"Mr. Gravedigger's Apprentice Book 2: The Grand Illusion" and other projects

So, looking back, I haven't been posting in my blog as often as I said I would be. But then again, as I look back at the things I said at the beginning of the year, I also said I wouldn't be writing a book this year. And seeing as I haven't been posting at least every other day and I've so far written 3 books, so much for those ideas.

I've written, or started to write, many blog post in the past month, but none of them felt good enough to publish. Some of the time I wasn't even sure what I was trying to say and I ended up second guessing myself and quitting. I've been doing that too often lately. So instead of dwelling on the projects that I've abandoned, whether temporarily or permanently, I'm going to talk about the projects that I'm working on and completing.

I have finished the first draft of a new short story. 'In the Midst of a Dream' is the story of a man with amnesia who has dreams of the event that took place just before he lost his memories. But one night, he dreams of something more. It's a fantasy part comedy, part parody along the same lines of my Glimpse through the Curtains series. It might be included with that as well.

Exciting news on graphic novel/comic/illustration front. Nicole has just finished inking the Believer short and will be here shortly to show them off to me. She's also been working on illustrations for the short stories 'Four Years', 'Slayer and Prey' and 'A Good Thing'. They're all looking very good and I can't wait to see the results.

And last, but certainly not least, the second book of the first volume of Mr. Gravedigger's Apprentice has been written. The Grand Illusion. Every time I hear about a writer who supposedly wrote the book from cover to cover, on a typewriter without mistake, I honestly laugh. The pain and heart ache that is going into this book give me a headache thinking about it, and I don't even want to think about editing it. I hate editing 12 page short stories double space, and I currently have over 100 pages of single space pages to edit once this is over. And I'm not even finished the complete volume. Sometimes I sit, uninspired at the computer, thinking to myself 'I'm not skilled enough to write this'. 'Am I doing this right?' 'Will anyone like this?' 'Am I insane?' Nothing gives me a better sense of relief than to finish a chapter and nothing kills that relief faster than knowing there's another chapter to write.

In my middle school year book: Eric Rawlinson - 8F1 Ambition: Writer. Oh boy...

I said it before and I'll say it again. If I didn't love this life so much, I'd quit. That being said, I love this life. God knows why.

So, right now I'm working on a couple of things. The first is Book 3: The Vampire King. That will be done when it gets done. Most of the ideas for chapter 20 are already down, I just have to put them altogether. Me and Nicole will work on a couple of things together and hopefully, with her illustrations, I will start putting together the anthology at last. We shall see.

I probably have more to say, but I can't think of any right now. I can't get how much I looked like Harry Potter out of my mind. Talk to you all soon

Peace and blessings
Eric Rawlinson
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My plans for the next few months

Well, it's been a long time since I've posted in this blog. It might be a good time to talk about some of the things that have been going on during that time, at least about my writing. Since the last post, which discusses the first five chapters of Mr. Gravedigger's Apprentice, I have completed another short story, started another one and finished another six chapters of Gravedigger. I'm currently focusing on Gravedigger at the moment, since the flow seems to be so good with a couple of other projects on the back burner.

I also have an account on figment.com! figment.com is a story sharing site, where writers may put up some of their work for everyone to see. I've posted a few of my short stories there and planning on posting more as soon as I get around to editing them to the point where I feel comfortable sharing them. The site is geared more towards teenagers I've been finding, so many of my more adult books might be unwelcome and I still have to find an outlet for those stories. In the meantime, go on and check it out.  http://figment.com/users/33809-Eric-Rawlinson. Send them love!

Other bits of exciting news, my good friend Nicole is now working on the Believer graphic novel again. It's very exciting. My friends Etienne and Nicole are both very talented illustrators and they're also looking for opportunities for gainful employment in their craft.  They both are keen on working with me on my projects and I am more than happy to do so. From illustrating my work to just encouraging my craft, I cannot thank them enough for their contributions. So I'm going to plug them to... the number of you that read my blog. Here they are:

Nicole Connors Tumblr: http://nrconnors.tumblr.com
Etienne Buxton's website: www.etiennebuxton.com

That has been the past (and maybe a bit of the future) and the title of this article does say next few months. Well, within the next few months, I plan to finish at least two thirds of Gravedigger. I'm already a third finished, so another third in three months will be no problem, if I don't have it done by this time next month. Wait, of course I will. I'm about a quarter of the way through that third now. (Wrap your heads around that math if you want.) Also I wish to and will be doing some more collaborative work with both Nicole and Etienne. Nicole will be making the Believer graphic novel a reality. And together we may be doing more than just illustration work. I also plan on getting stories together and making them into audio dramas for all of you to enjoy. I just want to figure out sound effects and such, and when I have more information I'll let you guys know. That's all I have short term plans, but I do have bigger and badder ones coming up... maybe just bigger. We shall see how it goes.

Due to lack of funds, I'm not sure if I can make it to some of the conventions I want to go to. It's sad I know, but there is one that's free and I will be there. We shall see how it goes.

Well, that's it for me and my stomach, I'll talk to you guys soon
Peace and blessings
Eric Rawlinson
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Mr. Gravedigger's Apprentice: The First Five Chapters

At the beginning of the year, I claimed it wasn't the right time to start a book. Now here I am, five months later, starting off my second book this year and I must say I'm pleased as punch. And now its time to reflect a little on how well it has been going.

So, I've just finished the fifth chapter of working title Gravekeeper. If you want to get technical, I've written six chapters so far including the prologue. Each chapter averages somewhere between 2500 and 3000 words each, and if I were to write another chapter, I would have outdone my first book entirely by word count alone, and I am no where close to finishing the second book. I think the reason for this is because I'm more in my element with Gravekeeper than I was with Grandma Hannah. Where Grandma Hannah is a good story, it wasn't my style in any sense. It was first person, present tense, coming of age story. Where as Gravekeeper is a third person, past tense (with the exception of the prologue, which is present tense for effect), sci-fi master/apprentice story. I wouldn't say I'm enjoying writing Gravekeeper more than Grandma Hannah. Its just... hmm, maybe that is what I'm saying.

Overall, the story is going remarkably well. There are a few hiccup with tone, but I'm trying my best to just get the story complete. Editing something longer than anything I've ever written before if going to be an experience, but something I look forward to. Also, I must be extra careful. Yesterday I almost forgot to introduce (or reintroduce) an important character who will be needed to the third act of the story. That is what rewrites are for, but it is best to have these important aspects in the first draft.

Also, now that I have a blackberry, I have a little bit more freedom with where and when I can write. The keyboard is a little small for me to type on as quickly as a regular keyboard, but at least I can email myself small important notes as I think them up. Also, I can save my files on my blackberry and jack into computers to work from there. Just need to remember to back them up onto my harddrive sometimes.

Anyway, I think that's enough for now. I'm looking for things to post to my blog in order to keep interest. My interest more than others. I'm sure I'll find something, maybe some old work or random poetry I come upon or write. We shall soon see.

Peace and blessings
Eric Rawlinson
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The Gravekeeper's Apprentice

I've just finished the first draft of the first chapter of my next book. I'm calling it 'The Gravekeeper's Apprentice'. The story is set in a world where most of the dead are buried in a massive graveyard, where ghosts, skeletons and zombies roam. And watching over all of them is the Gravekeeper. I started working on this story about a year ago as a little joke, after seeing all the cool steam-punk cosplayers at FanExpo. I thought about what my own steam punk character would look like and it slowly turned into a bit of a story.

So far, the story is about the struggle between tradition and change and how it affects everyone with a certain viewpoint. And its a battle between the informed and the ignorant. And of course, it'll have elements of the mater and apprentice as well. Oh, you want to know the plot? Well, that I'm keeping to my chest for the next little bit. I'm sharing the story with a few people for encouragement and editorial support, but I don't want to reveal to much about it until I at least have book one finished. Oh yes, I have concepts for about three mini stories, but the whole work will be published in one volume. Alright, here's a bit of a hint. I've already named the first three books. The first book will be called First Night. The second will be called Carnival. The third book will be called Vampire. Not much of a hint, I guess, but we'll see how it goes.

I'll keep you all posted on this project, now that I've found some steam for it. I'll report back soon.

Peace and blessings
Eric Rawlinson
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