Thursday, May 22, 2014

Crisis of Confidence

There are days where I have not one iota of confidence in myself. Today is one of those days. It is particularly difficult because there are many days in my line of work where lacking confidence is just not an option. Not to mentions when my confidence is shaken in my own work.

I am published, freaking published and waiting for my book to hit store shelves - and I just want to shut down and not type one more word. To not attempt to create one more scene. And this feeling in debilitating. Also, it is kind of strange for me.

I am not used to not being confident - because I never really let myself feel confident in the past. I just didn't care, but I knew I would struggle through and do what I needed to do. Apathy was my companion for so long I guess I really didn't know what it was like to have a real confidence rather than a bitter lack of compassion towards myself.

I am trying to channel this energy I feel into a scene in the second book. For those of you who are afraid of spoilers - just known that things will happen, actions will be taken, and some people won't make it out alive.

I am just not feeling that though, my mindset needs to be different to be truly inspired to write. Believe it or not, the entirety of the text of Empires Awakening was written listening to the band Muse. I don't know what it is, but their music takes me away from everything and leaves me alone in the world I created on the page. Writing the book one piece at a time I muddled through and somehow completed a book.

It is impressive, looking at the editing hard copy I ordered. I look over at it and realize that it's my book. Someone is helping me get it front of readers and very soon I will even be doing conventions. How sweet is that? The answer is - Pretty Damn.

So those of you out there trying to write, live or work and are finding yourself unsure - just know we all feel that way. Every person on Earth has a down day and once on the other side all will be well. Just keep at it.

PS: For inspiring me to write this post,I want to thank  

Thursday, May 8, 2014

Where the hell have I been?

I have been a wee-bit absent the past few months.

Okay fine, COMPLETELY absent. However that is not without reason, and not entirely because of laziness. Life gets busy. I have a child - no longer a toddler. I have a better half who I like to be involved with - that is part of why you have one. Lastly - my book is being published - and that takes time.

Yes, my book is finally getting an official publication and I am now faced with figuring out how to promote a book. I need to find locations that I can take a small number of books to and get people to buy them. That is a weird feeling - let me tell you. I have some ideas but if any of my readers have some ideas - I will take them.

However, the book has now been edited and has a professional cover - that you can't beat. I think it is pretty awesome. I mean look at that tower! The font struck me as well - I am going to have to figure out titles that look awesome in that font style.

Titles you say? Well I don't think it is really a secret but this is book one of six. Yes, six.

When I started this tale of epic proportions I was not in full comprehension of how many words it would take to create the world of Theron and to complete the story. One book became three (in outlines). After finishing the first book and the outline for the next two I came upon an incredibly horrible/awesome realization - I missed half the planet.

I decide that I would need an entirely separate story line to deal with more villains and stories that this first book cannot logically handle. Part of my writing is that I did not want to invent reasons for my characters to go places. Looking at the story as outlined - there is no logical reason for my characters to go to the other side of the planet to deal with the other parts of the story that I didn't get to. I don't want to artificially put a character somewhere they do not belong.

So how did I solve this problem? I planned a second trilogy. That is why at the very bottom of my cover you see "Saga of the East". This story deals with the events of the Eastern half of a planet and another trilogy will need to be written to handle the events of the other half.

The outline for the "Saga of the West" is very fluid at this point. I have a few characters in mind, but only one major story arc (three are probably what I need) so it is still under development. The characters in the this book however - they all have plans and things I will need them to do. Their fate is sealed *insert maniacal laughter here*. Excuse me.

At the behest of my publisher, they suggested I get back into blogging - and I figure I will use this one as it already is in place and I can use it as a place to expand the universe I have created. Using that as a base I should be able to provide some more blog topics and I can start reporting on my successes and failures as this process moves forward.

On that note I will leave you all until next time - hopefully within the next week. If you message me questions I will deal with those more quickly.