Writing Update

Echoes of the Tides is my first ever attempt at writing fiction, which means I have been figuring everything out as I go.  

And I mean everything, from writing craft (story structure, setting descriptions, character development, believable dialogue, inciting emotions in the reader, etc.), to building a magical world of my own (magic systems, fictional histories and place names, structure of government, religion), to the story itself (the plot, the genre, my main character’s wants and fears, the story’s emotional core and the main themes, and so much more).  

Because I am learning as I go, the drafting and revision process has been a bit haphazard, and finishing the book has taken more time than expected.

I wrote Draft 1 in 2022 between June and November. When that was done, I took a break to let the story breathe, and then began “revisions” in January 2023. But when I reread Draft 1, I realized so much of the story needed to change, and the insurmountable pile of work paralyzed me.

March rolled around, and while I had thought nonstop about how to improve it, I hadn’t taken any real action. I was spinning my wheels and to the point where I was considering paying a professional book coach or editor to get out of my rut. Then I remembered I had people offering to help.

So I sent the first half of the story—which wasn’t great, but was stronger than the second half—off to a few kind souls. And while they read, I worked on the second half, invigorated by their feedback and the simple fact that my work was being witnessed by someone apart from myself.   

“Working on” the second half turned into a complete rewrite. That took me into May. At the end of that phase, I felt much better about the story. Draft 2 better aligned with my vision.

But it still wasn’t right. The first half and second half didn’t quite match up. There were holes in the world building and the plot, and the quality of the writing was lackluster.

In June and July I entered a planning stage, during which I addressed those major issues that still didn’t sit right with me. I built up the world and character backstories, which was much easier now that the core of the story was set.

In August, I began Draft 3. This time, I started at the beginning. I intended to keep most of it as is. Perhaps I would add a scene here or there, but mostly I would be working with what was already on the page.

That is not what happened. By mid-October, I completed a total rewrite of the first half of Echoes.

And this time, I am not lying to myself about what is next: a complete rewrite of the back half.

Simply put, I am no longer terrified of rewriting. 

Draft 3 is an obvious improvement from Draft 2; the characters are better defined, the setting is better imagined, the dialogue is tighter. It’s starting to feel like a real book.

The work has thus far paid off, and I know it will continue to do so. But there is no denying that it is a lot of work. So I am taking a short break to recharge before diving back into Draft 3.

Hopefully the next time I update you, Draft 3 will be complete and in the hands of a few other readers. But considering I have been unable to predict how long each phase will take, I make no promises.