AQATWW: Still At It
Oct. 29th, 2023 10:34 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
inverarityI know you would like more news, but there isn't much other than that I am still working on Alexandra Quick and the Wizard War. I've sanded off some rough edges of the final draft, and trimmed it down to 375,000 words.
I know I've mentioned this in the past few updates, and you're probably sick of hearing about it, but I continue to be stalled by the very divisive nature of my beta reader feedback.
I guess I can best express my honest feelings like this:
I'm kidding. I love you guys.
I am leaning towards basically keeping the story as is. There are parts that can be tightened and polished a bit, and I'll go over those. I can also see a different world in which I don't mind spending another year rewriting this book. But while I can see ways to rewrite it that might or might not be improvements, let me emphasize "might or might not."
I'm sure there will be lots of interesting discussion after the story is online. My personal prediction is that most readers will consider AQATWW either the best or worst book in the series, with not many in between.
Don't be afraid that I am trying to polish a turd. I really think AQATWW is a good book! And even the highly negative beta readers thought it was good — except for all the parts they didn't like.
Might have a slight resemblance to a scene from the book.
Eh, close enough.
Most of the characters are underage. Have some age-appropriate cheesecake.
I cannot give an ETA right now. We just settled into the new house, and now we're about to go on a long-planned vacation. Yes, I'm already two years past my first optimistic estimate. But it's not going as slowly as book five, so that's something.
I know I've mentioned this in the past few updates, and you're probably sick of hearing about it, but I continue to be stalled by the very divisive nature of my beta reader feedback.
I guess I can best express my honest feelings like this:
I'm kidding. I love you guys.
I am leaning towards basically keeping the story as is. There are parts that can be tightened and polished a bit, and I'll go over those. I can also see a different world in which I don't mind spending another year rewriting this book. But while I can see ways to rewrite it that might or might not be improvements, let me emphasize "might or might not."
I'm sure there will be lots of interesting discussion after the story is online. My personal prediction is that most readers will consider AQATWW either the best or worst book in the series, with not many in between.
Don't be afraid that I am trying to polish a turd. I really think AQATWW is a good book! And even the highly negative beta readers thought it was good — except for all the parts they didn't like.
Might have a slight resemblance to a scene from the book.
Eh, close enough.
Most of the characters are underage. Have some age-appropriate cheesecake.
I cannot give an ETA right now. We just settled into the new house, and now we're about to go on a long-planned vacation. Yes, I'm already two years past my first optimistic estimate. But it's not going as slowly as book five, so that's something.
