Winter Wrap-Party | Empathy for the Devil · 1:17am Mar 3rd, 2021
There's no other way to say it: I wrote a novel.
After a year and five months, I wrote the words THE END on a full story. A book.
The emotion above everything right now is most comparable to that feeling when you watch the finale of your favourite TV show or book series, one where they've taken you on a ride and while you're supremely satisfied with the ending, you're a little sad this is where the ride stops. That feeling. The sadness has mostly given way to satisfaction, pride, and joy now, but I'm sure some of you who've finished longer projects you really love can relate. It's bittersweet, right?
Note: Subject to change with editing!
Meanwhile, somehow this happened. How??? How is this real???
Bevin and I had our wrap party yesterday and I still don't understand! It was a blast drinking and hanging out, complete with some absolutely delicious Team Empathy phoenix cupcakes. She surprised me with them, that unrelenting sweetheart. They're red velvet, if you're wondering.
So, okay, our drunken antics aside, it's super important to tell you up front there's still work to be done! The next phase of production is one I'm mega looking forward to: final revisions, illustrations, and editing. Which actually brings me to another bit of news: for the second half, we're looking for a new editor. Space Jazz decided to take a break from FIMfiction (there's nothing but love between us, I'd happily welcome her back aboard at any point!!!), so that means there's a spot or two open for anyone interested!
Check out the Looking for Editors post I just made for details.
I love getting feedback from editors, learning new things and hearing someone else's perspective. It's a cool process.
Speaking of the team: There's no end to much I want to thank my friends. We joke a lot back and forth that we can't believe we're doing this, but oh my god, without Bevin and Bookish's support, love, inspiration, and in Bevin's case co-creator collaboration, none of this would have happened. Bevin always wants me to admit I deserve credit for how much I've done, and of course I take a healthy amount of pride in that. I did something I've been wanting to do since I was a kid! I've identified and damn near defined myself as a dreamer since I was small, and finishing a novel is a dream I finally managed to make real (a fanfic graphic novel at that; I should mention I also identified as a weird kid—and proud). I'm a dreamer and a novelist now.
Still, it makes me just as proud to shout from the rooftops that this co-creation was built on our mutual love, hard work, and passion, you know? The amount of passion and creativity Bevin's put in shows through in all the ways she rocks her contributions, and in how we elevate each other's work. It's ours. And there's no greater thank you than to say I love you, too.
To say nothing of all the love and support we both receive from Bookish. I can't imagine where I'd be without her, and frankly don't want to.
The best best friends a girl could ask for, indeed.
Thanks for your support, too, by the way. Seriously, we get so excited any time we hear from anyone, or see someone's reaction or theory-crafting or anything. When we drop the release date for Part II, I can guarantee you we'll be dorking out just as hard behind the scenes.
And hey, I'm also investing in Scrivener to outline and start writing the Empathy-verse shorts called The Ex Files: an anthology of 7 short stories all from different perspectives set in and around Empathy for the Devil. I can't tell you how stoked I am for those to come after Empathy Part II! All of the excitement!
But in the meantime, let's raise a glass for all the dreamers. Spread those phoenix wings and fly.
Stay empathetic,
Marvel
Space Jazz's profile says they are a gal. Also, holy heck, this means I am one step closer to being able to get a physical copy, yeah?
Hey, congrats on it! That's no small amount of writing, and those cupcakes look grand.
Congratulations! Here's looking forward to the finished work. I'd offer to edit, but past a certain point of quality, I'm not much help.
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Thanks for catching that! Don't know why I mixed that up!
And hell yeah you are. Physical copies can start going into production as soon we've got everything edited and illustrated! I'll probably be working on that while we release the online FIMfiction version so that it hopefully coincides not too long after you've gotten to read the last chapter.
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Thanks! I see you're still kicking ass yourself, by the way. Even a "bad quarter" for you still is loaded up with excellent fics.
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Oh trust me, your perspective would be so valued, even just to catch stuff I missed or discuss story. But I must admit, I adore your comments on each chapter, so I'm super looking forward to seeing your unspoiled reactions when all is said and done. :3
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Sweet! I've been tracking it so I can binge the finished version for a while now!
Big congrats!
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Excellent, yeah! When we finally drop the release dates for Part II (a chapter every other day until it's done), you'll get to see the day the final chapter goes up so you can binge it all at once if you so choose
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Aww, big thanks!
Whoop whoop!
LETS FUCKIN GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
I heard there were cupcakes. They look epic. I can't wait to finish reading the book!!
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Woohoo!! ::dancing dorkily::
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Oh yes, all the cupcakes!
And thanks, I'm super looking forward to you getting to read it, too!
I've been chilling like a villain for Empathy's big release as a book (or more, apparently) for a few months. How's the whole process coming along? Where and when do I kick down a door and give someone my money for the book, before apologizing for the door and backing out of the room quietly and awkwardly wishing I was different? Do you think you marvel at things more or ponder at things more? Books? Book?
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Oh hey, that's honestly really cool to hear that you've been checking in for a few months. Makes both Bevin and I happy.
In order:
The process is coming along gradually, but it's coming along well! Bevin's only got two title cards left to do and then about... [::counts::] maybe 11ish illustrations, give or take. She's gotten her confidence back after some major work-related stress a while back, so she's back to kicking ass, but we're not rushing anything. It took me a long time on the penultimate chapter because of life and the difficulty of that chapter, and she supported me the whole way, so I'm doing the same.
Meanwhile, I'm working on writing those Ex Files shorts, which is really fun! Our new editor, LordJanitor, has done an absolutely excellent job cleaning up Empathy Part II. It'll shimmer and sparkle when it's up on FIMfiction because of him. The formatting of the print edition is well underway, too, and when everything's all done, the finished manuscript can go into production. I'll get a preview copy and after I'm satisfied with the quality... well, books! You get books!
I'll post a blog here (directly after the Part II chapters are being released on FIMfiction) with the link to the print edition (plus pretty pictures of my copy). It'll be published over on Lulu! If you're following me, you'll get the notification when it goes up. And don't worry, we appreciate enthusiasm around here (even if our doors won't).
Marvel, probably. I'm easily impressed. But I like to ponder aloud in the form of rampant fangirling with my friends.
Books, eventually! First we'll finish and publish Empathy, that's priority one. Then, The Exes Club and The Ex Files will be published together as a short story collection and companion novel to Empathy for the Devil. It'll be much shorter in length, but still a decent-sized novel, I think. (If I had to guesstimate, around 66K words? Google's telling me that's fairly average for a Young Adult novel still, so hey, not too shabby).