I have been working on Book 2 and a few other books. However, I need to really focus on Book 1, since for about two years I have been meaning to redo chapters 1-7. I'm also waiting for my peer reviews on the first run of printing to come in.

That said, so far everything has been extremely positive.

I haven't posted here in a while. No more need for excerpts or anything. Editing is progressing well and should be done within days. Excellent.

Book One is complete.

Two chapters left, a week to go.

Writing styles/techniques

I am closing in on the end of book 1. It's a great feeling.

I'd like to discuss writing styles or techniques of mine.

Syntax is a funny thing for me even when it shouldn't. Although I hardly make grammatical errors, I am wont to put clauses in weird places. I have always realized that since I studied Latin and then Greek, I'm prone to making things go in random places, since their syntax is free.

This might be something looked down upon by 'standard' writers. But I think it's very useful. You prep the scene and/or the reader's mind in a very particular way if you put a modifying clause at the end of a long sentence, or offset it at the beginning like an ablative absolute.

I had sent a sample to one of my friends, who said, 'Whoa, like commas much?'

Sometimes I am inclined to splice commas--whoops, thankfully there is editing. But sometimes I string things along on purpose. I noticed this while translating Livy. I obviously don't think I've come upon something new, but I wonder if it's missing nowadays. If there is an action scene, you can leave the reader breathless not just by the action, but also by not chopping the sentence into pieces, but letting it flow with commas and such. Or with fear you can do small sentences that make you hold your breath. These are common techniques I'm sure (I haven't researched them or anything), and it's really fun to do.

Okay, back to writing.

This chapter that was supposed to be short and kind of filler has actually turned out to be quite a gem, I think.

You know, it's kind of funny, but I just realized that Moeru comes dangerously close to breaking the fourth wall sometimes.