Archivist Series: outlining.

Me: a couple of months ago: I have this super fun idea! A totally playful series about a dragon archivist tasked with posing as a witch to walk among the Adept while overseeing a magical archive and taking care of her younger brother.

Also me: I mean, sure, Dusk can kick ass but she’s really not all that into it. She’s a collector. It will be about books and artifacts and mythological creatures.

Also, also me: Well, my version of mythological creatures. It is modern times, urban setting, and all.

Me, always: And kissing, of course. Every book needs serious kissing. Hopefully with much tongue.

Doubled notebooks – aka how you know it isn’t just a fling.

Me: this morning: Now that the editor has the prequel, I’m going to spend the next week brainstorming and firming up the outline for book one, etc.

Me: end of day: Okay … spent the entire day obsessively outlining and brainstorming. In pencil. I finished the entire freaking outline! Plus numerous scene ideas! And now my hand really, really hurts …

[I pause … thinking … the terrible realization of what I’ve just done sinks in.]

Me, continued: … it … the book … isn’t really … super fun anymore. Playful, yes. But … with consequences. Lots and lots of … consequences. Like mind control, kidnapping, and hearts being ripped out of chests sort of consequences …

So … I guess it’s MY kind of playful?

Okay then.

Apparently, I’m sticking to brand.

But there still aren’t near enough kisses.

Yet.

🙂

DON’T MISS THE AUDIOBOOK GIVEAWAY!

Archivist 0: wanton destruction

When Michael beta reads for me – usually after the third draft, before a book goes to the story editor – he mostly highlights typos and anything he feels is awkward. But he also tags favourite bits, usually with a laughing or crying emoji.

I thought you might find this excerpt as amusing as Michael apparently did.

“The fact that we can feel [her power] so acutely should remind us all that Dusk is seventy-five years away from her majority.” Jiaotu pronounced each word precisely. It was the most vivid display of emotion I’d ever heard or seen from him. And I’d placed Sisu into his arms only moments after his birth. The guardian’s only child. A child whose existence was already a rarity in a world more and more filled with environmentally destructive technology.

“So is Drake.” Suanmi tapped her long fingernails on the arm of her chair. They were filed into slightly rounded points, painted bright red. “Yet he is perfectly capable.”

“Of utterly wanton destruction,” Haoxin said gleefully. As if wanton destruction was a good thing.

– [title redacted] (Archivist 0), third draft

The brainstorming continues …

With the prequel to the upcoming Archivist Series waiting for Michael’s notes – he is my first beta reader after I complete the third draft, which I did yesterday – I get to spend the day (week) brainstorming and outlining Archivist 1!

Let’s just say that spilling multiple cups of coffee all over herself is, unfortunately, going to be the highpoint of Dusk’s first week as the head curator for the magical archives at [redacted].

But don’t worry, dragons don’t burn easily.

Just FYI, because I’m already fielding questions (which is totally, completely cool), the Archivist Series is set in the Adept Universe but built around entirely new characters. There will be no MAJOR crossovers. As the writer/creator, I retain the right to change my mind at any point, of course. But only if it benefits the plot. (Read: Jade is too powerful to just pop into other books/series for no reason). It’s best to assume that each series is completely separate moving forward with the exception of the Misfits books. Thank you for hanging out with me on this multi-branched journey!!

Archivist 0: I just recorded it all.

Dragons didn’t tremble. Dragons didn’t beg for forgiveness or break under pressure. Dragons walked through magical maelstroms, quashing demon uprisings and thwarting world invasions before stopping off for dim sum for breakfast. In Shanghai.

Well, guardian dragons did that sort of thing.

I just recorded it all.

– [title redacted] (Archivist 0), third draft

To-Do List #Fail

Me: Okay! I finished the second draft of Archivist 0 and really should do something marketing related for the Amplifier series. Like promote my new release, Idols and Enemies (Amplifier 4) with some review quotes. Or like mention in various places on the interwebs that The Amplifier Protocol (Amplifier 0) is only going to be free until the end of the month.

Also me: Let’s spend the afternoon working on Dusk’s family tree!