AQATWA: Winter is Coming

[inverarity]

And so is this book.... slowly.

I promised a progress report soon, so here it is: I have been writing lately, and doing better than I have in months, though nowhere near my peak output of several years ago.

The manuscript stands at about 230K words, and 47 chapters. I estimate it's about 80-85% done. I've begun writing the final arc, the events leading up to the climax.

Knowing what a mistake it is to talk about deadlines, I'll say I've set myself the goal of actually finishing the first draft by the end of this year. That's not a promise, but I know it's doable if I buckle down just a little bit.

This book is really, really messy right now. After I finish the draft, it's going to take some major editing, hacking and slashing before I'd even think of letting a beta-reader look at it. There are probably entire chapters that need to go, and others that are terrible and need to be rewritten. Also, embarrassingly, I find so much time has passed that sometimes I can't remember my own continuity, which means I keep having to refer back to earlier volumes. (I really need to do a complete reread of my own series soon. I sometimes suspect JKR didn't do this before she finished Deathly Hallows...)

Maybe I'll put up another one of those word clouds when I get closer to the end.

Thanks everyone for your patience. I still get emails, PMs, and reviews, and I do read and appreciate all of them. I try to answer everyone, but please don't feel ignored if your message somehow slipped past me, or I left it in my inbox and forgot about it. It is nice to know that even with GRRM and Patrick Rothfuss levels of procrastination, there are still people willing to read the next book of this series that I started over 10 years ago.

Comments

[kith-koby.livejournal.com]

Great news! Very happy to hear it. No pressure from me - take your time, and do it well, I'll just be happy to read it when it's done. Just give us enough advance warning so we can also do a full reread!

[g-bouillon.livejournal.com]

Yes! Take as much time as you need and write a kick-ass story ;)

[charlotte scherping larsson (from livejournal.com)]

It’s so great to get an update!
I was reading other fanfiction and the word “doggerel” appeared in the text. Straight away I had to stop reading and see if there was an update on Alexandra Quick.
Thank you and have fun writing and editing.
We’re all looking forward to it! (And to every little update notice as well.)

Excited!

[david shuler (from livejournal.com)]

Can’t wait! I am excited to see how Alex faces the challenges awaiting her! Thank you so much for your hard work and the update!

[tim schultz (from livejournal.com)]

This put a smile on my face at the end of a very long and shitty day. I love Alexandra Quick, and even if it takes 20 years I will always be willing to read about her.

Yes

[nine lizards (from livejournal.com)]

Yed! Yes! Yes! Yes! Yes!

Sorry, couldn't help my enthousiasm. Looking forward to the next book in this series!

[uneko.livejournal.com]

I found you while you were in the middle of posting the last one and I've been here ever since. I don't mind waiting. :)


(also aaaaaa finally! omg! :D )

Though, is there another place to keep up with you these days? I find myself clicking on live journal less and less often... :/

[inverarity.livejournal.com]

All the other places I hang out online these days are tied to my real name. Which isn't super-secret, but I'm cautious about spreading it around.

[uneko.livejournal.com]

Well, at risk of sounding mean, I'm mostly worried about missing AQATWA news :)

I'm not wanting to invade your personal space or personal accounts, just wondered if there was a twitter account where you mention "oh yes, I posted a new book review to my LJ today..." :)

No one on my friends list is actually on live journal anymore. My friends page is just you, and live journal seems convinced I only need the last few posts visible anyway--something like the last 2 weeks of posts, so if I miss it.... *shrug*

I don't want to invade your space, so I'll jsut have to keep my eyes open :)

Great works

[moronboi.livejournal.com]

I was introduced to the Alexandra Quick series on Monday and I am already on book 4. I have to say I am really pleased as to how well it is written, especially the deathly regimen, one paragraph makes me thing I've got it figured out and then 4 pages later I was like, nope wrong. My theories on what was happening kept falling apart and I couldn't have been more pleased at that happening. Writing in this work in spot on the kids aren't too mature and aren't too immature, the plots, arcs and tying into each book from the others is well thought out and very impressive. I can't wait to read your next one.