I would've waited an eternity for this...

So concludes the writing.

On Friday, March 19th 2010 at 1:47 pm, A Company of Moors was finished.  The editing is in its last stages.  So that's like a year and two months and three days, or something like that.  Not bad, considering this is a 500pg (plus) book.  Most people don't get that far in ten years.

So, now comes the fun part.  Post production, gettin' this thing wrapped up.  It will be easy.  The editors have all but the last chapter, which I finished at lunch.  Again, the last chapter is a cool down, so all plot elements and the final "who gets killed", and "what happens to whom" is all played out.  I'll give the last chapter on the weekend.  All good.  After that, the edits must be discussed and applied.  I'll speak more about this later.

The last chapter was kind of hard to write.  It's had its versions.  With so much happening between page first and page last, I desperately wanted to get the final words correct.  And I found them.  There's still much to be done.  And, of course, there's other projects on the horizon.  I got a free pass for the rest of the year.  12 Stories High is getting revamped.  And I'm throwing out 2 Enlighten the G.O.D.Z.


For now, like Maa Kheru after his battle with Tag ... I can rest.

(yeah, I'm a whore for self promotion.  Go get The Ronin Poetz).

b write black

Chapter the Last

I have arrived.  Late last night I put an end to the greater story and arrived at the final chapter, which is pretty much an epilogue, but a necessary extension of the story.  Today I have been going through the first and second run throughs of editing.  The last chapter can wait, until tomorrow.  I want to edit, print, get to editors, finish, then start applying the edits by Sunday.

We almost there, peoples.  Been a journey.  Just as we travel into spring.  That's cool.

b write black.

3-2-Go!

The second of three major fights has wrapped up.  The book is heading into its last three chapters.  Ink and paper are running.  All editors have their manuscripts, they're putting their noses together and we're coming to a consensus.  The 3rd 150 pages (which, we refer to as different seasons, like it's a television drama) ... so, Season 3 is halfway through editing.  I'm finishing the extension of Season 3, since there ain't gonna be another 150 pages.  So far, I'm at 73 pages.  This book will definitely be in the 500 page count.

Really, there is one more MAIN chapter to go.  I don't know if that battle will be 'major', or rather like a police chase to hunt down the head honcho behind all the hoopla and shenanigans.  Either way, this book is at its end, and more active promotion will begin to take place as editing is wrapped up and the book is available.

b write black.

Editing A Go

3rd part is being printed up.  The 2nd 150 pages is finished.  Still blazing through the writing.  The greater story should be finished by this week's end.  The last two chapters of the book are bit of a cool down, epilogue.  The reader's gonna need it.

UPDATE:  This post was made Sunday, but saved.  Finishing it up Monday in the morning while I got time.  Ran out of ink.  Ordered more.  Need more paper too.  So all that's coming through.  The third 150 pgs is stalled.

Still writing.

b write black.

The Swap

There's been some things agwan in the land of the Moors.  Chaos.  With a capital WTF.  Chapter's 49 and 50 were swapped around.  I wrote what is now chapter 50 as 49, continuing the repercussions of the first of two dramatic twists in the plot, presented in chapter 48.  49 ended with hints of the chaos that has taken place while several Moorish officials have left the city to deal with an allied African kingdom.  But as I neared the end of chapter 50 I thought it was so much of a punch in the face, that the hints in what was once chapter 49, softened the impact.  I shortened chapter 50, opting to continue a character's rogue behavior for later, and swapped it with chapter 49.  I have some re-writing to the end of the new chapter 50, and then I will continue.  This also allows the book to come to its conclusion.

On an editing note, going smooth.

I'm gettin' a little giddy over here.

b write black.

The Big 5-0

I have come to chapter fifty.  Ain't much of the otha people's newz for me to concentrate on, so I sneaked some time to finish the last few pages of chapter forty-nine.  I can tell you now that the book will end within the next five or six chapters.  Give or take.  Not going to take that deep breath of relief yet.  Editing has been going well.  My part has not taken place.  Though, edits have been discussed and finalized on paper, the edits need to be applied.  My concentration at the moment is wrapping up ACoM.

So what happens after?  Not after the writing, leading to editing, leading to post-production proof, then shelving.  What happens after this particular project?  What's up next?

Well, despite saying I'm going to re-arrange the releases of epic poem 2 and 3, I've decided to push forward with the second epic poem: 2 Enlighten the G.O.D.Z.  It's only fair, to myself and the project that's been collecting dusts since late 2001.  This will allow me to cool down from the massive feat that is writing ACoM.  It will also allow me to plot the third epic poem more carefully.  It will be a very psychedelic trip.  Gonna b listen' 2 a lot of P-Funk, Jimi Hendrix, psychedelic Prince, Sly and the Family Stone, Miles Davis, Charlie Parker, Sun Ra, and Blues.

The imaginative 12 Stories will see renovation from the cover to the pages in between.  Some stories will get a bit of an update.  Others will just get touched up from editing issues plaguing it.  Then, re-issue.  All good.  That's 2010.  It'll end with 2 Enlighten the G.O.D.Z. publication, probably 'round December.  It only needs a cover.  Ray Cosico...(ring, ring).  I will start putting together the third epic poem for a 2011 release.

That's the rundown.  But, it all depends on ACoM being finished.  Will there be a March of the Moors, or will there be an April Fool?  Because of the scheduling, I won't mind either.  There will also be new commercials for ACoM promoting its release.

b write black.

507

Okay.  That's 507 with a 8 x 11 page setup.  That probably translates to 495 through a 5.5 x 8.5.  That's cool.  Story?  Wrapping up, let's say that.  Come Wednesday I'm gonna breakdown 2010.  I'm comfortable with ACoM even being released in April.  It happens when it happens.  We could still see a March of the Moors.  Editing is on track.  Edits are being applied.  Editors running through the manuscript.  It's all about me finishing it.

I never thought this thing would go the distance.

In other news, this time last year I had an entry about snow in ATL.  Having moved back home to New York, I've seen a real winter.  We've been pounded with snow.  Whole country has, actually.  Seen real, good snow.

I'm ready for May right now.  Can't say April, cuz, Sometimes It Snows In April...and last year it did just that.  Truthfully, I've seen it snow in May.  Seen snow in June.  Early, first week of June.  Back in the day when it snowed much more than it does now.

b write black.