125k Words Down!

125k words done.

 

It feels good to write that sentence. While there are still a couple more thousand to go in Stone of the Scarred, book 2 of the Scarred World Saga, knowing I’m nearing the end does wonders for momentum.

 

If you subscribe to the Elsewhere emails then you already heard my update at 100k, which felt awesome, but now that I’m at 125k, It feels like quite a relief.

 

At the start of every project, it feels like you’ll never get to the end. There are so many moments of doubt on a daily basis that the end of a book seems like an impossible journey to make.

 

But each day you get a little closer, and before you know it, you’re at 10k words. You think to yourself, well, that wasn’t so bad. I can keep going a little longer.  So then you get after the next 10k and the next and the next until you find yourself right at the last mile of that journey with the finish in sight.

 

It’s a crazy trip, let me tell you. I’ve mentioned this before, but the high’s and low’s of writing are a maddening rollercoaster. One day you’ll be happily speeding ahead on a flat piece of track, only for the very next day you hit a horrific uphill that inches you onward. You know on the other side there’s another adrenaline rush and a wild spark of momentum, but getting there seems to take ages.

 

In the books I’ve written so far, I’ve found that there are some speed boosters along the way that can add a couple more mph to a manuscript. Namely any of word volumes divisible by 25k. 

 

Something about that amount just feels good. Like you’ve taken significant steps along the plot. And each time you get there you can look back, see how far you’ve come, and give a slight nod back to that work as it applauds you on.

 

And at 125k, the enthusiasm from the work already completed is HIGH. I’m feeling more motivated than ever to finish this story and move onto book 3.  

 

Easier said than done with a couple more thousand words to go and the surprises of life that pop up to try to derail the cart. 

 

If you’re interested in seeing a little of what’s happening in those 125k words take a look below to see chunk of what I’ve done thus far:

 

Requiem peered down into the Abyss. The gas, many feet below, turned a shade closer to crimson like a rag sopping up a murder scene.  To either side, through the crisscrossing of trees, the citizens of Bothane came by to gawk at them. Pointing and whispering like he was a monstrous sight talked about before bedtime that had finally come true. 

“It ain’t me you need worry about,” said Requiem. “It’s your lord.”

But hearing him talk only caused the onlookers to scurry away like found rodents.

“Soldier,” said Requiem. “Hey.”

“You’re gonna have to speak louder than that,” said Quinn. “They look like they’re chatting up a lass right now.”

“Soldier!” cried Requiem. 

“What?” The stomping of footsteps overtook the courtyard. 

“The Elder. He’s going to want to talk to me,” said Requiem.

“You called me over to tell me this?” said the soldier.

“Please. Let me speak to him.”

“If the Elder wants to speak to ye, he’ll come and get you. For now, you stay up in that tree like the good birdie you are.”

“That birdie owes me a horse.” A new voice blossomed from somewhere at his back. 

 

As you can see, Requiem is in another precarious situation. There are some new characters thrown in there, character that I’m excited for you all to meet.

 

When will that be? 

 

Time will tell. After I finish Stone of the Scarred, I want to concentrate on getting Under a God-Made Mountain out into the world, while also starting book 3.  

 

I am still trying to figure out a release schedule for the rest of the saga, but I would love to have all of the final 3 books completed and do a staggered release.  

 

I know that means probably months before anything is released, but I feel like in the end, it’ll be worth it as it will allow for flexibility in the plot for the rest of the series for me to try to make it the best it can be. 

 

So for now I’ll go back to roller coaster ride, strap myself in, and hang tight until that next speed boost, which may be the final word count at 150k.

 

Until then,

 

Stay special, Fellow Creatures!

 

-Jeff