Book update!

It has been quite some time since my last post, and I want to start by sincerely thanking you for your patience. Writing a book is a journey filled with unexpected twists and challenges. Today, I am excited to share a significant milestone: my book has officially entered the beta reading phase. This step brings me closer to sharing the story with you, and I want to explain what this means and why it took longer than expected.

What Beta Reading Means for the Book

I hear that beta reading is a crucial part of the writing process and it most definitely is. I have been staring at this book for over a year. Tweaking the writing and adjusting the tone and feel. At a certain point I am no longer fixing anything, I need new eyes to look it over. This phase of the novel writing process will assist me in that. It involves sharing the manuscript (begrudgingly) with a select group of readers who provide honest feedback on the story, characters, pacing, and overall impact. These readers are not editors but individuals that I trust and respect who love books and stories. Their experience reading The Stag will help me identify areas that need improvement before the final editing stage.

This phase is different from earlier drafts because the story is mostly finished. Instead of focusing on plot holes or major rewrites, beta readers look for clarity, emotional connection, and consistency. Their feedback helps polish the book, making sure it resonates well and is enjoyable for anyone who chooses to read it.

Why the Delay Happened

I love posting my short stories and ideas that I have come up with over the years. These stories originated as a way to play table top games and to entertain and enthrall my son when he was growing up. I have plenty more to share and look forward to posting them, however my book took over my writing for months! For those who have written a story or those who would like to, you should know, writing a book is not a linear process. After finishing the initial draft, I spent months revising and reading it through.

Additionally, I wanted to ensure the story was authentic to what I wanted it to be, the first book of a series that followed the peoples of the gifted lands and the triumphs and failures they experience. This meant reading through my old stories that, when put together, create the story that became this novel. Writing scenes for the empty spaces between key aspects of the larger story so that they connect appropriately together. And sometimes stepping back and resting to gain perspective. I had the enormous benefit of being able to rant about my story to my wife who listened with patience and enthusiasm even when she did not know what I was talking about.

What to Expect Next

With the book now moving into beta reading, the next step for me will be to gather and read through the feedback I receive. I will review all comments and suggestions, then make necessary adjustments to the manuscript. This process might lead to further revisions, but it will bring the book closer to its best version. Once reading concludes, the manuscript will move to editing. This stage focuses on grammar, style, and polishing the language. After that, the book will be ready for formatting and publication.

Lessons Learned from the Writing Process

Though I have spent the majority of my life writing stories for my games and telling tales of wonder and excitement on bed sides and around fires, I have never tried to write a story in a long format. It was an experience that I loved and hated at the same time.

• Patience is valuable: with all my experience improvising stories around dice and tables, writing a novel takes time, and rushing through it will hurt the story.

• Feedback is a good thing: Honest opinions help improve the book. I love these characters and their story and I want others to love them too. Honest feedback will allow me to convey them better.

• Writing is a journey: Some days you will be on a roll and others you’ll be stuck obsessively describing a ship that has very little to do with the story and its characters. All of this is okay and will happen. You push through and enjoy the adventure and eventually your random ramblings of strange marks on a page start to resemble what you want it too.

Looking Forward to it!

Reaching the beta reading phase is a moment of excitement and anxiety. It means the story is taking shape and will soon be ready to meet readers. I appreciate your understanding during the wait. Stay tuned for more updates as the book moves closer to publication. I look forward to sharing this story with you and hearing your thoughts once it is out in the world.