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?