Writers write. If they have done their job correctly, they produce masterful stories that lend either entertainment or literary wisdome to readers. Entertaining multitudes or bringing new fresh perspectives to the world—to create and only create—this is what people believe. A writer sits down at his/her keyboard, pecking away, lost in their own imagined world to better understand how to bring that world alive for others.

A writer spends their time in so many different ways from what the perception is.

Did you also know that writers have to edit, to market, to publicize. They email, they correspond, they talk on the phone. They worry. They find times for meals and enjoying their loved ones. They are lucky to write a few hours a day.

I know this better than most. With my small business, multiple websites, dozens of forums I visit frequently—and the resulting email that comes with it—I'm lucky to write four hours a day. But something new today jumped out at me; something I have thought of occurring before but haven't really had happen yet.

Editing.

I have let four people read Song of the Fell Hammer: my mother, a huge Terry Brooks fan named Stuart, a forum moderator, writer, and avid fantasy fan Aidan, and newest Del Rey writer Drew Bowling. I gave them certain things I wanted them to look at according to their strengths.

Yesterday, Drew—who is nearing the end of the book—asked me a great question about part of the plot from a writer's perspective. Although I think what he was bringing is pretty minor in the larger scheme of things, it was a valid point. After thinking about last night and again this morning, I realized I have more work to do on the book.

So, a book I had thought put to bed has now suddenly come to the forefront again.

It is a relatively small edit as far as edits go. I will be adding one chapter to near the end of the novel, and it will stengthen that particular point of view character's storyline. It will also serve as a better transition into that point of view character's storyline in Well of the Word. It will stregthen the book overall, and has led me to think I may add three chapters from a new point of view character. Drew's comment has helped lead to this.

But what does it do? Amidst all of the other stuff going on in my life, editing and reworking Song takes time away from my next book. I'm sad about that. I only want to ever look forward, not backward. I want to write, not edit. And yet, I have to edit to make it a stronger book.

I have come to a compromise. I will write these additional chapters and edit the book as necessary on the weekends. During the week, Well of the World will be my primary focus. Unless of course the trilogy is purchased, at which point I will devote my energies to getting Song finalized and put to bed forever. It's a tougher thing than I expected, but one I am excited about as well.

On other news, I finished writing Chapter One of Well of the World today. Two chapters down, many to go. I am very pleased with the Prologue and Chapter One, and I am looking forward to writing the next few chapters. Then the perspective will change from Sorin to several other point of views, and that's when the real fun begins.