Path to Power:

Chapter 27: Finished, it will be posted sometime this week.

Chapter 28: Outlined.

"Two Dozen Veela":Chapter 1: 7.8k, finished

Chapter 2: 7.8 k, finished.

Chapter 3: 5.1k, first draft complete.

Chapter 4: 2400 words in.

Summary: Frustrated by the inaction of the ICW, Gabrielle Delacour reaches out to an old acquaintance to investigate a series of kidnappings. Very Dark. H/Gabrielle

Although I wasn’t asked, I feel the need to share with you what I have learned from writing “Path to Power” and what advice I would give to first time authors.

Don’t rush.

This was the first creative writing I’d ever attempted. I was nervous and rushed to put my work out before it was ready. If you made it through PtP that means you managed to survive the early part of the story (first 12 chapters or so). I needed the validation that even my worst attempts would be well received (and they were) then I fell into the cadence of updating every week. The story improved when I stopped doing this. Establish goals for writing your story. For me I dedicated an hour a day (at minimum); plotting, researching, writing, and editing. When I fell into that pattern I started noticing some terrible habits (more on those below).

Know your characters.

The crux of what I have learned (and it may not work for you) can be boiled down to understanding how your characters would react in certain situations. I used to hate this advice, how can you not know you’re characters, you’re writing them! They can be whatever you want! But that’s not even remotely true. You have to know Daphne’s basic characteristics before you write her (I’ve learned this, and you can actually track all this advice by reading the early part of PtP.

Don’t try and fit a square peg into a round hole.

I really really really wanted to write a badass Harry/Flitwick mentorship. The problem is this Harry didn’t stay needy. He bloomed in isolation and has trust issues. He’s fueled by tragedy. These are hallmarks of his character. It made more sense to let that relationship flicker out.

Don’t over plan.

Sometimes your best plot points (the spy in PtP springs to mind) happen because it fits and you can see its future purpose. On the flipside sometimes the worst (the stupid rivalry w/ Goldstein et al) have a lot of planning behind them. When in doubt ask what your characters would do in that situation or understand how a certain interaction could affect the out greater good.

Don’t mistake “over planning” with “not planning.”

Personally I had a high level plan (that could be altered if needed), then a more detailed plan for the next three chapters with a detailed(ish) scene by scene breakdown. In those breakdowns I don’t write dialogue, only a topic, the characters, and how said characters feel in the moment.

Don’t become obsessed with reviews.

If you’re story is good stats will come, but that shouldn’t be why you write. You should only write if you have a story to tell, the second it becomes a chore stop writing the story; trust me, you won’t give a shit what anyone says.

To that end you shouldn’t care that HarryGranger6969 doesn’t like the “pairing” or that Drarryl0vr2005 guessed a plot point. Don’t let other’s influence your vision. When you take advice take advice from people who accept your vision and are going to help you work on it.

Learn from your mistakes.

Hold yourself accountable and try to improve.

Read what you just wrote, then read it two more times.

Catch your mistakes. Take pride in the words you use and ask yourself if you made the best possible choice for your story. Sometimes that means making extremely difficult decisions.