I’ve been a bit out of sorts the past week or so and last night I finally felt ready to start writing properly again--so I thought I should share some of my thoughts and how I’m dividing my time between my (many) projects! Also I just need to put this somewhere so I can remember what I’m working on smh
Projects are listed more or less in the order of priority.
Eosophobia
novel | goal: 100-120K | current: 20K | about
My main project that you’ve all heard a lot about but seen very actual content from, and whose first chapter I was supposed to post 200 followers ago (rip). My child. My precious. My (gestures vaguely) masterpiece.
I’ve decided that I’m going to ease up on drafting Eos so I can pay more attention to outlining it and getting a firmer grip on the narration. I’m definitely still working on it, this just means that my already slow progress is going to become inevitably slower.
My original goal was to traditionally publish Eos, but because it’s rather unlike anything I’ve ever read (in both content and style), I’m also starting to prepare for the possibility of self-publishing. Traditional is still what I’m preferring, but... well, fingers crossed for future-me’s endeavors to find an adventurous agent.
I’m also now more acutely on the hunt for science-fantasy/biopunk/post-apoc novels to get a better grip of the market. So I mean, if yall have any reccs, please send them my way!
Infra.Red
novella | goal: 30-40K | current: outlining | about
My new project that’s super shiny and I’m in love. I have absolutely no fucking clue what I’m doing with this, but I love it and have lots of Good Ideas. What little bit of plot I’ve got figured out actually has me really excited, so I’m free-drafting this while I work out Eos’s outline.
Optimistically assuming that I’m capable of following this project to its end, I’m probably either going to self publish it as an ebook or save it for an anthology in the same world. I, an overambitious wreck, am leaning towards an anthology--I mean, dystopic dieselpunk and cyberpunk elements with greek myth retellings? I love this setting, and would love to write some accompanying short stories in the same world.
The Rotted Rose
short story | goal: 3.5-5K | current: outlining
I’m scared and a little lost but I’m ready. Short stories won’t know what hit them. If, like, I could actually finish writing one.
TRR is a short story that’s going to take me disproportionately long to write, and is probably going to end up being a practice run for me. I’m not expecting it to come out any good, lol, so in the likely event that I’m displeased with it I’ll probably post it here and/or on Wattpad or something. But if I surprise myself? Then it’s onto Publishing Hell with me.
I haven’t figured out how to introduce this story yet so there’s no info out there but the gist is pirates, sad romance, and a Davy Jones-esque reaper with a found family crew.
Alight in Ashes (Mortal Constellation Trilogy #1)
novel | goal: 75-90K | current: outlining | about
My high fantasy trilogy project. AiA was my main project when I started this blog but quickly decided to put it on the backburner to focus on writing Eos and to sort out some problems with the story.
I love the setting of the MC trilogy and I actually really like the plot. What I hate is the characters (they’re all one-dimensional in their dynamics in comparison to my Eos cast), the one narrator style, and the main character/narrator. Cass has a lot of potential but I need to work out a lot of her problems, too, and come back with a character whose motivations are clearer and personality is sharper. Right now, she feels very melancholic to me, and that’s not at all how she’s supposed to be.
There’s also every chance that I’ll drop this down to a duology, unless I come up with some fantastic subplots--there’s a huge space between the second half of the second book and the middle of the third book that I either need to cut or fill.
My optimistic hope is that whenever I do write this, I’ll be able to get it traditionally published. I don’t think this’ll be nearly as hard to find a market for as Eos, as long as I can make the characters shine--and now that I’m starting to think about it again, that seems reasonably doable.
Even God is Entertained by My Sins
novel | goal: 60-70K | current: 30K | about?
My psychological/historical horror experiment that I never talk about but think about a lot. Even God was my NaNo 2017 project and gave me a much needed boost back into writing. I love the idea of the story but I’ve had a really hard time trying to write the unreliable narration in a way that’s easy to follow while still portraying the psychosis of the MC. I put this project on hold a couple months ago to redo the characters, since I didn’t develop them before NaNo (I literally came up with the story idea on Halloween, so the worldbuilding and planning was literally nonexistent).
I’m mostly just playing with this whenever the mood strikes me, which is fine, since it’s more for me to develop new skills with than anything else. I have absolutely no idea what I’m going to do with this if/when I finish it, or if I even will finish it--but it’s a lot of fun whenever I do get in the mood to play with it.
i don’t know how to put “this character feels like the melting black ooze of 5am darkness and music and sin and the freedom of a dying man” into like... actual intelligible prose
“I’dprefer to be lightning,” Cass replies absentmindedly. “Striking allat once, a spiral of light and fire and fear. Gone just as quickly, and maybeforgotten in short time, but leaving my scorched mark on this world all thesame.”
3: Does your WIP have a title? If so, explain its significance. If not, what are you calling it for now?
Yes, my fantasy novel has been titled Alight in Ashes for about a month now and I’m quite pleased with it! The story is heavily character-based and follows Cassandra, a thief with dreams of grandeur. When I was first developing Cass I heavily associated her with sparks, and one definition of a spark is “to be alight in ashes”. Thus, the title.
4: Describe the setting of your WIP.
Alight in Ashes takes place in the island continent of Phygaret. The nation is host to a variety of species–Magi, Elves, Dwarves, Draglings, Troglodytes, Humans, the assortment is wide. Phygaret is a nation in constant turmoil, with its varying species attempting genocide of the others and its ruling monarchy having fallen so far from power that the unspoken rule is “whoever has the crown in their hands is king”.
Physically, Phygaret is a beautiful place. Its eastern edge is consumed by vast deserts and mountain ranges, but its southern side–where Cass’s birthplace of Stehume rests–is built of temperate forests and numerous rivers. More to the north, the capital region fades into boreal forests before melting back into temperate woods by the ocean.
I am a murderer, but also a lover. A prisoner, a queen, a mortal human. I am history and starlight and burning flesh, the song of a fire dancing in the forest, the tears of the Gods on a sunny morning. This crown is my prize and my burden, recklessly stolen from the head of a Fear ArchMagi.
Look to the stars. Watch them dance, spinning eternally. Know that legends become stars not because they are heroes, but because the Gods cursed them to burn. This is not a letter to judge nor jury nor executioner. This is a warning. Heed it, lest your head be stolen as easily of those that came before you.
So begins the history of Queen Cassandra, thief and heretic, ruler of the shortest reign known to Phygaret. The most praised and cursed mortal to walk among the stars, savior of the world, death-bringer to all who survive her. So begins the time of mortals. So ends it.
The first novel in my fantasy trilogy The Mortal Constellation, Alight in Ashes illuminates the path of Cassandra Ardi and her path as a petty thief in Phygaret’s rotting society. In a world cursed to decay, humans–known more commonly in Tongue as “mortals”–have been designated as one of the lowest social tiers, and are beset upon by malicious Hunts that sporadically claim their lives. Faced with inescapable death, Cass decides that her suicidal last wish is to steal the King’s head from his shoulders.
You can read more about Alight in Ashes, Cassandra, and her infamous journey here.
I was tagged by the lovely @thewingwriter to find the words “room” and/or “white” in my WIP, thanks hon! <3
Here’s “white” from Alight in Ashes...
“His death is yours, if you would have it. I do not intend to steal lives in this manner. But there are things he knows—the ways of death, and of fear, and magiks that have been spurned by all but the dead. Things that no one else can speak of, for to speak of them is lonely and forbidden. Things I wish to… to know, for the pursuit of knowledge.”
“For power?” My soft laughter dies on the words, croaking darkly.
Tezera looks up, white braids resting haphazardly over her shoulders. Golden eyes find mine. Seeing nothing. Watching everything. “Power is neither good nor evil. It simply is, and it is always better to have than to be without.”
And “room” from the same WIP...
Everburn hung from the ceiling in cryptic shades of candy red, the sort of lipstick a nightmare would kiss you with. The room shimmered in the violent light. A voice struck out from behind me, cracking the silence. “Feeling at home, sweet’eart?”
I’m tagging @firewritten @ava-burton-writing @simpletonscribbler to find the words laughter and/or golden! :)
