The second chapter of “To Catch a Merchant Princess” is in the queues at Lit and SOL. It should go up at SOL soon, and the first chapter should hit Lit in 2-3 days, at my best guess.
SOTM 13 is a couple of scenes from completion, and will be a bit longer than most of the previous chapters, if that’s any consolation for the wait.
Old news moved to the cache.
I was going to wait until it was finished to start posting, but I put the firt chapter of “To Catch a Merchant Princess” in the queue at Lit and SOL. It’s already out at SOL, and should appear on Lit in 4-5 days, if recent posting times hold up.
This story demonstrates the shift in my writing focus, concentrating on painting the world around my characters. Please do let me know what you think, as I’m really curious about what my readers will think of the changes. I think you’re going to like it.
Here’s the Cover Image For Merchant Princess.
SOTM 13 is about ¾ done, and I may even finish it tonight. I’m applying the same deeper focus on the world to that story as well. It will be a while before it posts, even if I do finish it tonight, due to editing time. As I mentioned in an earlier update, I may even wait a while longer if the next chapter is really flowing, in hopes of returning to a decent posting schedule.
Finally managed to get past that sticking point in Ch. 13. After fighting it forever, all I had to do was move it from the street in Fightershaven to the courtyard of Blackhawk Hall to make it work. Sometimes, the tiniest things can grind you to a complete halt.
After getting past that, I finished that scene, and smoothly transitioned through two more. I’m writing that second one now, looking for a good bridge into the real action of the chapter, which should move it along quickly.
I may not release it immediately after I finish it, however. Considering it’s already been so long, I may hold on if the next chapter is moving nicely. That way, perhaps I can get back on something resembling a decent release schedule. If I’m stalling again, I’ll just go ahead and put the chapter out. Otherwise, I’m going to try to have 14 nearly in the can before I put 13 out there. That way, maybe I’ll have 14 ready to roll when 13 posts, and already have part of 15 written. So on and so forth.
Thanks to everyone who’s sent encouraging notes while I’m struggling to cope with a major tragedy in my life.
I’ve been struggling with a bad case of the blahs, so nothing has been moving much. I hit a sticking point on Ch. 13 of SOTM, and I’m trying to figure out how to bridge between a couple of scenes. There’s just nothing coming to me. I haven’t written word one on the new Alicia tale in a while either. I have them both open right now, so we’ll see if they start moving.
Between struggling with life changes, and watching the last two LST3Ks languish, my motivation is just in the crapper at the moment. I’m working through it, but that’s all I can promise.
I did put out an entery ( as LesLumens ) in the Lit How-To contest, if you’re interested. It isn’t listed anywhere on my website, as its an essay and not a story, but you can find it by linking to my Leslumens Lit Submissions page.
I was reading back through some of my older one-shot stories recently, and something struck me. In tales like Ebon Genesis and Casting off Convention, I did a lot of painting the world around my characters that I simply haven’t been doing of late. I’m leaning too much on my characters, and it’s time to stop it! *laugh*
I started working on this with the new Alicia story, and my editor noticed it immediately as he was working through the drafts without me bringing it up. I think you’re going to be very much pleased with this change when the first new stories hit with the pumped-up imagery.
I’m doing the same thing with Ch. 13 of SOTM. I’m about halfway done with that chapter, working in spurts and finding it just a little easier each time.
Just an update so everybody knows I’m alive out here.
