When I started working on my 2nd book, I had a very definite idea of how I wanted it to be. 60,000 words later and a couple of rejected ‘requested’ submissions later, with point blank ‘not interested’ I knew there was something wrong.
However, I didn’t feel able to engage again; mentally or emotionally! One thing was niggling though, the potential of cutting most of what I’d written (part one) and starting from part two. Having worked with Dan Cross (2x Wilbur and Niso Smith Foundation Finalist), as one of my associate editors on Write On! for quite some time, I trusted his judgement, so when he started up the Open Book Editor: holistic support for writers, within a transparent process, I thought I would approach him.
I knew Dan liked my writing, as he’d been a fan of my traditionally published debut, Mother of Floods so when Dan came to the same conclusion as me couple of weeks in, it was hard, but almost came as a relief as well . His experience allowed me to understand how to move into a new direction entirely, looking at Mother Of Floods as a stand-alone prequel, with Sisters Of The Storm, Brothers Of The Fire and Children Of The Gods, as the fantasy trilogy.
Dan gave me the input and the support I needed and I am now nearly 20,000 words in and feeling energised and inspired, essentially because I know that this is the right direction. I would most definitely recommend his approach!
