Magic, Mistakes, and Making It Better: An Update
Why I’m Rewriting My Novel (And Why It’s a Good Thing)
So—it finally happened.
I got about halfway through the manuscript. I’d spent months meticulously editing, reading and re-reading, even converting chapters to audio and listening during my drives to work. And then it hit me, hard:
The setting, the names, the ideas… they were so generic.
It wasn’t that the story was bad—it was working. But the world around it? It felt hollow. Too safe. Too familiar. My low-magic, grounded medieval setting was echoing George R.R. Martin’s A Song of Ice and Fire a little too closely. The politics, the tone, the textures—they were competent, but soulless. There was nothing truly mine in the scaffolding. Nothing unique enough to make it unforgettable.
So I made the difficult choice: I’m rewriting the book.
Not from scratch—but rebuilding the world around the story. Same characters. Same arcs. Same twists. The soul of the story stays, but it’s now being placed in a world that breathes differently. A world with sharper edges, stranger histories, more myth, more wonder—something uniquely mine.
And you know what? It’s a good thing.
Because as a first-time writer, I’m learning as I go. And this rewrite gives me the chance to improve—to elevate the writing, deepen the immersion, and make this debut novel everything it deserves to be.
The new timeline? I’m still aiming to finish in 2026, but now we’re looking at a mid-year release. A small delay for a much stronger story.
I can’t share too much just yet—but I can give you a glimpse of the magic system, which I’m really excited about:
Magic is written. Ink is blood. Every word is a weapon.
In my world, magic isn’t cast with wands or chants—it’s written.
Each glyph is a sacred symbol, drawn in ash, blood, or ink. When inscribed with intent, it can reshape reality. It’s precise, dangerous, and forbidden.
Long ago, this script belonged to prophets and kings. Now, it’s outlawed—because those in power fear what it can do. They fear that anyone, even the lowborn, might one day write their own fate.
Some characters, like Caelen, don’t even need ink. Glyphs burn beneath his skin—fleshglyphs—letting him wield magic instinctively. But the cost is steep. The more he uses it, the more he risks becoming something… other.
Why this system?
Because I believe writing is magic.
In our own world, words have changed history. Think about it:
A single letter can start a war.
A signature can crown—or dethrone—a king.
Books have toppled empires, sparked revolutions, and preserved entire civilizations.
So in my world, writing isn’t just knowledge—it’s power. Dangerous. Sacred. Feared.
Because the pen is mightier than the sword—and sometimes, it burns.
While you wait for new lore drops, here’s a first look at the cover. I’m beyond excited with how it’s coming together.
Thanks for sticking with me. The best stories take time—and I promise, this one will be worth the wait
