2026-07: Revisions!
Hell has frozen over: I have finally completed a full draft of the sixth Deviant Magic book.
That means it’s time for revisions! I’ve got some notes I know I need to address, but I always start fresh from the beginning and give the thing a full review.
I’m about a third of the way through that process. One interesting thing that keeps popping up: hooooo boy, I sure did plant a lot of seeds I never used, or that were contradicted by later decisions. That’s a sure tell that this one took me a while.
I like what I was going for with a few of these proto-sub-plots. There was drama! And stakes! And crazy possibilities! But they don’t fit, so they need to go. The delete key has been my best friend, and that’s okay. This process comes right along with being a raging pantser. I’ve done it before. I can do it again!
And the more I read, the prouder I become of this particular book. I absolutely bit off more than I could chew with this one. Who knew “The Crying of Lot 49, but fantasy, and tying together years of plot threads!” could turn out to be a challenge? But I crushed it, and I’m excited to hear what my editor thinks, and the possibilities for where I can continue to take this series look awesome.
My next major challenge is identifying a title. I’m not one of those writers who knows what a book or story is going to be called before he sits down to write it. I need to finish the thing, take a step back, and really think about it. There will probably be a couple beers involved. And I’m sure I’ll pick a title, forget what it was, and maybe pick a new one, multiple times, as is tradition.
Life and such
I’m disappointed my Patriots lost the Super Bowl—especially like that—but that ending doesn’t tarnish a wonderful season. I’m really looking forward to seeing how Vrabel and Co. address the flaws in the roster as they gear up for that super tough schedule next year.
And I’m feeling better about the Red Sox. That division is looking monstrous, but they’ve put together what looks like a potential contender.
Got a new pickleball paddle. Less power, more control. It’s made me better at dinks and drops, but I’m still getting used to it on my serves.
Til next week!
