One of my favorite things about writing a new story is how it feels like exploration. In my head, an entire, very intricately complex world exists, and writing new content in that world is my way of getting to see it. Yes, I’m seeing Aryest for the first time in much the same way you are. Obviously, I have plans and intentions with this project, but when I actually sit down to write, things often surprise me.
For instance, when I set up to write last week’s post, I didn’t go in with the intent of composing our first glimpse into the philosophical inner workings of the Maktaba. I simply knew Collins would be holding his class in the dining hall so that he’d catch our protagonists when they went for breakfast. Once we were there, I realized he’d invite them to sit in on the discussion, and the rest, I suppose, is history. I was very excited to wind up with what I did, and look forward to opportunities to do more of it in the future. The next scene will be their planning session with Alo, and that almost seems boring by comparison.
I haven’t been able to figure out when in my busy life I can sit down and give the full manuscript a good editing yet. Money is such a troublesome thing, and it takes quite a bit of time to earn what’s needed to continue forward. Streaming feels a bit as though it’s hitting a plateau, but a gift from an old friend will add a new layer of quality to my future endeavors, which hopefully will revitalize my channel. Time of day is something I must consider with this, but time with my wife is what it competes with. I cannot thank my supporters on Patreon enough, for it’s their support which lets me spend as much time as I do on these creative endeavors.
Still, with the plot of To Save What’s Lost moving forward again, it isn’t difficult to keep my head held high. The prospect of moving my characters on from Vacen is electrifying (though I do love The City of Stone), for when we do, we’ll be in the company of people who understand the magic and, as Patrick Rothfuss would say, “the hidden turnings of my world.” In a fantasy setting, things that are concrete and relatable are extremely important for grounding one’s story, but I feel a little like I don’t have enough magic overall. The beginning of Robert Jordan’s venerable The Wheel of Time series has a fairly mundane opening as well, so perhaps I shouldn’t worry too much. What I love about writing is this: the solution to this perceived issue is to put off worrying about it, keep writing, then look at the project as a whole, tweaking what needs to be tweaked. I, for one, cannot wait.
Umbrella Terms 