Around the Desk: November Plans

Greetings & Thanks!

Hello, everyone! I hope you all had a fun and spooky October month. Now that its come to a close ( and all those looming October 31st deadlines are moot ) it's time to move on to new things!

Firstly I'd just like to say thank you to everyone who rolled out fabulous community run contests. I don't think I've ever had such a story-packed October before. It was such an influx of inspiration and constant writing dribbles that I actually sprinted headlong into a frightening bout of writer's block that prevented me from finishing up a few contests. ( Still a little bummed out about that :c )

So going into November I have decided I'm going to be taking a step back from Vocal specific writing and curl back into my domain of novel writing which I have been neglecting as of late. Writing for vocal is a completely different writing muscle for me, and I have become 'novel sick' one might say. I desperately miss world building and working on longer stories!!

November Plans

Just today I managed to pencil out a map for my current novel project, CASTLING. It's a solid start to a month of unleashed creative madness and I can't wait to do more! c:

Usually I would be doing this alongside NANOWRIMO, but this will be the first time in several years that I am not participating in the challenge, and it's not for time reasons or wanting to work on other projects, but a more personal one.

I'm sure if you search NANOWRIMO controversy you will find dozens of articles speaking on the subject, so I won't go into specifics here and just state that I will be removing my profiles from their websites and will not be writing anymore NANOWRIMO support articles like I did last year.

I vehemently disagree with the usage of AI to write novels. If you are not the one putting words to paper/screen/toilet paper/what have you - you are not an author and you are a disgrace to the human arts if you claim to be so.

I will however continue to support human writers and be offering helpful articles on world-building, crafting a compelling prologue, and maybe a small how-to on crafting maps? :'o

Contests & Exclusive Stories

I am eyeing several contests ( both official and not ) so hopefully you will be seeing my attempts on those in the near future. ( Fantasy Prologue II...I'm coming for you!! )

As far as any exclusive content, you may have noticed I haven't used the feature at all yet and that is because I want to continue working on the novella length project I have set aside for it. ( Yes, it's gonna be decently long! )

For me, I want my exclusive stuff to be the best it can be since it is going to be like selling a novel! ( Don't think I will ever post a novel on here, but I think you get the idea! c: )

I'm very excited to share that type of long-form writing with you all, as it is what I learned first before short stories and poetry! ( And as a reminder, these stories will always have the prologue & first chapter free for the community! )

EXCLUSIVE REVEAL: "An End of Gods & Dust"

The exclusive novella will be titled: AN END OF GODS & DUST and I so hope that when it comes out you will come along for the journey!! <3

I'm seriously SO HYPED!!!!

Get ready to experience a gritty fantasy world on the brink of its annihilation and meet the characters whose struggle for survival might change the outcome of the machinations of the gods!

If you want a little taste of what I have cooking on the writing grill, please consider checking out the related work below!

Until next time!

Much love,

Amanda Starks