Writing Resources

Codename: Defeating

Okay so I’ve started writing the ‘second novel’, which from now on will be referred to as Defeating. This novel is different in several ways from the ‘first novel’ (Ice Onion) which I’m currently revising with the intent to submit to published in early August.

Defeating is an action adventure urban fantasy, that is a modern world with supernatural elements at play in it (and plenty of action) as opposed to Ice Onion which is an action adventure science-fiction novel. Defeating will also have several viewpoint characters, whereas Ice Onion has stuck with one. The last difference is that whereas Ice Onion was a brand new story idea, I’ve already written Defeating twice before.

If you’re scratching your head, let me explain. See during my college years I took two stabs at writing Defeating, completing almost-finished drafts both times. I was always annoyed at myself for never finishing them but something about the story three quarters of the way in always made me think ‘it was not there yet’. And rereading these drafts fifteen years later — it wasn’t there yet. I won’t go so far as to say it was terrible — some characters will make the final cut, and some scenes might even make it into the new version. But while my writing career hasn’t soared as I might have hoped since I wrote those first drafts I can definitely say I’ve improved as a writer. I’m having a blast tearing old scenes apart — and discarding some obnoxious characters — and I am able to examine the plot with a more experienced and critical eye. Getting very excited about finishing this one, this time.

Anyways, I’ll post progress updates on twitter as I did with the last novel. Back at it!

Former lead designer at BioWare (Dragon Age: Origins, Neverwinter Nights). Creator of Raiders of the Serpent Sea.

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