The second book in the Stapledon series, Mutterings of the Deceased, is officially drafted. It has been far too long since the last update, and I apologise for the silence on the blog. A few posts back, I flagged that I needed to step back from promotional efforts to focus entirely on writing and getting the manuscript across the line. Marketing, maintaining social channels, and audience building are undoubtedly important, and I readily admit I find them difficult. They demand a substantial reserve of creative energy. With limited capacity alongside daily commitments, protecting drafting time had to become the central priority.
That decision has paid off in full, bringing this major milestone to completion.
Book Two Scope and Word Count
Titled Mutterings of the Deceased, this book serves as a direct continuation of book one. It picks up immediately following the closing events of the debut while significantly expanding the scope of the universe. Readers will encounter new characters, explore unfamiliar systems, and see the returning cast face fresh pressures that test their resolve in unexpected ways.
At roughly 150,000 words compared to the 170,000 words of the debut, Mutterings of the Deceased is a leaner, more focused narrative. The first book required heavy lifting to establish the broader universe, faction dynamics, and overarching history, all while I navigated the learning curve of being a first-time novelist. By contrast, writing Mutterings of the Deceased felt punchier and more direct, allowing the overarching plot to move at a considerably faster pace.
Interestingly, both books share a nearly identical chapter count. Looking closely at the project tracker, the chapters in this second book are simply tighter, more consistent in structure, and shorter on average.
Breaking Through Decision Paralysis
Committing fully to the manuscript completely altered my working pace. Earlier in the year, I was stuck chipping away at a single chapter per week, and by May progress had slowed significantly. Shifting my routine to prioritise daily output accelerated the pace to roughly five chapters a week. That consistency brought the initial draft to completion a full month ahead of even my updated schedule.
Writing daily helped me maintain a deep immersion in the narrative, removing the usual friction of getting started each morning. While drafting, I was conflicted with several doubts about pacing and scene construction. Watching author Claire Fraise discuss similar hurdles in a recent video was a reassuring reminder that these struggles are at least somewhat universal among writers.
Working through the second revision allowed me to view the entire architectural arc for the first time, resolving many earlier uncertainties. Pushing through these moments of creative paralysis proved critical. Finishing a rough scene provided for more efficient process than stalling indefinitely and getting stuck second-guessing the plan.
The Path to Publication
With the second revision complete, the immediate next step is delivering Mutterings of the Deceased to my developmental editor.
The production roadmap is outlined below:
- October 2026: Receive and review developmental editorial feedback.
- October to November 2026: Implement structural revisions and refine character arcs.
- December 2026: Complete line and copy editing to finalise draft four.
- January 2027: Typesetting, interior formatting, and final proofreading.
- February 2027: Official launch of Mutterings of the Deceased.
Reaching a complete, coherent draft after months of persistent effort is hugely rewarding, surprisingly so. Even with the rigorous editorial process ahead, seeing the shape of the book come together makes the work deeply worthwhile. I’m looking forward to being able to let you all read it! and excited to start turning full attention to drafting book three.
Leave a Reply