Charlie Foxtrot: Blog

Thank you all for the continued requests for updates and to get back on a regular posting schedule. I think I am making progress, but re-iterate my decision to not begin posting again until the story is finished.

My problem (and the reinforcement for my approach) is both simple and complex. I hate stories that go on forever, driving me to OCD behavior of checking slavishly for updates. I am a voracious reader and like to get through the entire story. I think some of you are of the same bent.

Now, with that context in mind, let me share a little of my recent plot problems. My story was veering dramatically from where I wanted it to end. That might have been alright, but it was turing into a vanilla, "hero has no real challenges" type of story, which I don't like that much. I had reached chapter 36 in draft form an realized the conflict that I thought was driving the story was too much of a cliche.

So I threw it out.

But that caused a problem. Every direction I took after that seemed to fall into a similar path. Coupling the writing doldrums with a new job made it difficult to focus the effort needed to actually get the story back on a path where you, the readers, should care about the conflict and resolution.

If I had posted along the way, I would literally be written into a corner now.

By being able to throw out sub-par work, I still have a clean slate for the direction the story is going.

Could I begin posting again?

Yes, but I won't until I've written the whole story so I know it is a complete tale, that I hope you will enjoy. I'm presently writing chapter 33 for the third or fourth time, but think I have a path forward that will be sustained through the entire adventure.

Thanks for your patience.

-Charlie Foxtrot


P.S. I've been kicking around an idea for a totally new story to write once "A New Past" is complete. I think you'll all like it, but let's get the first one put to bed before I begin an new tale.

Actually, my health is fine, but I have been extremely busy at work with limited writing time as I tried to plot myself out of a corner my characters had worked themselves into. I have finally (I think) gotten them straightened out and am starting to make progress on moving the story in the direction I wanted. I'm not going to promise when I will begin posting the next sections, but wanted to let everyone know that progress is being made. I know the ending of the story, but side-trips, twists, and turns had me going in a different and less interesting direction.

Thanks for your patience and thanks for reading.

-Charlie

I am still working on Book 2 of Paul & Jeryl's story. I just decided to re-write three chapters (33-36) which will probably take me well into the summer for finishing things up. Writing has been going slow, but I want the story arc to make sense and get the ending I have in mind.

I will try to be better about posting updates, but no promises. Once I have the story complete, I will post it in its entirety.

Thanks for reading,

-Charlie

(6/21/2014 - working on chapter 33 - the second time - with 133,000 words written)

They should be up soon. I hope you all enjoy and thank you for your patience.

I am working toward the conclusion and am guardedly optimistic that I will finish in mid-June as previously planned. In the meantime, I hope you enjoy the continued story of Paul & Jeryl.

Thanks to my editors who hopefully helped minimize the typos and editing issues in these chapters.

Thanks for reading,

-Charlie Foxtrot

I was surprised to hear such a strong request to finish the story and then post. It was not what I was expecting. With over 100 responses, roughly 60% asked that I complete the story, but make more frequent blog updates on status. Of course, that means that roughly 40% of you want me to post more sooner, rather than later.

While I may still hit my original plan to be ready to start posting in the "spring", knowing that a majority readers willing to offer me feedback would prefer for the story to be "done" first is encouraging.

So here is my plan:

1) I will continue writing and editing for the remainder of April and into May.

2) If I reach May 17th and am not done writing, I'll post Chapters 20-27 to move the plot forward and keep you all interested. As I stated in the previous blog posting, those chapters complete a significant arc in Paul and Jeryl's story.

3) If I have not begun posting on a regular schedule before the end of spring (June 21st), I will put up the entire story once it is complete.


Again, my goal is to get on a regular posting schedule sometime in May. Hopefully these publicly shared milestones will be a sufficient goad to keep me on track.

Thanks again for all the feedback and encouragement.

-Charlie

(4/15/2014 - working on chapter 31 with 120,000 words written)