback is favorable. As I’m still picking at it and slipping stuff in, it’s likely going to be approaching 19,000 or more words when all is said and done. But I don’t think I’ll reduce its size by splitting it this time. It’s a climactic chapter, so even as a clop chapter, it will be of climatic chapter length.
Nevertheless, I can’t rest on my laurels while I’m waiting for the rest of the prereads to come in. I’m charging ahead into the second chapter of the sequence in an attempt to have it ready by Christmas, now just two weeks away. There are 17,000 words already written on that, too, though they’re very choppy and that word count is unquestionably going to increase greatly—almost certainly enough to require a third chapter.
As for release schedule, I think, at this point, that I’m leaning towards saving the first chapter for when the second one is ready, so I can release them both in rapid-fire around the holidays. Hopefully it’ll be both a present and a distraction for those getting tired of company. And perhaps the third chapter can follow around New Years to add some additional fireworks to the occasion.
I admit, I’m still worried how general readership will receive this, even in its sanitized T-rated form. I know I’m taking some major chances here. I need to hear what my prereaders think about this before I make a final decision about releasing it, but I will simply reiterate again: this is basically going to be a series of Eros chapters entered into the main story for the purposes of character development, lore and worldbuilding, to say nothing of providing a resolution to the Gilda/Cipio conflict. It’s primarily about Changelings, but you’ll also learn a great deal about the backstory of such characters as Obsidian Ire and even Cipio himself, including a secret he’s been hiding for a very long time that explains some of his behavior.
And of course, all of this will be woven into some very hot and heavy M-rated action that’s heavily inspired by Unleash the Magic - Midnight Rising, using a means I’m sure readers of that story will recognize immediately. And speaking of which, be watching for a blog on that story later, as I have to issue a second mea culpa regarding the end of the last chapter and detail what I’m going to do to fix it.
Why rapid release? Wecan enjoy and comment more if we get more time to digest the chapters.
Your huge chapter can be remembered more easily that way as well.
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Guess I’m just trying to be in the holiday spirit by giving out multiple gifts around Xmas time? It’ll be several days, at least, before the first chapter is ready anyway. It’s big and will take time for all prereaders to get through it.