Since I'm sitting up with a wakeful baby anyway, I thought I'd address a question that no one has asked me yet but that I'm sure people will. Why title my first chapter "Optional First Chapter?"
Well, Chapter Two was originally my first chapter, minus a bit of explanation that is now given in the new first chapter. I loved the idea of starting it that way; I felt it was exciting and attention-grabbing. But every time someone would read that first portion of my story to critique it, they were left feeling confused and wondering if I hadn't given them the beginning of the story. So, after talking with my sister-in-law, I decided to write a prologue to give the readers a little more information to start off with. I tried to make it engaging and interesting, but wasn't sure I'd done as good of a job as I wanted. Then I read some writing advice that warned against prologues. And I have to admit, I feel a little put-off by books with lengthy prologues; I want to get to the story! But my prologue wasn't one set in the past, or from the point of view of some other random character. It could easily just be chapter one, so I made it that. But it still wasn't as engaging a beginning as I felt the now Chapter 2 was, so I decided to title in "Optional First Chapter," I figured maybe that would amuse readers a little, and if they found it too boring they could just skip ahead. And if they got too lost, they could go back and read it knowing that there was more interesting stuff ahead. So there you have it; my weird logic behind the first chapter :)
Tuesday, March 11, 2014
Monday, March 10, 2014
Published!!!!!
Well people, I've done it! I submitted it to Amazon to be published on Kindle! I want to publish a softback copy through Amazon't CreateSpace too, but first I'm going to wait and see if I run into any issues publishing the ebook first. Still, if all goes well it should be published within the next 24 to 48 hours.
So what's next? Well, I have an idea or two for a prequel and maybe a sequel, but that's not what I'm focusing on right now. Another idea grabbed me almost out of nowhere, so that's what I'm focusing on next. After all, if I don't love the idea, how can I make the reader love it? I really do want to write the prequel and possibly other sequels, but I think it will be good for me to take this break and step into another story for a bit.
What's this new story, you ask? Well, it's still set in the same world as Elf Tears, but it takes place on another continent; one populated mostly by humans. Other beings do exist, however, and the main character is one of them. She is a shapeshifter and was once a being of high power, serving under the Aquinix. But she let that power get to her head and was cast down to wander the world for millenia, serving others and seeking redemption. At the beginning of the story she comes across a battle and is led to save an older officer about to be killed. She'll team up with and have some kind of adventure with him. If all goes well for her, she'll hopefully find some kind of peace by the story's end. I guess we'll see where it leads me!
So what's next? Well, I have an idea or two for a prequel and maybe a sequel, but that's not what I'm focusing on right now. Another idea grabbed me almost out of nowhere, so that's what I'm focusing on next. After all, if I don't love the idea, how can I make the reader love it? I really do want to write the prequel and possibly other sequels, but I think it will be good for me to take this break and step into another story for a bit.
What's this new story, you ask? Well, it's still set in the same world as Elf Tears, but it takes place on another continent; one populated mostly by humans. Other beings do exist, however, and the main character is one of them. She is a shapeshifter and was once a being of high power, serving under the Aquinix. But she let that power get to her head and was cast down to wander the world for millenia, serving others and seeking redemption. At the beginning of the story she comes across a battle and is led to save an older officer about to be killed. She'll team up with and have some kind of adventure with him. If all goes well for her, she'll hopefully find some kind of peace by the story's end. I guess we'll see where it leads me!
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