It’s the first, and the first Wednesday of the month. And for this Insecure Writer’s Support Group post, I’m happy to report…
I finished my rewrite of book 1!
It took over a year, and there were a few chapters I had to rework on the fly as critiquers took issue with them, but I have finally finished the redraft of Thanmir War. It came out to the same length as I thought it would: 171K. I get teased often for my word count. But for a multi-POV Epic Fantasy, this is on the modest side, since most popular epics are 190-300+K for first books in a series, and this will be a 5 book series.
I’m currently editing book 2 with the changes I made to book 1, and then I’m going to do a tightening pass, enhancing the senses and physicality while I do that. Afterward, I’ll reach out to betas. I’ve added a general content warning to the beginning of my book, hopefully giving people a head’s up on what they’re walking into.
This book was written to entertain. If you’re looking for gorgeously clever prose, you’ll probably be disappointed. You will ask, “What the heck happened?” If slow-coming answers frustrate you, prepare to be annoyed.
This is NOT a romance. However, it IS filled with suggestive language, thirsty characters, and plenty of naked people in awkward, sex-adjacent situations. No, there’s nothing explicitly described—sex-wise, anyway. Death-wise, yeah, that gets graphic. Several people die, including a main character. There will be tragedy, and you’ll probably not be happy with the way some things go.
You might also detest the characters. One is denser than a brick packed in concrete, with the stubbornness to match. Racists and bigots grace the page, and there’s definitely blame-shifting, manipulation, and enablement. The hero—though one would strain to call him that—might entice you to scream obscenities and chuck the book across the room with his reckless—some say idiotic—decision-making.
There will be swearing, both real and fake, so if you can’t handle some frigging hell, then this might not be the book for you.
These are all things people have commented on at one point or another—my main character not fitting the proper mold of a hero being particularly criticized. The above is my I tried to warn you… for all future readers who might experience the same reaction. The whole 5-book series it the character’s growth arc, and he won’t reach his turning point until book 3. Several of my critters like him, so it’s not something I’m changing. But I also don’t want people to have higher expectations and then get angry because he wasn’t as great as they wanted him to be.
IWSG Question of the Month – If you have a playlist (or could put one together) that either gets you in the groove to write or fits with one of your books, what is it? What type of music or what songs?
My songs all capture a facet of whatever character they’re associated to, either through lyrics or mood, like Shakira’s Whenever, Wherever, or Katy Perry’s ET. I can’t listen when I’m writing, but they stir up visions in my head when I’m listening.
What do you think of the content warning? Do you have any project completions you’re celebrating? What kind of music do you like?
About Insecure Writer’s Support Group
You can find the sign up for the IWSG here. We owe Alex J Cavanaugh a huge thank you for thinking this blog hop up.
Yea! Congratulations!
I friggin’ love your content warning. LOL
Congratualtions! That is so awesome. You’ve worked hard to accomplish that!
Your content warning is great just don’t give away too much of the story. Like you could with that word count…
Congrats on finishing the re-write.
I’m not big on content warning, no matter how well it is written. People always form their own opinions. Some will be happy with your story. Others won’t be. There is nothing an author could do about it, so why bother with the content warning?
Applauding out here. I hope you can hear the loud clapping.
Congrats on finishing your draft. I think your content warning might turn some readers off. If you need one, I think you make it simple and about things that these warning are for, like sexual abuse, addiction, violence, etc.
Congrats. I don’t know if a content warning is needed, though. People who complain about stuff like that are kind of entitled, don’t you think? Books are meant to be about different sorts, especially high fantasy. I mean, these were good feedback for you as you were writing (so that you *really* meant for things to go that way), but once the story is done, people can accept it or find something else to read.
Although, that warning will help some people realize the book is not for them…
Congrats on finishing that rewrite! Good for you! 🙂
Congrats!
I wouldn’t worry about the content warning. Unless it’s for something that might trigger someone, you don’t need it. Your book description and the reviews that follow will speak for themselves.