Kingdom Chronicles III Undergoing Plot Change

Many of you writers out there will know what it feels like to be typing along anxiously while suffering from a nagging sensation that something isn't quite right. You instinctively know that even though the story is coming together there's something out there that could make it even better. It's not necessarily writer's block you face, but simply a force of misunderstood inspiration. Well, this is the manner in which the last several weeks have been passing for me. That is, until three days ago.

Three days ago while I was reading through my notes and studying the Vagan languages and civilizations I realized that there was something more I wanted you readers to get from this next installment in the series. To help me explain, let's take a step back:

From the very beginning, I've wanted readers to be right there alongside the Kingdom Chronicles' characters--to experience what they experience, to feel what they feel, and to think what they think--all the while remaining connected to the main protagonist, Zarrys II. The writing style, chapters, paragraphs, and words are all fashioned in and of themselves to forward that role.

Aside from Shunul and all of his mischief, two of the greatest "villains" I wanted to incorporate into these books are the Villain of Self and the Battlefield of Change. Throughout the Kingdom and the Crown and the Elements and the Exodus our good friend Zarrys has been suffering through some deeply rooted self-centeredness issues. His perspective is very limited and at times childish. Most of his outward concern for others is rooted in his selfish desire to defend himself and his happiness.

Zarrys is very much a teenager, one who was raised without a strong home nor much level of self-understanding, and yet within a matter of months he finds himself confronted by wars, demons, creatures, relationships, histories, a throne, and a mantle he never expected to find along his destined path. Zarrys is required to make enormous changes in his life, to transform himself from a lost, confused boy to a prophet and king in the service of Pukwan. Likewise, all of his companions are being asked to make drastic changes of their own. Unfortunately, changing your nature doesn't happen instantaneously. They must work at it the same way everybody else does.

Take Zarrys's teaching abilities for just one example. Is Zarrys a very effective teacher? Most certainly not. In Book II, for example, chapters XVIII and XIX give us a good look into one of Zarrys's early lessons (and a very important lesson at that). The lesson is too long, too deep, too all over the place, and too aggressive. Zarrys tries to unload his entire mind on his would-be students, and then he mistakenly expects them to have retained everything from that lesson for the rest of the book. (All of you teachers out there are cringing. I can hear it.) Teaching is just one field in which Zarrys must allow himself to learn and grow. It is a cycle you will be able to follow throughout the books in the series.

As I've thought about these several pieces of the story and their relevance to all of the characters in it, certain points have taken on greater prominence while others have diminished. A stronger side of the Kingdom Chronicles' plot has shone out all the clearer, and I've decided that some changes need to be made. Hence, I am going back and even starting over in certain areas.

What can you expect to see from these changes? More perspectives, better and more character development, changes in writing style, and even changing interactions between characters, just to name a few.

Got any thoughts or questions? If you do, hit the comments box below. I would love to get a good conversation going.