In this behind the scenes writing vlog, I get honest about struggling to write when life is hard, and I attempt to get back into editing or revising my crime thriller novella, Missing.
After the last video blog, I had finally got around to adding more notes to my fourth draft checklist. I was all prepared and had all my spreadsheets plus scrivener opened. And, that’s when I realised I hadn’t finished writing the first draft of my crime thriller short story, The Lawn.
This writing vlog was supposed to be a pure editing and revision vlog. While, I did talk about working with an editor and editing a novel extensively though out this video, I didn’t get much editing done. All of this came down to a decision I made earlier on in the week about waiting for feedback before I continued to finish my fourth draft.
After the last video blog, I reached a point where I had a fleshed-out story with a detailed outline. In short, I’m finally ready to start writing the first scene of The Lawn. Yay! And, it’s about time. Due to my excitement, I jumped straight into the writing process in the tenth episode of my Behind the Scenes video vlog.
In this writing vlog, I had initially planned on starting to write a short story, which is titled The Lawn. But, as it turned out, I needed more time to prepare before putting pen to paper or in my case, fingers to the keyboard.
After a month long trip in the USA and a week of attempting to play catch up, the weekly writing vlog is back. And, it’s back for real this time.
When Will Thatcher, doesn’t show up for work, James Lalonde is forced to attend an afternoon tea with Alistair Carmichael in his place. The lovely autumn afternoon tea comes to an abrupt end when a body turns up on the lawn of the Carmichael Estate with strange markings on his neck.
But, something is missing, a priceless painting is off the wall. However, it’s no ordinary painting, it’s a Van Gogh purchased in an auction a few months ago. After discovering fresh tracks, most likely left by the murderer James realises the murder is still in the estate.
James, the chief editor of a small newspaper, returns home to discover that his girlfriend, Valentine has unexpectedly left. Later that morning, he fails to reallocate her story. To avoid blank space in the paper, James decides to write the story on the local museum’s latest acquisition, Excalibur. But, there’s one thing he didn’t count on… Excalibur is Missing, and his girlfriend has been kidnapped.
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58,069 of 60,000 Words
Right now, I’m preparing Book Two in the James Lalonde series (title coming soon), for a final round of revisions. The next step is to send the story off to my editor. I aim to have the ebook available in Kindle Unlimited by the end of December 2020. And, I will be making this novel available for free to my James Lalonde Insiders reader club. You can become an insider here.
0 of 60,000 Words
I’ve decided to add an extra book between the second book and the start of the byline series, where James arrives in New York. Book Three will be set in a 24 hour period in London. This novel will be available in ebook in Kindle Unlimited by the end of April 2021. And, the paperback editions soon after. I will be making this novel available for free to my James Lalonde Insiders reader club. You can become an insider here.
112,960 of 99,000 Words
Book Four in the James Lalonde series needs one final round of revisions before I can hand it off to my editor. This longer novel will be available in ebook in Kindle Unlimited by the end of September 2021. And, the paperback editions soon after. I will be making this novel available for free to my James Lalonde Insiders reader club. You can become an insider here.
