What Would I Do Different?

It's been a while since I posted something new and decided to take a break from the mysticology or divinology type blogs.  While I wait to hear back from a prospective publisher, it has got me thinking about "Would I have done anything differently if my original goal was to become a best-selling author."  And while I'm still not entirely sure, I think that I could have done things differently.

Now, don't get me wrong.  I'm 100% happy with the story I've written.  I've blogged endlessly about my fears around the strength of my literary skill, but the story is still the exact story I wanted to tell.  And for those who haven't read my earlier posts, this whole thing started when I became obsessed with writing down the story that had been stuck in my head for 30 years.  It was a bucket list item and that's how I treated it.

But what if my goal was not just to write the story, but also to best position it as something palatable to others?  First, I'd like to think that I would have spent a couple of years attending seminars and classes on how to improve my writing.  At the very least, polish my skills, as I really don't consider them bad.  I also would have attended seminars and talked to authors more about their experience and get their advice.  With the exception of a very brief conversation with Amber Benson, I haven't done any of that.

But what about the story itself?  Do I think anything would have been different?  Maybe.  OK, here I have to warn the reader to...

STOP - THE REMAINDER OF THIS BLOG WILL CONTAIN MANY SPOILERS AND WILL ALSO BE LESS MEANINGFUL IF YOU HAVEN"T ALREADY READ THE FIRST FEW BOOKS.

Ok, if you're still reading, that's on you.  The Chronicles of Verdan is a very complicated story that contains hundreds of characters; several dozen of which could be considered signficant.  The storyline jumps between muliple locations.  All of this seems to work well for a story like Game of Thrones, but that's kind of the exception.  Most other stories that end up becoming popular have diverse worlds, but the story seems to center around fewer characters.

So the first think I would likely do is center more of the story in the first few books around Celecia.  As the series progresses it becomes more apparent that her role is key to the main storyline.  That's always been the goal, but in the early books I spend time developing multiple characters of which she is just one.

The second big decision would involve whether or not I would keep two groups of heroes embarking upon a journey to reach Izmir.  If I'm going to focus more on Celecia, perhaps the group traveling from the east would be the only group.  So where would that leave Trevor, Sara and the others in the second group?  I would either have to incorporate them somehow into Celecia's group, combine their role with another character already traveling from the east or relegate them to a smaller role and let them enter the story for a short period.

Eliminating the second group would likely require radical change to the map of Verdan.  Some of the storylines I consider not only interesting and entertaining, but key to the overall story I'm trying to tell.  Certainly religion and the role of Parthea as a religious state is key.  What I would likely do is have the story start in a small village, just like it originally did.  I would have the group travel to Hamstead, where they would be joined by others and let tragedy strike, just as it did in The Fourth Age.  It's after that that things would change.

I would have to place the Khanian Mountains in the path between Eff/Falmead and Izmir.  Because the Khanian Mountains are dangerous and prohibit magic, I would likely have Arakon lead his group north around the mountains and then south into Darkwood.  I would likely extend Celecia's recovery in Hamstead and thus make her more desparate to catch up to her father.  As a result, I would have her continue east into Parthea and have her group go through the adventures there and then enter the goblin tunnels.  After they exit the mountains, I would then have them rescue Arakon, escape Darkwood and head toward Kyrotha.

Several other things would likely change.  I would probably have Terek teleport a captured Arakon to the White Cliffs so that I could end the Third Age, so by the time Celecia arrives to save her father, he would already be dead.  She would likely already know that, but be guided by her father from the afterlife into rescuing the others.

In other words a lot would change.  However, I do feel that by the time we reach Heroes of Bardoom that the story would shift to Izmir and remain mostly the same from that point forward.  Again, more emphasis on Celecia, but otherwise the events would unfold much like they do in the current books.

So why would I do all of the above?  Again, I think a more mass audience would be engaged by the story if their focus were placed on fewer characters.  I, of course, knew where things were going and thus the way the story was written is perfectly fine with me.

So would I ever go back and make the changes discussed above?  No, not unless I was convinced by a prospective publisher that their interest in the books hinged upon some of the changes.  I still like the story as is.  And since I'm currently self-published, it would be quite an expenditure were I to want to republish.  Sorry, but if you like the above idea, it's not going to happen unless I'm selling enough books to earn the money needed.  But then if the books do begin to sell it would mean that others also like the story as is, and thus there is no need to make any changes.

And thus ends a rambling blog brought to you by having all kinds of time to think about these things while waiting for news on my submission.  Oh, and I also do continue to edit future books.  I'm currently working on Volume 8 and expect to be done with it by fall and Volume 9 by the end of the year.  Take care and I hope everyone is having an awesome summer.  If you take in any of the pop culture or gaming conventions this year I will sadly be missing SDCC for the first time in several years, but I will be at Gen Con and Wizard World Chicago.  At Gen Con, you must check out the cover artist, Amy Nagi's booth.  Please let her know how awesome the covers are, because they really are awesome.  If you need a reminder, check out the Cover Art page.

Take care.

Dave