What's Going On With My Writing?

I know I've given some little updates every now and then and wrap-ups at the end of the month, but I really wanted to do a post where I told you everything that's going on with my writing.

(well, maybe not everything. like how I want to write a first draft and edit two novels at once and how my sequel is MESS right now and i just want to scrap the whole last 25%, which is weird, because it's usually the middle 50% I like to scrap...)



Anyway:

WIP #1 FOUND

Ha, yeah, I did make that cover. Yay, me xD

Currently:

Found is at beta readers right now. I'm getting it back on April 4th, so I'll be doing Camp NaNo with it. I'm planning on organizing all the feedback, restructuring my scenes, then going in for some deep-editing. (which will probably take like two months or more :P We'll see how well I can reorganize all the scenes)

Future plans:

For those of you who have been following me for a while, you might have heard that I'm trying to publish Found this year. I've been thinking about it a lot, planning a ton, and came up with a release day of sometime in October.

Sounds fantastic, right?

It did to me.

It didn't to my schedule.

Everything would have to be perfectly timed, no room for mistakes or unscheduled breaks or life happening (which was unrealistic from the start, because #lifealwayshappens). One peek at the looming summer made me nervous though. I have no idea where I'm going to be, the school year looks...like school, and I'm going to be working with (or for xD) my dad in July, and I'm going to learn how to drive. *gasp*

Oh, and I also wanted to write the final book of Dareas Trilogy for Camp NaNo in July.

And independently publishing my first book on top of all that? Learning how to format, finding an editor, getting a cover designer, sending out advanced reader copies....

After a bit more contemplation, discussions, and prayer, I've decided to wait until next year to publish Found. That way, I can save up for a cover designer, be thorough with my content editing, and maybe do a second round of betas. I don't want to rush this. After all, it is a journey, as the subtitle of my blog implies.

I did almost choose the word patience for 2017 xD

So, stick around, and I'm aiming to have Found out in the world by February 2018

WIP #2 OUTCAST (2nd book in the trilogy)

Yep. Another cover. IT NEEDED TO BE VAGUE. No spoilers on my blog

Currently:

I'm revising the 2nd draft right now. I'm going to try and get that done by the end of this month, then set it aside before making the actual revisions until May or something.

Future plans:

Depending on how much work Found needs, I'm going to have Outcast alpha-read in May/June, make revisions over the summer, and perhaps give it to beta readers in the fall.

There would be a slight possibility that I could publish it October 2018, but that's just me dreaming ;-)

WIP #3 SURVIVOR (final book in the trilogy)

I know it looks like the other one. But I just loved this too much and it's so PERFECT.

Currently:

 

This one isn't written yet, but I'm planning to write it for Camp NaNo in July. (and aiming for a wild 140,000 words, but we'll see XD)

That's it so far. (aside from the crazy writer in me screaming with wild excitement over epic plot twists and outstanding character arcs)

WIP #4 CONVICTS (book one of a fantasy series)

Sorry, BUT I'M SO PROUD OF THIS COLLAGE.

Currently: 

I'm plotting/world-building/creating this one right now. I'm super excited for it, but will only be working on it randomly over the next six months or so. Hopefully it will be my NaNo novel in November.

Random WIP #5

 

(okay, so this is actually a "secret" project of mine, but I was making a collage for it the other day, and it turned out so awesome that I just had to share it.)

You didn't just see that.

***********


And now...for those long-awaited snippets I promised! I changed them to 1st person present though, since I don't want to give spoilers to my beta readers :P



******

 Golden stalks whisper endless tales, bending from companion to companion as I push through them, blazing a little trail. The grass swallows up any evidence of my presence, concealing every footprint as its tentacles trail across my knees. The sun’s harsh glare draws pain to my furrowed brow, but I just raise an arm until it hurts, then replace it with the other. No heat wavers on the horizon, but the shifting grass masquerades distant shade.

Wind still races across the plain in playful games and stalks bow accordingly as the sun falls behind the edge of the universe. I jog onward to a lone tree, the only stranger in a distant land, and tap my fingers across the bark––a greeting of friends.

Sinking down, I strike a few rocks over sticks, cupping my hands until the new flames grow. The gale beings to take them, but I block it with my body. The grass doesn't catch. Gusts have long-since kissed my cheeks to rawness as my eyes bore into the protected fire, searching for answers.

But only for times ahead.

A moon rises with day-bright beams, filtering through the skinny leaves of the tree. I scan the horizon for any figures, but only a sea of blue grass teases me back. My throat narrows, pushing tears to my eyes, but I lay back before any can fall. Stars usually smile down at me––or they smirk, like tonight. I count them

One. Two. Three. One running. Four. Five. All alone….

**************

 A thin trail of smoke spews from the vents of the ancient oak as I approach. My eyeballs ache as I stare at it, watching the waste float away. What is in it? My feet drag across leaves as I stagger closer. Shadows shift as Holly’s roots fly around inside, busy making mixtures.

Witch.

I don’t usually name-call or use words like that lightly, but various labels and insults rage through my mind now, unchecked by exhaustion. My quaking fingers grasp my dagger, but I remove one hand to pound on the outside of the tree. I won’t enter that den of suffering for the life of me.

**************

“DO IT!”

I run down the path, my feet catching on objects concealed by the snow. Ice sends me tumbling, and a mixture of sand and snow enters my mouth as my chin slams down. I scramble up and run, right alongside the screaming monster of the ocean. Black waves leap toward me, edged in a white foam that sings a siren’s song. Living. Haunted. Approaching.

Bones scatter the beach ahead, victims of the sea. I grasp the first one I trip on, and a loud crack splits the air as I wrench it from the ground. Then another. And another. Five bones nearly as tall as me perch on my shoulder as I run back, my lungs burning, and my clashing thoughts threatening to tear me apart.

At the top of the steep incline, I collapse, but drag myself forward until the screeching of the water vanishes. Everything goes black.

I wake up covered in snow and freezing, only kept warm by a deer resting near me. I jerk back, and the spotted buck stares before rising and lumbering away. The thing… My heart thrashes, but I fix my eyes on the stolen bones.

Defense.

*********

 And I chose some of the most cryptic, haunting parts, I believe xD Feel free to give these unedited things feedback in the comments!

<3

Audrey Caylin


Enough about me! What's going on with your writing? Any plans for publishing one day? How are your WIPs going?