I’ve said this a million times and will say it a million more. You guys are the absolute best!

I mentioned in last week’s post that I’m writing again, and because I’ve blogged about how much I’ve struggled with this manuscript, a bunch of you reached out to learn more—thank you. It made me remember why I love telling stories so much.

So, allow me to spill the tea today.

I started this manuscript during the pandemic, but also during the vastest depressive slump of my life. Perhaps I should’ve known things would go wrong when I named the book A Curse of Venom & Scales. 🤣 It has been a curse, all right.

The TL;DR version: I didn’t plan A Study of Ash & Smoke, and that fact has created plot issues in the plans for books three to five.

I’ve learned so much since writing my debut novel, and my little heart still swells when I read those chapters. But my inexperience has complicated the rest of the series. Paired with my health going to hell and the pandemic’s gifts, ACOVAS has been one of the strangest, most difficult mountains I’ve had to climb. And I don’t say that to be dramatic. It’s honestly been a battle.

I can’t describe it exactly, this phenomenon of wanting to write, being so desperate to finish this manuscript but having no energy or inspiration for it. ‘Just burnout,’ people said, as though the just made it less soul-crushing.

I’m endlessly thankful for my alpha- and beta-readers, especially my cousin, Shants, who has been a steady well of no-pressure support. If not for them, I don’t know how I’d have found the courage to return to this series.

After two years, I opened the various drafts of A Curse of Venom & Scales (there are seven, one of which is complete, despite how much I hate that draft). I read through the old stuff, checked my planning notes, reread the other two books, made new planning notes, and opened a new document.

And here we are. As of this morning (yes, this is a live post, not a written-in-advance one!!!) I’ve written six and a half chapters.

Draft Eight is different. This time, there is no pressure. If this draft is a failure, I still have Seven. It’s complete, if not perfect, and though I might need to rewrite a few sections, it can be edited until it submits. 🤣

Another difference this time—my ADHD medication makes it possible to keep track of all the convoluted plotlines (and, folks, it’s convoluted). I swear, it’s like my working memory has finally rocked up for a task. I have no idea how I wrote and published two books and the monstrosity that is Draft Seven of ACOVAS without the meds.

I also see now that the ‘plot holes’ that had me in a tizzy aren’t that bad. Depression clouds things, you know? It makes problems seem darker than they really are. Actually, the story—complex as it is—is manageable, and the minor plot issues are easily fixable. With the freedom to try, to fail if I need to, I’ve been calm enough to brainstorm a solid plan. I think I can finish this thing soon and possibly publish it by the end of next year.

So, with Hozier on repeat (seriously, how good is Unreal, Unearth?!) I’ve been writing in every free moment. For the first time in my writing career, I even have the Word app on my phone, so when I say I write in every free moment, I mean every free moment. 😎

And it’s a homecoming. I cannot wait to share this story with you!

Until next time.

Yolandie