Category: WIP Updates

Insights and progress reports on the development of Toi’s current works in progress. Currently discontinued. See Author Insights for writing updates.

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WIP Updates

WIP Update 08

WIPU

I’m not going to keep blaming my lack of significant progress on being busy, even though I am. Life happens and you just have to work with it. It’s not like I’m sitting around doing nothing; I’m just not doing as much as I’d like to. With that being said, I do have a bit to report on.

First, I’ve received notes and edits back for my short story project. After advice and consideration, I’ve decided to keep the short stories separate from my novella (novelette). What exactly is the word or page count for a novella or novelette?

“Unexplained” seems to a work that will be well received by general audiences and will give my fans and readers a chance to see something different from me outside of Eternal Curse and It’s Like the Full Moon. This collection contains shorts of various lengths that delve into the genres of romance, psychological thriller, paranormal, and general fiction.

The novella(?), “The Legend of the Boy” will be a little more tricky. I will have to find a way to market it to a sci-fi audience. It’s difficult to describe this piece without doing a full on promo for it, but that’s coming down the road. For now, just know that, a boy not from this world will have to save the world and destroy it in order to move the human race forward. I know it sounds crazy, but it’s good. I promise.

Second, I have done absolutely NOTHING with Solomon Sword and still haven’t finished that last chapter of Full Moon so I can do my final read through. 🙁 I was so close when I wrote my last update, but…but, (breathe- in a nice calm voice) Life happens and we just have to work with it.

Third, I’m still working on my little collaborative project with the authors I’ve interviewed. Things are moving a bit slow, which I expect, working with so many different people in different parts of the world and in different stages of their lives.

I any case, I HOPE I am able to have some of these projects finished before the holiday season.

Feeling a little lost about what’s going on in this post? Just see the side panel and search My Topics, WIP Updates, to get all caught up. Also check my WIP tab to see what else I may be working on.

Do you have a WIP update to share?

Thank you for taking the time to read this post. If you like it let me know and share it with others. See you next time, Toi Thomas. #thetoiboxofwords

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Full Moon WIP Updates

WIP Update 07

WIPU

**Cover Reveal!!!…Tomorrow!!!

🙁 Sorry if I got you all excited, but I wanted you know that I’ll be revealing the new cover of Eternal Curse: Giovanni’s Angel tomorrow so I can focus on this WIP update today.

I’m asking that any and all who happen to stop by tomorrow, please, leave a comment about the cover. I really want to know what you think. Good, bad, weird, or how does it compare to the older covers if you’ve seen those?

—

Now, here’s the update:

Distraction is bad word I try to not say for fear it will overtake me, but I’m afraid it has. I’ve been distracted by a great many things including getting back into the rhythm of going to a day job every weekday. So, for that reason this update isn’t as robust as I would like for it to be, but I do have a few tidbits to share.

I’m still making headway on Soloman’s Swords and am finishing up Full Moon to the point where I think I’m ready to read through the first draft from beginning to end to see where more needs to be added. I never realized how difficult it would be to conclude this story, but after building up the characters and the intertwining of all the relationships, it is almost emotional. I’ve never been a love triangle kind of person, I just don’t like them, but that’s exactly what I’ve written here, and I’ve taken it to a level I never thought I could…Don’t jump to conclusions. Remember you’re in the PG/PG-13 zone here.

I’m am actually happy to announce that I’m working with a few of the authors I’ve interviewed on a little project that I think will prove an interesting and entertaining read for book lovers.  Think “conversations in a book” with excerpts and you’ll be close, but this isn’t going to be some drab list of Q&A and a blah excerpt at the end. More on that later.

Still working on my short stories, maybe next week I’ll have an update on that.

Feeling a little lost about what’s going on in this post? Just see the side panel and search My Topics, WIP Updates, to get all caught up. Also check my WIP tab to see what else I may be working on.

Do you have a WIP update to share?

Thank you for taking the time to read this post. If you like it let me know and share it with others. See you next time, Toi Thomas. #thetoiboxofwords

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WIP Updates

WIP Update 06

WIPU

As promised, here’s what’s happening with Solomon’s Swords.

So when I originally got the idea to start this story, I was thinking that it would be a simple mini-epic fantasy adventure, but now- who knows? I just keep coming up with all these twists and plotlines and backstories.

First, I’m no pushover. I’ve had some pretty good back stories for my other characters and books, especially my Eternal Curse Series, but have always been able to weed out the best and most important parts to keep for the story, while using the rest as build up material on my blogs or in marketing. The problem I’m having now is that most of the back stories I’m coming up with are so good that I feel that they must be told along with the rest of the story.

Second, I know a waste of words when I see it and I write it. I know that sometimes books are extending solely for the purpose of producing or selling more units, but I’ve never felt a need to break up a story for that reason. At this point, I think this story might be becoming so much more that I originally anticipated. This could possibly be another series for me, but I still trying to launch my first series.

Lastly, I’ve literally written two chapters of this story that don’t even mention the characters from the original conceptual idea. I know how this new material will eventually line up with those original ideas, but I am at a loss trying to figure out why I can’t develop my original ideas more without developing these new ideas first. I’ve always been able to work on story ideas in a categorical manner, but I’ve never been bound by chronology. With this story, I can’t seem to move forward with developing the back story first and then moving on.

Ok, so enough babble about my creative difficulties, here’s what’s going on with the story.

Solomon, the sword maker, is now the descendent of an illegitimate king who just so happens to have been pure of heart, unlike other kings of his time…but that’s only the beginning.

I have now developed the world in which this story will take place. There are 5 true kingdoms, 1 false kingdom, and a desert. There are also some differences in how days, years, and seasons are experienced in this world, but there’s nothing reminiscent to the world of Game of Thrones here.  The world of my six kingdoms is called Plenar to which I have an overcomplicated meaning for. Please ignore my bad grammar. Right now, I’m writing the way to talk when I fell anxious and excited.

Also, I’ve developed the legend of a philandering Prince which will be the centerpiece of the conflict that later arises. There is now a mysterious meteor shower, a civil war, and of course a curse that only be broken with the proper use of Solomon’s Sword.

Don’t get too excited. 90% of this is still in outline form, but like I said I do have two first draft chapters and so much more to do.

Next, month I hope to be able give some more details and revisit: It’s Like the Full Moon, The Eternal Curse Series, and Unexplainable.

Feeling a little lost about what’s going on in this post? Just see the side panel and search My Topics, WIP Updates, to get all caught up. Also check my WIP tab to see what else I may be working on.

Do you have a WIP update to share?

Thank you for taking the time to read this post. If you like it let me know and share it with others. See you next time, Toi Thomas. #thetoiboxofwords