Hello, dreamers! It’s a big week on Writing Tomorrow: I have a book releasing this Friday! I’m also hard at work at many additional projects. There’s lots to cover, so let’s get right to it. Here’s what I’ll be working on this week:

Wide Horizon

It’s crunch time. I’m making my final revisions to Wide Horizon, and it’s slow going. But as of last night, I’m partway through Part 2, and on track to have everything set prior to the release on March 15. It’s hard not to feel like this story was more trouble than it’s worth. But I know I now have a much better, tighter, more compelling work. Amid my recent changes, I truly believe I’m giving readers the story as I originally meant it to be: a dark, gripping, dramatic tale, loaded with sci-fi action and leading to a hopeful conclusion.

Because of my revisions in January, I already know most of the work is done. I only have a few more chapters to go before I reach the point where I traded my scalpel for a hatchet the last time around. I expect to be finished with edits, once and for all, by Tuesday evening.

Turn of the Century

As final edits to Wide Horizon ground into another slog last week, I had little time to write actively on Turn of the Century, but plenty of time to think about it. So while I didn’t make much headway expanding MERIT 19, I now have a much better idea of where to take it.

At the moment, I plan to devote most of my efforts over the next two days to finishing Wide Horizon. Once that’s done, I have a decision to make. Right now, I’m seriously considering attempting a full rewrite of MERIT 19. This is…mildly nerve racking, as I’m currently planning a cover art reveal and pre-order release for the end of the month. At my standard project pace, writing a full 20-30k word novella will take a good three or four days of principal work, followed by a one-day break and at least two days of editing. With only three full weeks left in the month, I’m worried I’ll be cutting it close.

Luckily, my extensive work on self-pub projects over the past several months will save me a lot of time. Proper formatting from the start will make conversion to Kindle and .epub much quicker. So while I’ll be on a deadline, I’m confident that I’ll be able to get everything together well in advance of the end of the month. And I’m very much looking forward to sharing this work with you.

Pioneers

I’m pleased to report that, as of this weekend, my trusted beta reader has finished the RDV of Pioneers. Not only that, but she was very happy with this new, restructured manuscript. I’d like to take a moment again to thank Sara for all her contributions to my work.

With that done, the querying process awaits. However, I’ve learned the hard way not to rush into this process. So, over the coming weeks, I will be revising my synopses and writing new query letters, which will then be sent to trusted writers I’m connected with for review. Given how vital this process is, how laborious it is, and my ongoing work on Turn of the Century (with my novel season just a few months away), I’m currently targeting early April for the start of my querying journey. Wish me luck, dreamers.

Upcoming Content

There will be plenty to read here on Writing Tomorrow this week. Here’s what to watch for:

Tuesday 3/12: “Teaser Tuesday”

Don’t miss the last tease before the release of Wide Horizon! This week, get a peek at a pivotal chapter, where Braylen Roads learns the fate of the last defenders of humanity’s final extrasolar colony.

Wednesday 3/13: “WIP Wednesday”

A lot can change in almost a hundred years. Think of how much our culture has changed since the 1920s. What will humanity look like by the 2110s? Learn more about how culture influences my work, and what I know so far about humanity by the time of Aquarius 1.

Thursday 3/14: “A Good Start”

In my first installment of a new monthly series, “On Writing”, learn more about how I start a new novel project, and how everything flows together in the end.

Friday 3/15: “Flash Fiction Friday: Name the Stars“

On a distant human colony, one man with an antique telescope realizes in an alien sky, the stars don’t have names yet. A heartfelt story about humanity’s new beginning on a new planet.

Sunday 3/16: “Self-Pub Sunday”

So, you bought your copy of Wide Horizon, and you’re wondering what’s next? Find out more about my upcoming releases of the Turn of the Century series, in this week’s “Self-Pub Sunday”.

Also, don’t miss a special post this Friday, March 15: to celebrate the release of Wide Horizon, I’ll be sharing the complete first chapter of the novel with you, my beloved readers.

It’s another busy week here. So keep reading, and as always, dare to dream. – MK