"Rabbit Punch" Proof Copy Arrives

Even though most people will probably not see this book in its print form, I like to examine a physical copy. My years as a graphic artist laying out books and interior designs has taught me to always examine the printer's work. Fonts and colors can look a lot different in print than they do on a computer. Errors pop out more too, whether they be typos or errors with the margins or design.

This copy looks pretty darn good. Got a few tweaks to make and then it's off to the presses.

I'm always pleased with my work until I see it in print form. Then my opinion changes to "What am I thinking? I can't release this into the world. This sucks!"

*palms face*

So, world, brace yourself for my sucky book.

One Of The Best Things About Having An Outline

To outline or not to outline? That is the question every writer must face.

I'm big on outlining. I don't use bullet points or any kind of outlining nonsense they taught in school. My outlines are different. My outlines are straightforward story maps that I make before I start writing a novel. Some of them are so thorough I consider them Draft One.

I outline for many reasons.

1. To quickly get a story out of my system (usually takes about five days) and see if it's even worth writing.
2. To help prevent writer's block further along in the process.
3. To plan foreshadowing events and character arcs.
4. To ensure my story isn't just a sequence of events, but that it contains subtlety and subtext.
5. To build, not just a story, but a world within my story.
6. To make sure I don't screw something up (she starts the story with blonde hair, but ends the story a brunette. Oops!)
7. To help me remember what the hell is going on. (What happened to that guy from Chapter 3?)
8. To hash out plot points in advance so I don't get stuck.

I could go on, but eight is a cool number so I'll stop there.

Recently I began work on a new novel, something I'm aiming to write to market and release later this year. While on vacation I created a very thorough, chapter-by-chapter outline. I practically storyboarded the entire book and in the process found a gem of a story that I'm very excited about.

I started writing the narrative about a week ago, and last night I ran into a conflict with the plot.

"What the frack? Are you kidding me? All that work outlining and I run into THIS?"

Here's what happened.

In a nutshell, I had a character who had written down the license plate number of a suspected child abductor. This character worked at a hardware store and the suspect had been a customer. The license plate number was taken to the police in the hopes of discovering the suspect's name and address. But I ran into a conflict when it occurred to me that the suspect had just ordered some building materials from the hardware store. His name and address were already on file. There was no point in going to the police with the plate number because the hero already the info he needed.

And a whole subplot went down the drain.

Fluuush!

*face palm*

"You're an idiot, Craig. You wasted all that time outlining and look where it got you. Welcome to Writer's Blockville, buddy! I can't believe—"

But then the answer to the problem hit me. Because I had created such a thorough outline, because I knew the arcs of my main characters and knew where the story was headed, my narrative was taking on a life of its own. The solution to the conflict in my plot was already in the story, I just hadn't seen it yet.

Had it not been for my outline I could've wasted hours, maybe even days trying to dig myself out of the plot hole. But after a few minutes of skimming my outline I had a solution.

Outlining has saved my life multiple times. There are good ways to do it, and bad ways to do it, and, in my opinion, downright wrong ways to do it. I'm not saying it's the only way to write, just that this is one example of how it has worked for me.

A New Novel In The Works

The rabbit punch is one of the most dangerous blows in boxing.

This term originates from a method used to kill trapped or injured rabbits. Rabbit punching has similar effects on humans, potentially resulting in unconsciousness, severe injuries to the neck and spine, and death. Penalties for rabbit punching depend on the offending boxer's intent and whether the blow leads to injury.

Definition

In boxing, a rabbit punch typically refers to a punch to the back of an opponent's head, the base of the skull or the back of the neck. This term is sometimes used to refer to other illegal punches, including blows to the kidneys and back. Because of this and the risk of penalization, boxers rarely intend to land such blows. However, unintentional rabbit punches commonly occur as boxers move quickly or lose their balance during a fight.

Origins

The term originates from a method used by rabbit gamekeepers or trappers to kill a rabbit without spoiling its pelt. Delivering a strong, sharp blow to the back of a rabbit's neck at a 45-degree angle dislocates its neck and severs its spinal cord. This is typically performed with a small, blunt object or by using a chopping motion with your hand. If performed correctly, it is thought to be one of the quickest and most humane ways to kill a trapped or injured rabbit.

Risks

Rabbit punching can have the same effect on boxers as it does on rabbits. A boxer can easily render an opponent unconscious with an accurate rabbit punch. This can result in serious injuries to the brain, neck and spine, with additional damage potentially resulting from falling unconscious. Similar to its use by rabbit gamekeepers and trappers, a rabbit punch in boxing is potentially lethal.

So?

I'm aiming to write to market a mystery/thriller. The idea originated from a cluster of ideas that have been bouncing around in my head for years. It has little to do with boxing, and everything to do with a "rabbit punch."

Is This The Beginning or the End?

It's been about seventeen months writing books one and two (172,290 words and 187,200 words respectively), a total of 359,490 words in about a year and a half. By comparison the first Harry Potter book was only 77,000 words, but book 5 was 257,000.

To say I'm excited is an understatement. It may have been seventeen months of writing, but it's been almost nine years of world building. From a tiny concept of a story to an outline for a trilogy to a "Ah, the hell with it! Let's make a whole series!" kind of attitude, the series has birthed and is ready to fly.

Some people have asked me if I'm writing this series on a book-by-book basis, and the answer is no. I've got an end game in sight. I know the fate of every character and what the last scene on the last page of the last book will be. Granted as the creative process unfolds some things might change—in fact I know they will—but I think my road map is pretty well set.

I say this because I think it's more exciting knowing when an author has a plan. Knowing that the author isn't just waiting for another brilliant idea to strike, but that he knows what he wants to say makes for a more interesting reading experience.

Whatever your opinion on that matter, I hope you enjoy what's to come. Both books are now available on Amazon in print and digital formats.

Where Serpents Strike: Children of the Falls, Vol. 1
http://amzn.com/B01BZVIHG6

Where Evil Abides: Children of the Falls, Vol. 2
http://amzn.com/B01D6EF6I2

Could It Be Any More Depressing?

Cutting a book in half isn't easy. (See Changing An Elephant for the full story.)

At first I thought my biggest problem was finding the right point in the different storylines to make the split, but after accomplishing that I realized there's another problem: the individual endings are all kinda... depressing.

At the end of the book...

• Hero #1 and #2 indulge in a graceless massacre of enemy soldiers. No moral lessons are learned. No one grows or changes. It's just violence.
• Princess #1 witnesses the suicide of one of her friends and gets sucked deeper into a life of prostitution.
• Princess #2 is shoved off the top floor of the castle and left for dead.
• My heroine escapes an attack of enemy soldiers only to find herself trapped in the crypt of a chapel after it burns to the ground.
• My other heroine is abandoned by her mentor and left in the hands of a cruel teacher.
• My anti-hero is arrested by the high king, tortured, and thrown in prison.

And just to be clear: these are my main characters. Could it be any more depressing?

As awful as this all might sound, I really don't think I mind. This story is built on the premise that the people have been abandoned by their gods. Society has come to the brink of ruin and the last shreds of innocence are being purged. Despair is what my characters need to feel before they awaken to the reality of what's needed to save the realm.

But if I could pick one word to describe this story, buried in the middle of a dismal plot, heartbroken characters, despairing heroes, and prospering villains, it would be hope. Hope is a tiny thread in this story that glimmers ever so faintly. Hope—I hope—is something that becomes more evident as the series goes on.

Is that glimmer of hope in book 1 enough to keep readers from getting depressed? We'll see.

*Gulp*

Island Time: I Don't Know What It Is But It's Awesome

I think my wife and I were destined to be "islanders" the day we decided to honeymoon on Kelly's Island in Lake Erie and we got our first taste of "island time."

Actually, we wanted to hit up the roller coaster capital of the world in Sandusky, OH, but then someone told us about Kelly's Island, which is just a short ferry ride north. So on our honeymoon we rode roller coasters and spent a lot of time basking in the sun in a little island community. And I loved it!

Island time is defined differently depending on who you ask. Some say it simply means a time later than what the clock says. Others say it has to do with an unwillingness to conform to the norms and structure of modern culture.

But it's more than that.

Island time encompasses a way of life in relation to the attitude you have about the world and the people around you. It's no coincidence that islanders have far fewer worldly possessions and are happier, feeling more fulfilled with a love for life and experiences. They're enriched by enjoying every moment that passes. Not concerned about the mistakes of yesterday. Not worried about tomorrow, but fully involved in today. THAT'S island time.

When Danielle and I vacationed in Maui, HI, last January we fell in love with the place. It was like coming home, a feeling I never felt before.

Even before that, however, we were feeling called to a simpler life. We sold our house. We started downsizing our possessions. And once we got a taste of Hawai'i we slowly began the long process of moving there. Right now we hope that by January we'll officially be "islanders."

What does this mean for my writing career? I'm hopeful that nothing will change. I've been writing since I was 14. Had my first novel published when I was 18. I've authored two other books and edited, illustrated, and designed countless others.

With my fingers fully embedded into my new fantasy series Children of the Falls, I'm in for the long haul. I look forward to completing this series while sitting on the beach, enjoying the sights and sounds of the ocean, pretty girls, and pina coladas.

Changing An Elephant

Writing is a lot like cooking. The ingredients don't always have to be precisely measured out. If you want to add a little more paprika, go for it! If halfway through you decide to change things up, then change things up. You don't have to follow the recipe.

On my bucket list of things to accomplish while writing the first book in the Children of the Falls series was to hit 200,000 words. Comparatively, the first Harry Potter novel was about 75,000 words, while the longest in the series, The Order of the Phoenix, was over 250,000 words. I had never written a novel longer than 129,000, and I wanted to shatter that standard with something epic.

However, when my book reached 300,000 words—that's right, 300,00!!!—I knew I was running into a problem. I didn't like the idea of beginning a new self-published series under a new pen name with a massive 300,000 word novel. I wanted the series to be more accessible to tentative readers who weren't ready to bite off such a massive novel.

My wife was the first to suggest splitting the book in half, and after I thought about it I realized there was a good midpoint at which I could accomplish that. I knew it would require shifting a few events around and possibly adding a couple extra chapters to wrap things up for a new ending, but the idea was exciting. It instantly gave me two books to start marketing instead of one. It also allowed me to narrow my focus in the first novel and spend a little more time building my characters.

Where Evil Abides, the original book one, became book two, and a new 170,000 word book became book one. This meant I needed a new title. I mulled it over for a few days, but couldn't come up with anything.

After one particularly dream-filled night's sleep I awoke around 6am with a title sitting on my lips. I whispered it, hoping to commit it to memory, and promptly fell back to sleep. Thankfully my brain was able to recall the title and I quickly plopped it onto a new cover for a new book one.

Coming soon: Where Serpents Strike.

The Dilemma Of My Ballooning Word Count

At roughly three quarters of the way through my first draft of Where Evil Abides, book one in my upcoming fantasy series Children of the Falls, I did a word count—169,000 words. Yikes!

On my bucket list of things to accomplish with this book, reaching 200,000 words was one of them, but with many chapters still to go I'm kind of in freak out mode right now because this book is sure to be much longer than that.

Do I forge ahead and hit 250,000 words? By contrast, the first Harry Potter book was about 77,000 words, with the longest book, Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, 257,000 words. The first edition in George R.R. Martin's A Song of Ice and Fire was almost 298,000 words, with the sequels easily surpassing 300,000.

Staying on this path means continuing with an insane level of detail. On the other hand, I can strip it down, simplify the narrative, cut to the chase, and make a more streamlined story. Less immersive? Absolutely. Better? I don't know yet.

My aim at this point is to punch the last of these chapters and hand my manuscript off to a trusted friend who has agreed to give the story a once over.

Half Way There

I reached the halfway point on Where Evil Abides last week, volume 1 of Children of the Falls. My estimated word count based on the average chapter length should be around 190,000 words. I currently stand at just over 100,000, which is about the total length of the first book I ever wrote. Whoa.

This series is presenting two major challenges.

1. The reason I refer to the individual books as Volume 1, Volume 2, etc., as opposed to Book 1, Book 2... is because each book is essentially a collection of seven narratives. That means there are seven distinct characters ranging in age from 5 to 20, each with a unique arc, personality traits, and narrative styling.


2. Worldbuilding. I've designed medieval fantasy worlds numerous times—in other books I've written or co-authored, with children in schools during writing workshops—but what I've incidentally immersed myself in is map-making on a global scale. I'm currently working on three different continents roughly the size of North America, Africa, and Eastern Asia. Each realm has different governments, religions, superstitions, people, clothing, architecture, language, and more. It's world-building on a scale I've never done before.

Just telling you about it now has exhausted me. Off to bed!

Let's Start The Insanity

Since 2006 this idea has sat in my brain. I started the outline nine years ago. The world is built. The characters are ready.

Five books. All outlined from start to finish. I know the fate of every character. I know every twist and turn. I know there will be some surprises on the way, but that's all part of the fun. My fingers hit the keyboard today.

Chapter One...