The Revision Process

Well, I can't believe it!

I finished the first draft of the new novel The Golden Phoenix in late August, and got going on the first revision. Now normally, the revision process goes fairly quickly because the basic work is done: the plot's in place, the characters are built, everything fits together. All you have to do is sharpen up the writing in whatever way it needs.

This time, it hasn't worked that way at all! I am about two-thirds of the way throuigh thr first revision and I am doing nothing but change things. I have found I needed to alter the plot line, amend some of the cast of characters, and what's emerging is quite a bit different from what was in the first draft. I like what's happening, but it's certainly taking a lot longer than it usually does. I'll post the Prologue sometime in November and you can see what you think.

It just goes to show that no two writing projects are ever the same.

During the writing of the first draft, I also did a short story titled Act of Treason, which is set in the British Navy during the Napoleonic Wars. I'll be submitting it to some online mags in the next few weeks, and I'll let you know where it can be found. It's a tale of murder and espionage on the high seas. There's a naval battle or two, and all sorts of exciting things. I think you'll enjoy it if you like historical fiction, and maybe even if you don't!

Cheers,
Charles

Update: The Golden Phoenix

Hey, wow, it's beem ages since I was here, but you see I have been working almost non-stop on the new novel "The Golden Phoenix". I'm about half way through now, approximately 60,000 words so far. The story has gone from present day Britain to sixteenth century India, back to present day Britain, seventeenth century India, eighteenth century Siam (Thailand), Britain yet again and now we're in eighteenth century China at the court of the Qing Dynasty Emperor, Qianlong.

Jill Howard, who I interviewed here before, is hot on the trail of the Goldebn Phoenix, but for the longest time she hasn't known exactly what it is. She has an idea now, though, but it still doesn't really help her very much. She is using some of the people who helped her find the jade carving you can read about in novel number one "Jade Hunter" (eBook and paperback at either Amazon or Double Dragon Publishing) and her partner, Richard, is hepingg her as we;ll. She's been commissioned to find the Golden Phoenix, but she's about to find out that her employer isn't exactly what he appears to be.

Stay tuned!