What’s the Plan, Man?

posted in: Various Musings | 0

It seems that there are a few of you who don’t know my plan for the Vagabonds trilogy. So…let me tell you where I am in the project and then what you can expect from me.

Where I am in the process:

I am in the middle of revisions on Vagabonds #1. The title of that book is On the Run. Once I’m done with revisions, I’ll send it off to beta readers for their feedback, but I’m not going to send it out to them immediately. I usually do, but due to the nature of how I’ll be publishing this trilogy, I’m going to wait a bit and there’s a reason for it (you’ll see why in a moment). Other than revisions—both my first round and then second round based on beta feedback—this book is ready to go.

I am about one-third of the way through writing Vagabonds #2 (On the Road). My goal is to write 2000 to 3000 words per day, and—for the most part—I’m keeping up. In fact, you’ll be happy to know that I’m currently ahead of schedule. That’s provided the novel keeps itself contained to my planned 75,000 words. It’s hard to say, but I think it’ll be close. I planned on all three novels weighing in at about that length, and #1 is sitting at over 72,000.

As for the third book, I have a loose plot planned, but only loose notes. Until I write the second book, I won’t know for certain how book #3 (On the Rocks) will turn out. I have yet to write the blurbs for books 2 and 3, and I don’t have covers with them yet either. I do know what’s going to happen in the book and I know the ultimate end…but I have fine details to tend to.

The plan:

So…these books won’t have cliffhangers necessarily. They are self-contained stories; that said, they have lots of loose ends and it’s quite apparent that there is more story there, and I know that makes readers uneasy. I also know lots of readers do not like to read series unless the whole story is complete…so I’m going to do something a little different. I plan (although we shall see what happens) to release book 1 and offer preorders for books 2 and 3 at the same time, and those two books will be available either one or two weeks apart. So, for example, if I released book 1 on September 21, book 2 would be available September 28 and book 3 on October 5 (unless I made them two weeks apart instead of one).

Anyway, that’s why I’m not sending my drafts to beta readers right away–I want them to experience the books the way I want readers to:  close together!

I hope that makes sense and doesn’t seem too crazy. I have big plans for this baby, and I’m glad you’re along for the ride. I can’t wait for you to read this book—like Bullet, I promise it’s going to be unlike anything else you’ve ever read.

Rock on!

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