As some of you may have already noticed, I have changed the expected publication dates for the last four episodes of Part 1 of the Frontiers Saga. It was a difficult decision, as I have taken great pride in staying as close as possible to my 3-month production cycle. The problem is that life keeps getting in the way, and in the end I find myself writing like a madman in order to even come close to my self-imposed deadlines. Unfortunately, I can’t keep going this way, as I fear that the story, and the writing, (just like my hands and my butt) will suffer.
The Frontiers Saga began as the back story for a massive, multiplayer, online computer game. When I decided to turn it into a series of books, it was because I needed money. It was a long shot at best, but I thought that if I could write and publish a book every 3 months, then I might be able to earn enough to regularly pay our rent with my book sales within a few years. I never expected it to take off the way it did.
I kept to the quarterly publication schedule because regular releases seemed the best way to maintain visibility and therefore sales. Also, as a reader, I was often frustrated by authors who took forever to publish their next book. (Especially if that book was part of a series.) I did not want my readers to experience that frustration, so the quarterly production schedule served a dual purpose.
In the beginning, it was difficult, as I had little experience at writing and publishing. As I gathered subcontractors to help me polish my stories, I managed to get a layered production system where I would be working on 3 episodes at once. (Writing the first draft of one, while editing two others as they bounced back and forth between myself and my editors.) That quickly became rather confusing, and I was forced to return to a more linear fashion of writing. Now, I write an episode over the course of two months, then spend a month outlining the next episode while the previous one is being edited. Through trial and error, I have concluded that this is the best way for me to write.
So, why the change in publication for the last 4 episodes of Part 1? Well, as this first part comes to its conclusion, I find that there is so much more story that I want to tell. (So much so that I considered extending the first part by another five episodes!) Rather than extending it, I decided that the last four should each become progressively longer. To do this, and to do it well, requires more time to write and edit, and edit…
The fervor with which all of you have embraced this series has changed the lives of myself and my family. My daughter will not have to start her life buried in student debt. We moved out of the undesirable neighborhood we were stuck in. My wife no longer has to worry about how we are going to pay the bills. (And she can buy organic foods.) My mother (who was paying our rent on a retired teacher’s salary for several months) is now living in a much nicer home located next door to us, so I can take better care of her. (She’s 83 and no longer driving.) I have even been able to fulfill my lifelong dream of learning to fly. All of this is because of all of you.
Still, as difficult a decision as it was, I’ve decided to take 4 months each (instead of the usual 3) to produce the last four episodes of Part 1. Once I finish episode 15, I will take a break to outline Part 2, and to write the first 3 episodes. (I promise I will keep this break as short as possible.) This way, I’ll have a sizable time-buffer built into my publication schedule so that I can more easily adhere to that schedule, even when life gets in the way. It will also give me a chance to develop the ability to write using dictation. (I have tried this recently, and although promising, it was just too slow for me to use right now.) By developing my ability to write through dictation when there is no deadline hanging over my head, I will be better able to develop not only my ability to write through dictation, but also the application’s ability to accurately understand me. (Something that it is currently unable to do.) I’ll also be able to experiment and customize my production methods to take greater advantage of writing through dictation.
My goal will always be to provide you with the most exciting and compelling science fiction stories I am capable of dreaming up, and to do so in a timely and consistent manner. You have all given me so much, and you deserve to receive the best that I can offer in return. I may not be there yet, but trust me, I’m working on it.
Thank you all for reading,
So what is the time line now?
Ryk, Congratulations of your success! I have watched you grow as a writer and I have really enjoyed reading your series. I love the “episode” format, which harkens back to the old serial short films of my parent’s age. Keep it coming. I like to read the series right before I drift off to sleep and sometimes dream in Space Opera. At least it calms me down and makes me smile.
I think you have made the right decision for take a bit longer with each episode. I know we will all reap the rewards of having you rested and refreshed! 🙂
Four months is still a pretty aggressive schedule. If you can make it, great, but if you can’t then the natural response is to raise prices, at least a little. You have to adopt a lifestyle that you can stay with over the next decade or two. As I’ve said before, you can write off as a tax deduction for trips to any sites you either write about or want to write about. Ancient Carthage? Time travel. Canada? Capitol of the NAU, right? Geneva? Jung HQ. Take your family and enjoy, and soak up the ideas… and then write about them.
I love the series, and am very happy that I can contribute to your success. I’d like you to do even better. 🙂
Hi Ryk, Loving the episodes so far .. take all the time you need. Keep up the great work!
A three month release cycle was probably overly ambitious. I do understand your rationale for pushing the books out quickly in the beginning. We all need to make a living. At the same time, there’s no need to be a slave to a release schedule. Sure, we all want instant gratification from the series we consume, but I am sure we can all think of a a few series that we started, but found unreadable by book 8 or 9 because of half-baked writing, continuity issues etc. Keep writing good stories and we’ll keep reading them. I promise. . . pinky swear. 🙂 Just don’t go George R.R. Martin on us.
I would like to say well done on your success. I for one have really enjoyed the series so far and don’t mind if they take a little longer. However, I would like to make a small suggestion. Would you consider adding a short summary of what happened in the previous episode as it usually takes me a chapter or so to remember. Maybe a page or two on what happened and any new characters that were introduced.
Keep up to good work.
Ryk, the pleasure is ours. I’d rather wait for a good book than read one that was rushed to publication.
Ryk,
I find, that after reading all 11 and them 6 months later doing them all again, it hard to
find another S.F. Writer that matches up to your Quality Work.
Cheers,
Reciel
Ryk, it is heartening to read about your success. You have to do the right thing for your family and yourself and if in some small way we can be part of your success by being able to read and enjoy your books that is great.
We read the books for pleasure so I vote for quality over quantity.
Again congratulations on a fine series and your success, may you continue to prosper.
Well I can honestly say I haven’t read a single one of your books…..however I have listen to them all. I am an audio book hound and I love your books. The pace you have set for yourself seems rather insane. I am used to waiting more then a year for another book in a series. Keep up the good work.
[smile] *Your* story is even more satisfying than the stories you’ve written. I, for one, will try to imitate a patient person while I wait for the next episode.
Is it done yet?
Arrrrgh. I’ve failed.
Still, carry on. I will read it when ever it appears.
In the beginning of this year, I stood in a book shop on Berlin airpiort, waiting for my plane to Munich and wondering, what to read during that fly. My eyes catched a book called “Der Flug der Aurora” which is the german name for “Aurora CV-01”. Not knowing the author or having ever heard of the book, I bought it.
Few days after, when I got through it, I had to realize that it’s only the first part of at least two books which I also bought. Don’t know if the third part is already translated yet but anyway, I couldn’t wait for it, so i started reading the eBooks.
It’s a really great story. Sometimes situation you built was that much depressing that I had to switch my reader off- but not for long, since I want to know that happens to Na-Tan and his crew.
I’m almost done with reading part 11 of your story and again, I love it!
BUT (there has to be one) there are only a few pages left and you still need time (as good things always do)
Next week i’ll have to travel around, sitting some hours in train and can’t read anything 🙁
So take your time but do it fast 😉
There are so many things I want to know like what do you intend to do with Synda? What kind of relationship (if any) will develop between Jessica and Nathan? Who dies next? Has old Dubnyk something to do with Captain Jung? If Earth has fabricators now, may I have one or two of their 3D printers and maybe some ZPED?..
Whooops didn’t want to write that much, really…
One thing left to say: Good job, keep it running. At least, you have one fan in Germany…
Curious about something.
How many different languages have your books been translated into?
Make that two German fans. Can’t wait for book 12. Great stuff!!
Can you please update the time line again. It is October now. Just want to know when to expect next Episode
Thank you
I read David VanDyke, Jack Campbell, Jay Allen, B V Larson, Thomas DePrima, T R Harris and Joshua Dalzelle … while Im waiting for your next books to come out. They’re all good but just filling the void until your superior tales come out. So take the extra time and continue rolling out this incredible story. Thank you !
So Ryk, you said that the story was started as a back story for a hypothetical MMO do you think you will ever try to make it or have it made?
So,
Is Episode 12 close to coming out?
check the home page… there is a count down.
Keep up the good work Ryk! 4 months between each book is still a great speed. We all enjoy your books and will continue to read them 🙂
Apollo
I’ve just finished reading Episode 12 and you haven’t lost the touch. Nevertheless I must make a small remark: the jump drives are great to move objects… but to move an all island on Earth probably it’s asking too much of the device.
“Porto Santo” island is not on the Azores archipelago but in Madeira archipelago (further South) – both belonging to Portugal.
In middle of all the fighting small mistakes happen
Looking forward to episode 12 as I will be able to download it tomorrow via my Amazon Prime account (One free book a month). I think you are working hard to provide your current followers new episodes in a timely fashion. However, I see you have many many episodes planned. At some point taking a year to resolve possible problems or to make small improvements to previous episodes, stepping back and re-evaluating what you have planned for the future, and focusing on marketing (getting new readers to start up your saga) would not be frowned on by someone such as myself. I still have to get my Amazon reviews up for 10 & 11, but I am back into your world after a bit of disappointment in a couple of the epuisodes.
Ryk,
I have had similar problems with finding good dictation software. Have you tried Dragon Naturally Speaking Premium, made by the Nuance company? It has worked the best for me, especially from accuracy perspective. Let me know how it works.
Thanks,
El