Mood: “Leaving Lemuria” by Jo Blankenburg
Done and…Done?
Yeah, I think I am finally there, for the nonce, at least. What the Hades does that mean? Well, I believe I have written before that this was a book that needed to get out of my imagination. As such, it has been written for the group it was meant, and that is a specific group: my RenFaire group. In its genesis, that was the intent in writing what turned out to be a novel. As the writing went on and a few people were privy to some of the parts of it, I was encouraged to publish. At first, this meant a minimal self publishing so I could gift it to members of that RenFaire group who wished a copy, which I still intend to do.
However, as I realized this could possibly be published for a wider readership, I quickly realized that much would need to be ‘tweaked’ so it was less focused on those who would understand things geared towards the Renaissance fair that my group was a part of and would not likely be ‘got’ by those unfamiliar with that fair in Alaska.
That may be a little confusing, so let me be clear: The book is pretty well finished and I am doing one final read-through, making one or two adjustments then writing a preface/author’s notes. My plan thereafter has been to get several copies printed for those who have agreed to read, critique and evaluate the thing, mostly members of that RenFaire group. Once that is done, I will fund a hardback edition for those who have done so. Finally (-ish), I will do revisions (such as name changes, possible world-building, and fleshing out things to make better sense RenFaire specific references) to make the thing more accessible to a wider readership.
Going Forward Plans
It amazes me where writing takes one. Have your outline and plot points set out, plan to even the littlest detail and, I think, if you are doing it right, characters and plots begin to ‘write’ themselves. That very much happened during the ten or so years it took this story to get out of my grey matter! After what may be close to 400 pages (unless I change to font size again!), there is yet more story to tell! I followed the outline I started with and the book does end there, but where the story took over writing itself I came to realize there is much more to be told, a final revenge to be enacted. Elements that took shape in the last third of the book showed me where the next part of the story needs to go (Italy) and what form the revenge must needs take (financial ruin). So, yes, there will be a sequel!
Maybe even a third book to follow that! On top of which, there are at least two other writing projects I yet Need to do!
A Writer’s Reflections
At almost 60 years of age, I often wonder why it took me so damn long to write a book, what with so many ideas burbling in my mind. The answer has always been obvious: I just wasn’t quite ready to do so. Look, I’ve been writing for as long as I can remember. RPGs, skits for the RenFair, the handbook for my RenFaire group and so on. I’ve always enjoyed doing so. Always. And yet, for whatever reason, writing a book just seemed like a difficult thing! Don’t get me wrong, the plotting and such are not really hard, but fitting it all in the right order or making sense of it if the plot isn’t strictly linear isn’t done without effort. But the actual writing comes relatively easy for me. I must say, I do enjoy crafting a good turn of phrase!
It has been rough, needing to work a 40+ hour a week job just to keep myself in curry, and trying to get up enough brain steam to write after a 10-hour day, so most of the writing happens on the weekends. Even then, with things that do not get done during the week needing to be done on the weekends, fitting writing in has ever been an issue. There have also been times when The Block occurs, or at least not at all liking what has come through these fingers. As well, it has really only been the last few years that the Need to get this book done so that the others in my brain box can also come out (before the sequels to the present book even occurred to me!) .
But the journey has been a fun and exciting one, and I hope to keep writing for as long as possible. it would, of course, be even better if I can realize an income from writing, but at this time I am just happy to keep on writing.
That’s All…
…for now, but I find myself exorbitantly superannuated for this day’s feculence!