WRITING UPDATE: HOLDING UP THE SKY IS DONE
(these photos all came from Pinterest; credit for the graphic to the amazing Brooke from Storyteller Heart)
I FINISHED WRITING HOLDING UP THE SKY!!!!!!!!!
This novel ended up being even CRAZIER than I anticipated and the plot went all over the place and the characters are all berserk idiots who are going to get themselves KILLED if they aren't careful (or maybe just stolen away by monsters...MWAHAHAHAAAAAAA.)
In case you forgot, here's a blurb for this story (and it's updated from last time, so you'll want to read it *smirks*):
A world where the sky could crumble at any moment and only the power of music checks it. A world where magic runs rampant, controlled by white robes and powerful glances. A world where blood is your currency.
Dulci lives alone in a tower. Her very existence is illegal, for she is a Player, tasked with holding up the sky—but no one knows she is alive. In an arsenal of musicians, she may well be the most valuable member. If only she were free…
Daverby, a young gang lord, roams the poor quarters of the city with his found family, always on the lookout for more money. When he and his gang are hired to find a threat to their world’s very existence, they brace for the worst of fights. None of them could have expected to find the threat in the form of a young, terrified girl who has no idea why they’re looking for her.
A world at stake… a lonely girl… and a desperate gang of assassins who just need to eat for another day.
The song must continue.
As is my custom with my WIP update posts, here are some stats: (mostly ridiculous):
Word count: COMPLETE at 78, 364 words
Pages: 288
Day complete: March 28, 2020
Day complete: March 28, 2020
Chapter count: 46
Bloodbath endings: 1
Cliffhanger: the worst
Strong bois out to save their girls: 2
Damsels in distress: 2 (and a half)
Girls who will punch you in the teeth and probably rip your teeth out too: 2
POVs: too many
Innocent children: all of them (except Talia, she's a monster)
(All images in this post are from pinterest; all lyrics copyright to the bands quoted. The snippets are mine. I don't own any of this. Except my own words. So yeahhhhhhhh)
Show me the way...cuz I'm about to explode//I'll carry your world//Coldplay
Lissa’s foot caught on a loose floorboard and she tripped. Only for a second—her hands flailed to right herself—but it was enough time for Drex to catch up and grab her with one arm, pointing the spoon at the side of her head with the other. “Any dying words, young lady?” he drawled, as she screamed and yanked to get away, still laughing. He would never hurt her; fun was so hard to come by these days, and she took every drop of it she could get. “I look forward to all the things I can buy with your blood. If only your hair weren’t red.”
“Let go, you fiend!” She tried to pull away, and Drex loosened his hold just the tiniest bit before lifting the spoon high into the air.
Lissa squealed. Drex grinned.
“Let go of her right now.”
The laughter fizzled out from Lissa’s heart, replaced by the dry monotony of regular life.
“You’re blocking the hallway,” Emery said, stepping into the house. “I’m ready for sleep.”
Lay your burdens on me...I can bear all the weight of the world with you on my shoulders//STARSET
“Goodness, it’s as though the authorities just know how to ruin a man’s night.” Daverby tsked three times and then shook his head. “It was going to be a good one, too. I even bought meat from the butcher. All right, everyone! Gather round!” He sent a long glance around the room. “Oh, notes’ blessing, is everyone actually here? This just gets better.”
Drex descended from where he hung from the chandelier overhead, next to the hammock he had put up there when he first moved in. He plopped onto the bench about two inches from Lissa, who shrieked and scooted over away from him. Malice looked from Daverby to Talia as though deciding which of them was his parent today; Emery drew her knees up to her chest and stayed on her bed, sketchbook forgotten at her side.
“I don’t know what to make of this information,” Daverby bellowed to the ceiling. “We’re all here! This is a miracle waiting to happen! Which means disasters are coming very soon, I’m sure.”
Don't talk to strangers...and don't walk into danger//Bastille
Nadina sighed and turned away, her hands fluttering into the pockets on her robes. “This is bad. This is very bad. Was it one of the practice instruments?” She swept off the stage without waiting for an answer, likely up to the huge glass room where they practiced under full view of their sky. Practice was to be a constant reminder of all that was at stake.
Someone had to defuse this. Tarek tried to crack his trademark smile. “Maybe it was one of the peasants who got an instrument. Maybe one of their kids is a Player and we haven’t recruited them yet.”
Kylon, the male proprietor, turned to him with such wrath blazing in his eyes that it made Tarek take a step back. “Never speak of such things again!” he roared, and then he too was gone, the last woman just behind him.
Tarek stared at Candance. His heart pounded in his throat. Never before had they yelled at him. Never. He moved his right hand slowly, subtly, into his pocket. Out of sight, out of mind. Maybe they truly did hate him.
Took your heart took your hand//promised you all that I am//hoping that you understand...I'm far from a perfect man//Imagine Dragons
Daverby reached out and took her hand in his. She looked at him, eyes gone dry, everything gone silent and still. Her entire being was waiting for his answer.
“I have failed you,” he whispered. “You are the most important thing in the universe to me. All the worlds could die and I would not care if you were gone. I could rule the worlds and not care if you were not with me. Without you, my life would be empty. I would not know who I was without you. You are my everything, and I love you. More than money, more than blood. More than anything else.”
Her mouth opened just slightly.
“You have my whole heart,” he whispered. “It isn’t much, but it is yours. And I swear to you now that I will never leave you behind. Never. If I found you in that alley, I would not leave you, nor would I just help you to hide. No, I would hunt down whoever had hurt you and kill them, and I wouldn’t make you have to lift a finger.”
Emery put her hands on his chest again, like she had the night before, when they’d paused for a moment before resuming their argument. “You have my heart, too,” she whispered. “All of it. I love you.”
And finally, some graphics by the amazing Brooke:
And that's all I've got for this post! I have TONS of revisions to do and it'll be a while before I open this up to betas, but I'm actually super excited about the editing process and eventually sharing this book with the world :D
How's your writing been going? Are you doing Camp NaNo? Chat with me in the comments!
42 comments
AAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHH
ReplyDeleteSO MUCH TO FANGRIL OVER!!!!!!!
THIS POST GIVES ME LIFE
*flails softly*
DeleteMY SHIPS!!!!
ReplyDeleteMY GRAPHICS YOU USED THEM MY HEART IS FULL!!!!!
*whispers* ships forever
DeleteSTARSET LYRICS!!!!!!
ReplyDeleteYOU KNOW I CAN FANGIRL ALL DAY ABOUT STARSET LYRICS!!!! ASDFGHJKL
YESSSSSS WE LOVE STARSET
DeleteAll right, final spam
ReplyDeleteI'm so proud of you. I love you. You are amazing, and strong. And your writing is so beautiful. The world needs this story and it's going to change a lot of lives. I can feel it deep in my heart and soul. I love you,boo! You're amazing!
<3 <3 I love you too boo <3 Thank you so much imma cry now
DeleteOkay but MY HEART IS NOW FEELING EVERYTHING BECAUSE OF THOSE SNIPPETS
ReplyDeleteESPECIALLY THAT LAST ONE
DO I SENSE A SHIP INCOMING
Ahem. Anyways, CONGRATULATIONS on finishing Holding Up the Sky! It sounds incredible (of course).
(also I love Tarek even more from that snippet. XD)
AGGHHHH I HOPE SO BECAUSE EMERBY IS MY SHIP
DeleteThank you!!!!!!
And Tarek is my MAN so I'm thrilled you like him!!!!
Congratuations!!
ReplyDeleteThank you!
DeleteACK, YOU ARE THE WRITING QUEEN. CONGRATS AGAIN ON FINISHING THIS, FAITH!!! *tackle-hugs*
ReplyDeleteAGGHHHHH THANK YOUUUUU *massive hugs back*
DeleteWow Faith! This sounds so good!!!!!!!!!
ReplyDeleteThanks! <3
DeleteFaith, the writing QUEEN, strikes again! This just gets more awesome every time I read about it!!!! This story sounds beyond EPIC! <3 Drex does sound precious and I want to see more of him pleeeease. ;) THE SNIPPETS!!!!!!! *starry eyes*
ReplyDeleteAGGGHHHH THANK YOU <3 *sobs* I love Drex and he is my BBY. <3
DeleteThank you!!!!!!
I'M SO IN AWE OF YOU CHURNING OUT THIS BOOK SO FAST YOU ARE AMAZING. CONGRATULATIONS!!!!!!!!!! And oh my goooosh, THIS STORY. I know I've already yelled about it like...every single time you mention it but but but THIS STORYYYYY. Possibly the most amazing premise ever? And like EVERYTHING I love. Fairy tale retelling and found family and music and the actual sky needing music to stay up???? UGH. IT IS PERFECTION.
ReplyDeleteThese snippets were a GIFT. This cast looks like it is a RIOT. I mean, that last snippet? *clutches heart* I cannot wait to properly meet them one daaaaay!
I JUST LOVE EVERYTHING ABOUT THIS. EVERYTHING. CONGRATS AGAIN ON FINISHING THE FIRST DRAFT!!!!!!!
THIS WAS NOT FAST BWAHAHAHAAAAAA it took legitimately three months xD But aghghhhh this comment is making me flail so much because AGGGHHHHHHH I love my baby and I'm so glad you love my baby and you haven't even read it bwahaha
DeleteAnyway. *inhales*
THANK YOU!!!!! I can't wait FOR you to meet them!!!!!!
<3 ThANK YOU!!!!
YOU'RE SO FAST!!! IT"S CRAZY INSPIRING AND CONGRATS!
ReplyDeleteIt sounds Fantastic!!! <3
AGH THANKS XD
Delete^_^
AHAHHHHHHH!
ReplyDeleteALL OF THIS IS.... *SPEECHLESS*
EVERYTHING IS GORGEOUSNESS <333333
(Also BROOKE! How do you do it?!)
AHHHHHHHHHHHHHH
DeleteTHANK YOUUUUUU <3
I don't know mate but she's amazinggg
This story sounds fantastic and also are you set on quoting all my favorite bands in one post??? Like, Starset is here too, and I've never known another person who knew Starset!! *Excitement*
ReplyDeleteAhhhh I love Starset so like...yeah *sobs*
DeleteWow, I'm shocked. How did you write it that fast!?!
ReplyDeleteThis one felt SO slow xD But thanks!
DeleteHow did you DO that??? My respects! Your book sounds so great though! Can't wait to read it!
ReplyDeleteMy writing's going well! I'm doing NaNo, and I'm coming up on 5,000 words! I'm writing a collection of short stories!!
Thanks!!!! <3
DeleteThat's fantastic oh my word! NaNo is so motivational xD and I looove short stories <3
Those characters have all stolen my heart already! And I love the music side of things. Congratulations on finishing!!
ReplyDeleteThank you so much! It's so fun to write a story with musicians--I don't know why I never did it before.
DeleteThanks!
Popping back in to say - I tagged you for a thing I made over on my blog, due to us sharing a "blogging birthday"! (or, y'know, the month, which is close enough, right ;)
DeleteEep thank you! :D (And yesss definitely)
DeleteFaith: "Okay, so I'm going to write another book"
ReplyDelete*a week later*
Faith: "I'm back, I wrote 80k words, it's nothing much"
HOW YOU ALWAYS DO THIS IS BEYOND ME.
also wow i miss writing books that are normal length . . . my current wip is sitting around 65k and like a third of the way done?? riperooni.
BUT LISTEN THIS POST IS ABOUT YOU NOT ME I LOVE THE PREMISE I LOVE THE VIBES THIS LOOKS SO RAD CONGRATULATIONS PUBLISH IT NOW PLS THANK U
- Eleanor
OH MY WORD *dies* I mean, yeah...I write fast xD Other than the insanity of last year's NaNo it never feels fast ENOUGH, tho? I wanna get faster but as a pantser that just...isn't possible xD
DeleteAnd I also like...really like long books? So KEEP GOING xD
THANK YOU SO MUUUUCH EEP
YESSSS CONGRATULATIONS I can't believe you already finished it :O (but then again yes I can because I've seen how hardcore you go at NaNo so why not xD)
ReplyDeleteBUT FAITH HOW ARE THERE TWO AND A HALF DAMSELS IN DISTRESS. I think I understand why that 1/2 damsel is in distress. XD
theonesthatreallymatter.blogspot.com
Thank youuuuu and yeah I'm...a bit fast xD It's probably a problem.
DeleteWell...sometimes she's in distress and sometimes she isn't xD but yeah that would explain things.
I love this idea so much!
ReplyDeleteAlso, that last line in the blurb, "The song must continue," that's chilling in such a perfectly epic way.
I can't way for this to be published and turned into a movie.
Alexa
thessalexa.blogspot.com
verbosityreviews.com
Thank you!!!!
DeleteAcckkkk I appreciate that so much THANKS!
Wow you are too kind *sobs* thank youuuuu
THIS IS AMAZING HOLY COW!!! I need this more than I can express O_O <333
ReplyDeleteAHHH thank you! <33333
DeleteHello, friends! Do make yourselves comfortable and stay for a while--I'd love to chat with you! I simply ask that you keep it clean. :)