May 2021 News

Happy Spring to you fellow northern hemispherans. Here comes a brief one. Sorry, there's work to be done. That's why I'm a day early. 

Writing

Edits are in full swing. Clarifying some references to in-world terms and geography. Ripping out some unnecessary details and over-done descriptions. Doing a bit of an overhaul / attitude adjustment on a certain prevalent monk character named after a rock vegetable. You know the one: 

Basalt Kale & Irdessa the Undying
- by Felix Ortiz

Also, doing a run through the entire manuscript for certain words, phrases, !s, that all need paring.

I can't tell you a specific date of the book launch or even the conclusion of these edits, but rest assured that it's progressing. I still have a launch date of 2021 in mind. 

Watching

I watched Mortal Kombat (2021) and freakin loved it! Yes, it had some questionable casting, garbage acting, a chasm-ridden plot, and even some subpar fight choreography. But what it had to offer made up for all that. I came in expecting brainless fun and hoping for awesome matchups and brutal fatalities and was not let down. Kabal was in it! And Kung Lao! Jax does his fatality! As does Liu Kang and Sub-Zero! They stuffed the majority of the movie's personality into one character... And if you've seen it or the memes you know who I'm talking about. He's vile and hilarious. There were some missed opportunities in there, but in all it was fun. 

I did a little discussion on it with my S.O.S. brothers and Ryan on CapeCast. Check that out here. I liked it more than they did!

See you next month

dtl

April 2021 News

 I'm so glad it's warming up. I prefer being outside. None of that was an April fools joke.

Writing

Last month I forecasted that I'd be in edits right now and here I am. I also mentioned the high praise my editor gave the book in his general notes / reaction. It's a good thing he complimented the book. Not for my ego, but for what came next. The edits. 

I've worked with an editor before and with beta readers. Now and then they'll utterly miss a point I thought I nailed. That kinda scuffs but it's expected. V&V's editor, on the other hand... left me feeling like a punching bag. I need someone to tell me I'm pretty or something. He hated one of my central characters. Hated him, and didn't miss an opportunity to say so. He had zero reservations calling this character annoying, selfish, a bloody idiot, you name it. I'll spare you the details but I had to Google "tosser" in the process of determining how to unf*ck this character. 

If he'd not complimented the book as he did, I'd have decided this character, their thread, and the book in general were utter codswallop and I might have thrown it all on a funeral pyre. But even while wallowing in the soul-crushing rejection brought on by accurate criticism, I am well aware that this is the very best feedback I can ask for and worth every penny I paid. 

My work is cut out for me. Simpler stuff will be quick. "You use too many exclamation points." "Don't rely on 'go' so much." Easy. Ctrl + F and nuke those bastards.

On the other hand "He is basically unlikable. This is a problem." will have deeper roots to excavate. I wanted a distinct character arc before our little buddy turns heroic. I may have nailed the "pre-heroic" part too well. 

There is a silver lining. If he had such nice things to say despite that he abhorred a significant character, how much more compelling can this book become? I hope to find out. 

dtl