Ciao, amici! I’m super excited today. I wrote THE END on my rough draft of book 2 of the Astral Conspiracy series. I haven’t revealed the title or cover yet, so that’s all I can say about that. But I’m in revision-mode, making sure all the threads are properly woven, all the clues are dropped but hidden, all the groundwork is laid for book 3… and of course all the writing is sound.
It never ceases to amaze me that I miss so much in my own work. I’m so diligent and critical, yet I’m often blind to my own errors. My editor catches a lot, but let’s be honest—no one catches everything. Not until it’s published, anyway, and I see word echoes I’d like to address or weak verbs I’d love to change.
But today isn’t about editing and publishing frustrations. Today is about celebrating a completion. And I think Frank Herbert said it best:
There is no real ending.
It’s just the place you stop the story.
So, yeah, I wrote THE END. But there’s a lot more to do—both with this book and this series. And I must confess, I really love this one. My Medici Protectorate series will always be the one I hold closest to my heart because of the family history associated with it, but this book—the whole Astral Conspiracy series—is fast becoming the series I’m most proud of.
Besides, if I learned anything ending two series so far in my career, it’s that nothing ever really ends. Those characters go on to live their lives. And who knows when and where they might pop up again?
What about you? Any “endings” this week? Finish a draft? An outline? An edit? Hit that publish button? Share your successes below. I’d love to celebrate with you.
And now, this weekβs writing links:
Posts by me, about my work, or at sites I contribute to:
Me
Story Empire
- Planning for Multiple POVs | Me
- The Day I Went to Jail | Joan Hall
- How to Tweak Your Newsletter | P.H. Solomon
Posts by others in the industry:
- Defining Themes | Lorraine Ambers
- Pacing | Jami Gold
- Slideshow in Gutenberg | Natalie Ducey
- World-Building: Political Structures and Religions | Connie J. Jasperson
- Beats Bring a Story to Life | Dan Alatorre
- Pinterest and Instagram for Writers | The Creative Penn
- Vocatives in Dialogue | Louise Harnby
- The Pen Name Bio Debate | The Kill Zone
- 3 Ways Kate Bernheimer Can Help You Improve Your Writing | Standout Books
- Description Errors Due to POV Limitations | Live Write Thrive
To make you smile:
- Battle of the Bulge | Bluebird of Bitterness
- Monday Funnies | The Storyreading Ape
- Monday Memory Chuckles | Random Short Stories
- Inappropriate Wedding Songs | Bluebird of Bitterness
- Monday Memes | Marcia Meara Writes
- Sheep Thrills | Bluebird of Bitterness
- Lucy and Twiggy Use the Office | John W. Howell
- Memory Issues | Random Short Stories
And when you’re done with these links, don’t forget to check out the sidebar, where you’ll find more links to some of my favorite sites.
Have a great week! Arrivederci!
Sorry I’m late commenting on this one, Staci. It’s been a heck of a month, but I’m again digging my way out. Haven’t returned to writing yet, but am at least feeling up to reading my favorite blogs, including yours! Thanks so much for including The Write Stuff’s MondayMemes in your list of things To Make You Smile. It’s one of the few things I’ve been trying to keep up with. So much good stuff this time around, too. I have to set aside time to check your wonderful, and always useful, selection of links. Thanks so much for these Author Inspiration posts. I look forward to them every week! π β€
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I like to pull back a little in the summer, but that’s not happening this year. I think many of us are busy and behind. No apology necessary.
I hope you can get back to writing soon, though.
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Me, too. I have a pretty good yarn (I think & hope) coming along, and I’d really like to finish it. SOON!! π
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Thanks for the links Staci, and congratulations on completing your draft. π
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Thanks, Rob!
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Congrats on completing the first draft of Book 2, Staci. Of course, I have to see what happens when Landon puts that key in the gate! Ha ha. My current first draft is taking me a year to complete due to the hurdles in my family life. Oh well. All in good time. Happy Writing!
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You have a good reason for your writing to be delayed. Family first; always.
Thanks, Diana.
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Congrats, Staci! I remember what it was like to finish a draft … π
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When you get near the end of a novel, it feels like it was so long ago and will take so long to happen again.
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Yes! The “take so long to happen again” part π
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Congratulations, Staci! That’s a huge milestone. I can’t wait for the finished product. I loved this quote too. It was very timely again. Hugs.
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Thanks, Teagan. I know October sounds far away, but for me, it’s just around the corner! And I’ll be shouting from the rooftops then. π
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Congratulations Staci! Youβre a machine! π€
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I don’t know about that, but I was happy to finish that one. Now to get the clean-up done…
Thanks, Jess.
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Congratulations on writing The End, Staci. That is a lovely feeling. I also can’t believe how much value external editing adds to the writing process. I think is is reasonable that we don’t see our own mistakes. The eye skips over them when we read our own work.
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Thank you. It is a lovely feeling.
My eye skips so much in my own work! It’s kind of embarrassing. I’m grateful to all the editors I’ve had over the years, past and present. They really saved me!
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Congrats on finishing book 2- now hurry and edit so we can get our grubby hands on it! lol
I’ve started my first women’s fiction story about two sisters who lost sight of what’s important- family.
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LOL. It comes out in October. Maybe I’ll post teasers before that.
Starting something deserves celebrating, too. I love to play with that exact theme in my stories. Wishing you a lot of luck with it. Congratulations on starting something new!
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Reblogged this on Where Genres Collide Traci Kenworth YA Author & Book Blogger.
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Many thanks, Traci.
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You’re welcome, Staci!
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That’s awesome, Staci! High five to you. π
I experienced a few speedbumps this week, but nothing too major. Yay!
Thanks again for including another one of my posts with yours. It’s greatly appreciated. Wishing you a fabulous weekend. Cheers! π
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So sorry about the bumps in the road, Natalie. Wishing you a better week next week!
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That is a fantastic quote, Staci! Congrats on writing “The End.” You are SO right. We are all blind to our own errors and it’s because our mind sees what it wants to see and not what is. π I’m putting the finishing touches on three short stories and getting ready to hit the “Publish” button!
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That’s a lot. How exciting! Congratulations!
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I am still in editing mode, but I am now to the point where I’m putting the final polish on a number of short stories for publishing. The hardest part is done.Now it’s just a matter of final touch-up sand cobbling everything together.
Congratulations on finishing your second book draft in the Astral Conspiracy series. I know it will be exceptional, and I can’t wait to read it. You’ve got something wonderful going on with this universe and these characters!
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Thanks, Mae. Wishing you much luck (not that you’ll need it) with your stories.
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Reblogged this on anita dawes and jaye marie.
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Many thanks!
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Yay! Congrats on finishing the first draft. Such a good feeling and I’m looking forward to reading it:) I finished polishing a short story I’ve been working on and only got blogs and newsletters done. Life got in the way for the rest of my plans. Have a great weekend, Staci!
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Thanks, Denise. Good luck with the short story!
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Congratulations on finishing the draft. That is such a big deal, Staci. Editing, sure, but getting the story on paper–kudos!
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Thanks, Jacqui. It did feel good. But now… editing.
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I am hard on your heels, Staci… should be finished very soon now…
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That’s great news! Congratulations!
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I’m in the plotting and character wheel stage for my fifth Jazzi mystery, so I won’t reach The End for months. But that’s all right. I love writing that series. CONGRATS on finishing the second book in YOUR series! I loved book one. Can’t wait to read book two!
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Thanks, Judi.
And I know I’m probably in the minority, but I love that planning stage. Hope it’s going smoothly for you.
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It’s always a lot of cups of coffee process, but it’s coming…. So happy to hear you finished the draft of Book 2 as D. L. Cross!
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I do love coffee…
Thanks, Judi. π
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No big completions this week. I’m struggling to address all the critiques I got back, wondering if I missed one here and there. Things will calm down as I finish The Viral Blues in a few more weeks. (Fingers crossed) It is funny how those characters tend to return, sometimes all in the same story.
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I’m looking forward to that, Craig. Good luck getting through it all.
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I’ll celebrate with you – got the book to my beta reader yesterday afternoon! That was four days of intense writing, revising, and editing, but as you said, there’s more work to be done. Especially before I send it to you. Have a great weekend, Staci!
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Congratulations, Teri. That’s great news! Doing my happy dance…
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Congratulations Staci. You are so right. Time to celebrate. Plenty of time for critical thinking later. For now, feel good. Thank you for the link.
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Thanks and you’re welcome. (There’s that weird pairing again.) π€ͺ
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Ha ha ha.
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Another great quote! Now that I’ve finished my first series, I already miss my characters. But who knows? Some of them may turn up again!
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That’s the beauty of creation, isn’t it? If we want something to happen, we just make it so.
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Reblogged this on Legends of Windemere.
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Thanks so much!
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Youβre welcome
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Love the quote, Staci. Last week was my week for endings, as I finished both my novel in progress–FALLOUT–and a short story–The Fireman–for an anthology. My pre-order page went live for FALLOUT last week too :). This week is a week of beginnings … I’ve started a new non-fiction book called Creative Solutions for the Modern Writer, which is all about writing tools for firing your imagination. I’m super excited about this one! And am also prepping for the revision stage on the projects just finished.
I have The Gate on my ereader, and I cannot wait to dive into it. This second one also sounds great. I do love a good series. Congratulations on finishing, Staci, and best of luck with all the books π
Thanks for the links. Reblogged this on: https://harmonykent.co.uk/author-inspiration-and-this-weeks-writing-links-8/ … Check out this great Friday post from Staci Troilo with some useful author/writing links β¦
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Wow, look at you. You got married, and now you have all this other stuff happening. This is extra-super-special! Congratulations on all of it!
And thanks for sharing the post.
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Hello, Staci Troilo.
I haven’t finished any draft this week, Cause’ I just began writing my new article. I hope it will be done within 2-3 days. And, yes, I liked reading your blog.
I give my best wishes to your new book release. Keep writing, keep shining.
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Two or three days is but a blink of the eye. You’ll be done in no time. So it might be early, but I’m celebrating that for you. Huzzah!
And many thanks for the kind wishes.
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