Hello from a fantasy nerd in the middle of his first book

[ConvergenceCycle]

Hi all,

I'm Jon. I'm about 85% through the first book of a fantasy series I've been world-building for the past two years or so.

It's epic fantasy with a magic-vs-machine split: a magical kingdom on the surface, a steampunk industrial federation underneath, and a long history of them blaming each other for breaking the world. There's a magic school and dragons above ground, and an institute of science, airships, and dudes in power armor below....and an absurdly complicated web of foreshadowing, easter eggs, romantic relationships, and long game payoffs over a planned 10 book arc.

I started this project because I've spent my whole adult life reading the kind of fantasy, sci-fi, and dystopian books that pick a side: magic OR science, prophecy OR progress, dragons OR airships.

I wanted all of it. So I built a world where alchemists argue with engineers and wizards complain about steam engines.

I'm here because I've realized the difference between someone who loves fantasy and someone who actually finishes a book is having a community of writers who get it.

I've been doing this mostly alone with a lot of caffeine and a folder of lore articles and concept art that's gotten genuinely out of hand, and I'd love to learn from (and share with) people who are further down this path than I am.

Excited to meet everyone. I'll be lurking in critique threads and showing up where I can be useful.

Cheers,
Jon

 

[Lynea]

You're looking for organization tools?

 

[KurtMichael]

This sounds like a world with a lot of potential, looking forward to hearing more!

 

[xena]

Hello Jon! Welcome to the forum! Pretty great that you've gotten this far, that's exciting!!

 

[ConvergenceCycle]

This sounds like a world with a lot of potential, looking forward to hearing more!

Thank you so much for the compliment! I'm at about 90% now. Maybe 10 more chapters left to write. I also just found an editor, so that's exciting! I am currently looking for Cover Illustrators and have queried with 3 different companies without hearing back from any so far.

All in all it's moving along quite nicely!

I do have a website if you'd like to learn more: www.convergencecycle.com

 

[ConvergenceCycle]

Hello Jon! Welcome to the forum! Pretty great that you've gotten this far, that's exciting!!

Thank you so much for the welcome! I appreciate the compliment. It is very exciting, I can't wait to finish the book and get it into my editors hands and then start conquering the supreme dragon that is publishing.

 

[Lynea]

Wow, that is one sophisticated worldbuilding site. I like it.

 

[ConvergenceCycle]

Wow, that is one sophisticated worldbuilding site. I like it.

Thank you so much! I've been building it for a long time. And I've been writing the lore for even longer. I started with worldbuilding first, I used the site World Anvil to help me plan everything one step at a time...I developed the map using Inkarnate, then once I had the map I created lore surrounding the major cities, gave them cultures and economies, discovered who ruled these cities etc.

Once I had my cities I created my characters and wrote entire dossiers for each one with personalities, flaws, traits

I spent over a year writing these lore articles before I ever wrote my first chapter. I have now written 76 chapters (approximately 270,000 words)

But all that lore now lives on the website. I was once a web designer and graphic designer before I became an author, so I love making things like this as well.

 

[Lynea]

That's really cool. Not everyone gets so lucky to have multiple skills like that to serve them. I took the Rite of Reflection and got the Order of Ouroboros. It was genuinely fun.

 

[ConvergenceCycle]

That's really cool. Not everyone gets so lucky to have multiple skills like that to serve them. I took the Rite of Reflection and got the Order of Ouroboros. It was genuinely fun.

Awesome! I'm so glad you enjoyed it. The Order is Genesis, but the animal mascot is the Ourosboros. That means you are creative and empathetic and love being surrounded by nature. I'm not sure if you entered your email at the end of the quiz, but if you did, you will get a welcome letter from the head of the order, and then in 2 days you'll get a follow up with exclusive lore that only founding readers on the mailing list receive.

I am trying to build email automation to support a readership following leading up to the release of book 1. So i'm writing short stories and other exclusive bits that will only be released through the website/Email groups.

 

[dantheman93]

Ohhh well dang, website makes me wanna read it for sure!

 

[ConvergenceCycle]

Ohhh well dang, website makes me wanna read it for sure!

Awesome! Thank you so much. I am working on finishing the last 10 chapters or so. My editor is working on the first pass as we speak. I am also trying to find a Cover Illustrator. But I hope to be able to release it by the end of the year!! Definitely join my email list so you'll be the first to know when it's ready!

 

[Romy]

We certainly have more World Anvil users in here... (think Lynea is one)

 

[xena]

Thank you so much for the welcome! I appreciate the compliment. It is very exciting, I can't wait to finish the book and get it into my editors hands and then start conquering the supreme dragon that is publishing.

Wishing you the very best as you finish the manuscript!!