So a bit of a setback in finishing FB2...I decided to go out and blow my ACL and meniscus to smithereens. I'm still in PT trying to get range of motion back just so I can have reconstruction surgery. But what that's done is keep me away from my writing for the last two weeks. Here's where things stand...
-- I have the feedback on the final chapter of FB2 from my awesome content editors. I need to read through it, work some changes, and then send it to my awesome grammar editor/proofreader. He's pretty fast, so we're looking at a week, maybe less, before I post.
-- The silver lining to this injury is that it actually gives me some real-life experience for some of the stuff that happens in the next installment of Brody's life. I haven't made any progress on that story in the the last three weeks or so, sadly.
-- I have this story in my head that won't get out. It's been there for more than a year. I wrote a bunch of stuff out in a document a while back, but it continues to consume my brainwaves. It's a departure from my normal stuff, kind of a sci-fi/alternate reality thing. The reason I mention this is that if it continues to consume my thoughts, I may need to detour into writing a few chapters of it to clear my head. Just giving you warning now.
That's all. Thanks for reading and commenting on all my stuff. Enjoy the rest!
This is just a quick blog post to let you know that I just finished writing the ending of FB2. Chapter 26 is already edited and staged to be posted next week. Following chapter 26, there will four additional chapters (one of which is short "interruption" akin to the prologues of both books and the "interruption" at the end of book 1) to post. There are some critical plotlines that will be left unresolved--I'm warning you now. However, after I complete the next installment of Brody Brown's life, I'll jump right back into FB3.
Speaking of Brody Brown, I'm already 3,000 words into the next installment. In keeping with the temperature and season title theme, I'm still looking for a title for this book. Something to go with Spring. And since Summer and Winter were warm, Spring will need to be cool or cold, to match Autumn. If you have ideas, let me know. If I pick your idea, I'll give you a free digital copy of the story. Aren't I so nice?
Here's the deal. I'm almost done writing chapter 29 of FB2, and I realize that this is the perfect stopping point for this installment. I had intended to completely wrap up the story of Jack, Abigail and Allison in this book, which was to cover two years, but it has taken considerably longer to get through one year, both in real life and in volume of words, than I expected. Therefore, when the story got to this point, I knew it was time to stop.
Yes, I will leave some major plot issues unresolved until FB3, but before you e-verbally castrate me, listen to what I feel are positives...
1. Good separation of two stages in our trios' lives. (How's that for cryptic.)
2. This allows me to really flesh out the details of the main story arc. I have so many notes on Ted, Sharon, Phil, Jack and the girls and how things will turn out that I need time to sift through it, solidify my facts and ideas, and draft it out.
3. I have Brody Brown on the brain. His story started swirling through my head during my run one morning about a month ago. It stayed for about 30 minutes, and then was gone. It showed up a week later, and then a few days after that. It started showing up at other times until now it's consuming any brain power not being used by my RL responsibilities.
4. I have another, totally unrelated story that won't go away, either. I want to get the next installment of Brody's story done before this new story totally overruns everything else. I think it's a great story idea. NOTE: It'll be totally unlike any FB or BB stories, so consider yourself warned.
Final thoughts...
Sorry for not being responsive to feedback from my readers. I read all of the e-mails, and they absolutely inspire me; I just haven't been able to respond to them all. I hope to get back to where I can respond to each and every one.
The next chapter of FB2 is almost ready to release. I need to read through the notes from my editor, which he gave me weeks ago, and then do one last pass. I'm guessing I'll submit it to SOL this weekend.
I haven't blogged in a while. I've been busy with life and figured my readers would have preferred I spend my spare time writing rather than blogging. (BTW, I chose writing over replying to e-mails, too. So, it's not that I didn't read the e-mails or appreciate them; I just thought you'd appreciate new chapters more.)
However, chapter 16 was almost the last chapter of FB2, and not because the story had come to any apparent conclusion. On Thursday, I grabbed my keys and flash drives from my desk at work so I could go home for the day. When I got home and put my keys and flash drives in the bowl where I keep my keys and flash drives, there were only keys and flash DRIVE (note the absence of 's'). My work-related flash drive was present, but my you-better-believe-it-ain't-work-related flash drive was not.
Imagine my horror when I couldn't find it when I retraced my steps back to the car, nor in the car. I work in a town an hour away and I park in a big, busy parking lot. I had all kinds of horrid thoughts about what happened to my drive. I have a backup copy of FB2, but it was only complete through chapter 20. I'd gone on a writing spree as of late and was through chapter 24. I was devastated.
I hoped that my drive had been accidently left behind on my desk at work. If it wasn't, I was prepared to just stop writing it. There was no way I could go back and rewrite THREE or FOUR chapters.
But someone smiled down on me and lo and behold, when I arrived at my office, praying, there it was, pushed up under my 'In' basket. (Praying for porn...that's an interesting concept...)
Anyway, I shall carry on. Oh, I'm backing up on a different device every time I write now.
Speaking of writing, chapters 17 and 18 are just about ready. I will reread and make minor tweaks. One should come this week; the second two weeks later...
Enjoy!