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Eagle-eyed followers have likely noticed that the first chapter of Book 2 has been posted. I extend my heartfelt gratitude to my volunteer Beta readers whose help has been invaluable.
As previously mentioned Book 2 marks a shift in my approach to releasing chapters. Firstly, chapters are likely to be longer than the ones from Bk1, but in addition chapters will be posted as they are completed. Unfortunately, this means I cannot commit to a consistent posting schedule and there may be significant intervals between new posts.
On a brighter note, I'm optimistic that from mid-January onwards, my schedule will allow for more dedicated writing time. However, the past year and a half have taught me that very little in my life seems to go according to plan, so we will have to see.
From the BBC's review of ‘Wonka’:
“… Wonka is the tale of how the starry-eyed young Willy tries to set up a chocolate shop in a fictional city (sort of British, sort of American, sort of mainland European) in a fictional time period (sort of Victorian, sort of mid-20th Century).”
It's reassuring to know that I wasn’t completely off my trolley for choosing to set my story in a fictional world that, incidentally, shares certain similarities with the one described in the review.
Progress on the first chapter of Bk2 carries on, albeit with only sporadic bursts of productivity. It's now past the seven-thousand-word mark, though still lacking a good conclusion. Here's to hoping I can carve out the time to complete it this side of Christmas.
I'm on the hunt for beta readers for Book 2 of 'At the Woodchopper’s Ball'. Just to be clear, I'm not asking for an editor who will meticulously dissect every sentence or hunt down typos (although I'd appreciate it if they were pointed out, of course!). What I'm really after is someone who can dive into the drafts, get a feel for the mood and ambience, and give me their impressions on how things are shaping up. I like to know if the story's hitting the right notes, if what I am trying to have come across is actually coming across. If you've already had a go at Book 1, that's a huge bonus.
Just a word of warning: If you did enjoy ATWB Bk1 and you're thinking about diving into the behind-the-scenes stuff, well, it might not be as enjoyable as it first sounds. I suppose it's a bit like getting a backstage pass to see how sausages are made. Instead of a polished final chapter, you'd be getting a sneak peek into all the wrong turns and missteps along the way. It's not always a pretty sight!
I've received an encouraging number of messages from readers, all eager to know what's next in the story. First and foremost, I want to express my gratitude to every one of you for your enthusiasm. While I may have hinted at taking a break before diving into the next book, the truth is, I started working on Book 2 almost immediately after wrapping up the final chapter of Book 1.
Progress is underway, but I regret to say that I won't have as much free time in the coming months to dedicate to writing as I would like. As a result, the pace of the project might be a tad slower than we'd all prefer.
Unlike with Book 1, I've decided not to give myself such a substantial head start before sharing chapters. Initially, my plan was to complete the entire book before posting any of it. However, I got a bit ahead of myself and began sharing chapters before the last two were even written. Unexpected "events" threw a wrench in the works, causing a delay in concluding the book.
At this stage, however, I don't feel the need to prove anything further. I was conscious of the fact that many writers - new ones especially - begin stories but never finish them. The first book, at over 65,000 words, comfortably exceeded the size of most novels, so I know I have the ability to complete works of this scope. Consequently, with Book 2, I'll be sharing chapters as soon as I finish them.
Also, I've been receiving feedback on Book 1 and have been taking a critical look back to assess what worked and what could have been improved. To provide a bit of context, "ATWB" is my first story, and I'm no wordsmith by trade or training, so this feedback has been invaluable.
One thing that stands out is that the first half of Book 1 could have been more streamlined. By this, I don't just mean trimming down the word count (although there's certainly scope for that). What I mean is that I should have aimed for longer, fewer chapters to improve the flow of the story.
You see, in the early days, getting words on paper (proverbially speaking) felt like pulling teeth and was a real uphill battle. Completing a chapter felt like a significant accomplishment, and each finished chapter was a real morale boost. Knowing what I know now, I would structure the chapters differently. Nevertheless, I can't think of a specific scene or event I'd want to eliminate.
I'd love to hear your thoughts on this. What do you think about the pacing and structure of Book 1?
Just a quick note to say that there will be a revised version of Ch13 posted soon. I have a terrible habit of altering my drafts after they have been proofed which only introduces more errors. I posted Ch13 before Leomentos had a chance to review the final, final, final draft.
These revisions only address errors or improvements to the text. In the event I alter anything affecting the plot itself, I will let readers know by posting something on the blog. However, up to now, there have been no such changes.
Needless to say, if you spot any errors, please let me know so I can correct them.
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