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.
11: Which character do you have the most in common with?
I’ve got a lot in common with Deniz! Which… I probably shouldn’t be as excited about. Deniz is… well, in short, an asshole. They’re a very sarcastic and manipulative person. They’re blunt about important things, and uses those moments to argue that they’re an honest person, therefore allowing them to get away with infinite white lies. But they’re also incredibly sentimental, and really values the people around them. Loyalty, respect, confidence, and courage are very important to both Deniz and myself.
12: Which character do you have the least in common with?
Tezera. She’s a fascinating character, but the only thing we might have in common is ambition, and even then ours are on entirely different scales. Tezera is quiet and fearless, and… sort of a twisted humanitarian. She cares too much, and constantly pays the price for it in ways she–and everyone else–doesn’t expect.
17: Does your WIP have any themes or motifs?
Thematically, Alight in Ashes has a huge emphasis on the importance of “living vs survival” and confronting mortality. There’s some self-contradictory thoughts about the right to life in there too, and those come up pretty often.
Symbolically… fire is important, and finds its way into every form of conflict. Clear night skies are also a bad sign. Locks symbolize character thresholds, and inns are always filled with liars.
The most recent ask game thing for Cassandra! (because I love my thiefy characters): #1, #3, #15, #25, A, and D! Or like, all of them, if you're up for it haha
I’m so sorry this took so long, I really wanted to answer A and G for Cass but then… didn’t actually know the answers? But thanks for the ask hon, I appreciate it!! 💖
1: What’s themaximum amount of time your character can sit still with nothing to do? It kind of depends on how you definenothing. If she’s got her knife and a view, she’ll probably waste two orthree hours carving random designs into her nails before she gives up. Ifyou lock Cass in a padded white cell with literally nothing else? …Maybe 20,30 minutes before she starts shredding the walls.
3: How do theyput themselves to bed at night (reading, singing, thinking?) Cass is a bit of an insomniac, butusually she gets herself to sleep by trying to make more versus that fitwith The Ordeals of Starlight, a ballad she grew up with. Ideally she’d sleep while reading, but finding a safe place to sleep and abook and reading light is a lot to ask for.
15: How dothey speak? Is what they say usually thought of on the spot, or do theyrehearse it in their mind first? 97% of the time she says whatever she thinks of first, which is usually to cuss the other person out–although Cass sometimes surprises me and says things that are romantic. The other 3% is me desperately trying to make her progressthe plot, and her flipping me off.
25: What aretheir thoughts on marriage? Marriage in and of itself is fine in theory, but damn ifit doesn’t seem like the gateway step towards pumping out kids and dying. But if the right person were to come along with the same views of life as Cass,well…
A: Why are you excitedabout this character? Cassis a very self-driven character. She doesn’t believe in the mechanisms offate choosing to make her great, it’s her own will and fire that make her whatshe is–and since she wants to be legendary, she’ll just have to go out andmake it so. I think it makes her a strong character with extremely considerablemorals, which is a lot of fun. I love her recklessness, hersurprising romantic tendencies, her fears and her motivations… I love herview of the world, as cynical as it is.
D: Have theyalways had the same physical appearance, or have you had to edit how theylook? Casshas pretty much always looked the same. She’s tall, skinny, has a bronzecomplexion, long dark hair, hard brown eyes… she’s not, like, modelattractive, but she is beautiful in her own way.
Also… my fingersslipped, so I may have answered more LOL
6:Do they consider the laws flexible, or immovable? Cassdoesn’t consider the laws, period. Theonly time they come into consideration is if she’s in desperate need of a safenight’s sleep, in which case she’ll sort of… turn herself in? Cass isn’t a great thief, in all honesty, andshe does get caught from time to time—but she’s bizarrely excellent at escapingjail cells.
40:How sensitive are they to their own flaws? She’s terribleat recognizing them, but she’s very sensitive about them once she realizesthey’re there. She’s incredibly stubborn(which is terrible to mix with her cynicism and recklessness) but hates beingtold that she’s “set in her ways” or any other variant. She gets flustered and upset easily whenpeople disagree with her, but if you tell her she’s being too emotional ortaking things personally or commenton something she’s insecure about then she a) goes off on them and b) sulksabout it for a while after.
G:What trait of theirs bothers you the most? So, Cass isparticularly reckless, and at times borders suicide ideation. That doesn’t really bother me and it’sincredibly fitting for her background and character, but what bothers me isthat sometimes her near-suicidal behaviors turn into near-omnicidal behaviors. She’s too willing to let other people, good and innocent people, die—not strictly because it gets her what she wants or what she needs, but because “they werebound to die anyway, so what’s the difference?” It’s at odds with her moral belief that people are innocent until guilty, and that they have the right to live until they’ve infringed on someone else’s sameright. It’s also way darker and more psychopathicthan I intended for her to be.
38: What memory do they revisit the most often? Two nights before Tezera left, she and Xyla stayed up the entire night–dancing, drinking, making impossible promises. Xyla thinks about that night in every quiet moment she has, though nearly every memory of her time with Tezera is stiff from overuse.
39: How easy is it for them to ignore flaws in other people? Not as easy as she claims. She tries to see the best in people, but she still keeps a mental list of other’s flaws and her complaints.
41: How do they feel about children? Xyla loves children and frequently volunteers to babysit for her peers! She’s like a very loving aunt to them, although she’s gotten in trouble more than a few times for trying to teach the older children some Heat Magic–usually resulting in singed eyebrows or the occasional house fire. She would make a great mother if presented with the opportunity, but she’s not in any rush to start a family.
14, 32, 39 for the character ask. I don't know any of your OCs yet so just whoever you want to do :)
I’ll answer these for Deniz, since the poor thing always needs more love.
14: What animal do they fear most? Deniz is terrified of caracal cats, which is unfortunate since they’re pretty common throughout Phygaret. Wild ones aren’t much of a problem and generally know better than to come near humans, but caracals in towns are kept as hunting companions. Their presence always suggests that their elven owners are nearby, and elves in these parts always suggests violence.
32: Do they have a go-to story in conversation? Or a joke? Well, Deniz likes to introduce themself by flagging the other person down and declaring “I have something for you.” It’s usually a bit unnerving and oftentimes entertaining.
39: How easy is it for them to ignore flaws in other people? Not easy at all. Deniz is a Listener (spy equivalent) and used to calculating every weakness they can find, and even with “friends” they’re still wary of other people’s flaws and how they could be taken advantage of.
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.
Deniz laughs, eerily musical, like the melody of wind-chimes on a still night. “You’re awfully trusting, for a thief. Do you usually follow robed figures into dark buildings, or have I already ensnared you with my wicked charms?”
