Charlie Foxtrot: Blog

Thank you for the continued interest in Paul and Jeryl's story. I am writing on a more regular basis once again and am finally getting the plot moving once again. I'm approximately 140,000 words into the second book and can see the ending coming up. Once it is written, I'll get it out to my proof readers and then posted. I won't make any promises, but am going to try and get it wrapped up before the end of the year.

Thanks for reading,


-Charlie Foxtrot

Sorry for the delay in updating....

I've been on the road for a bit with work and had only intermittent access to post an update.

On a positive note, I'm making good progress toward the next installment. I've learned my lesson and will not commit to a date yet, but I am writing on a regular basis and herding the characters in the direction they seem to want to go.

Thanks for the inquiries and encouragement, and thanks for reading.


-Charlie Foxtrot

Thank you all for the continued requests for updates and to get back on a regular posting schedule. I think I am making progress, but re-iterate my decision to not begin posting again until the story is finished.

My problem (and the reinforcement for my approach) is both simple and complex. I hate stories that go on forever, driving me to OCD behavior of checking slavishly for updates. I am a voracious reader and like to get through the entire story. I think some of you are of the same bent.

Now, with that context in mind, let me share a little of my recent plot problems. My story was veering dramatically from where I wanted it to end. That might have been alright, but it was turing into a vanilla, "hero has no real challenges" type of story, which I don't like that much. I had reached chapter 36 in draft form an realized the conflict that I thought was driving the story was too much of a cliche.

So I threw it out.

But that caused a problem. Every direction I took after that seemed to fall into a similar path. Coupling the writing doldrums with a new job made it difficult to focus the effort needed to actually get the story back on a path where you, the readers, should care about the conflict and resolution.

If I had posted along the way, I would literally be written into a corner now.

By being able to throw out sub-par work, I still have a clean slate for the direction the story is going.

Could I begin posting again?

Yes, but I won't until I've written the whole story so I know it is a complete tale, that I hope you will enjoy. I'm presently writing chapter 33 for the third or fourth time, but think I have a path forward that will be sustained through the entire adventure.

Thanks for your patience.

-Charlie Foxtrot


P.S. I've been kicking around an idea for a totally new story to write once "A New Past" is complete. I think you'll all like it, but let's get the first one put to bed before I begin an new tale.

Actually, my health is fine, but I have been extremely busy at work with limited writing time as I tried to plot myself out of a corner my characters had worked themselves into. I have finally (I think) gotten them straightened out and am starting to make progress on moving the story in the direction I wanted. I'm not going to promise when I will begin posting the next sections, but wanted to let everyone know that progress is being made. I know the ending of the story, but side-trips, twists, and turns had me going in a different and less interesting direction.

Thanks for your patience and thanks for reading.

-Charlie

I am still working on Book 2 of Paul & Jeryl's story. I just decided to re-write three chapters (33-36) which will probably take me well into the summer for finishing things up. Writing has been going slow, but I want the story arc to make sense and get the ending I have in mind.

I will try to be better about posting updates, but no promises. Once I have the story complete, I will post it in its entirety.

Thanks for reading,

-Charlie

(6/21/2014 - working on chapter 33 - the second time - with 133,000 words written)