Writing a story sometimes takes years. Other times, it flies by in only a couple days or a few weeks. It all depends on the length and complexity of the project. Back in the end of August, I introduced you to a new project I was working on, called A Prince, a Challenge, a Fisher. I claimed this was a moderately short story.
I lied.
What can you expect from an epic fantasy writer? Certainly not something truly “short.” No, rather than a short story like I was aiming for, I wrote a whopping 16,049 words, turning this rather ambitious short story into something entirely different. This is what’s called a novelette.
Now, it’s the same story, it just has a bit more wiggle room. In fact, if I hadn’t had the limit of at most 17,000 words, I might have accidentally stretched this into a whole novella.
But who cares about all that writer jargon? No, we want to know more about the actual story itself.
The Story:
When the high king begins the Yevikyr’s Challenge, Callidora is determined to win the Challenge—her one chance at rising above her station—and become the leader of the army, or else watch as another haughty noble sacrifices the lives of peasants like her to get rich.
But Callidora never anticipated the crown prince, another challenge in and of himself. Can she surpass his plotting—and her own heart–to take her place as yevikyr?
The summary has changed just a little since I introduced the concept to you. This was due to some revision and editing that I went through. But rest assured, the story is the same.
If you’d like to meet the characters, you can read their “self-written” bios here!
The Timeline:
Now, for those of you who read the first post, you’re probably wondering why it took me a month to go from a 12,000 word draft to the 16,000 word complete story.
I actually finished the story only a week after I posted the introduction. Then I edited and revised it. Then I set it down for a while so I could come at it with fresh eyes.
I gave it to two trusted friends to read, who then gave me their feedback so I could edit it again, and after all that I entered it in a short story and novelette competition. After all that, I’ve only just now had the time to write up a post about it.
Now you have an idea of how long the writing process takes–and that’s just for a novelette!
The story will be a special treat for my current subscribers and any new subscribers who sign up, so make sure to click the subscribe button below so that you can read A Prince, a Challenge, a Fisher.
If you are already subscribed, no fear! I will be sending an email with a link to the short story to all of my current subscribers as well.
Other Updates:
Crazy Writing Month:
Starting October 1st is a new challenge called Crazy Writing Month. Do you remember how last year, I took a break from posting book reviews in order to participate in NaNoWriMo? Well, that is not possible this year.
Because NaNoWriMo no longer exists.
That’s right, my friends. Thanks to some drama and tension, NaNoWriMo lost support and ended up shutting down. (If you want more information, go ahead and look it up on Google or YouTube or wherever you find your information. It’s too late at night for me to go on a hunt for all the information to put into a link for you.)
New challenges have sprung up here and there to compensate for the loss, and one of these challenges is called Crazy Writing Month, hosted by the Young Writer’s Workshop, of which I am a member. The goal: to write 30,000 words in one month.
I will not be taking a break from The Window Seat in order to participate, but the number of posts I create will most likely slow down as I focus my writing energy on the challenge. Thank you for your patience!
The Project:
What will I be working on during Crazy Writing Month, you may happen to inquire?
I’m glad you asked.
Hesitantly titled A Flame of Hope, the story follows a dryad girl who wakes up in a strange world, stripped of her memory. The only thing she knows is this: Her name is Rhys and she must find a dragon.
But more on that later! (;
Until we meet again,
Astor
P.S. Don’t forget to subscribe so you can read A Prince, a Challenge, a Fisher!
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