Jake A. Strife's Blog

(as seen on www.JakeAStrife.com)
Blog #47: Quality over Quantity

The last time I told someone I’ve written twenty-one complete novels, they were astonished and said they were hiding behind the couch crying because they only have written one. No, I wasn’t lying. I’ve written twenty-one books all ranging from 80,000 to 110,000 words. (Well… the first was 150,000, but that was WAY too long…).

People ask me how I’ve done it. They say most authors never do that in a lifetime. Sure, I’m proud of myself—And I’ve spent the past five years pretty much writing daily… But the truth of most of my books is that they aren’t edited yet. Some I’ve never looked at again. This is mainly because I’ve been a Wattpad writer for most of my time writing. When you write on Wattpad, quite often, fans will ask (and sometimes even beg or yell at you) to post the next chapter. So, in order to cater to my fan base I’ve worked my butt off to keep writing. I’ve written 21 books across 6 different series. The longest is finished at seven books, and the shortest still has only one.

Lately, those on Wattpad may have noticed my absence—And I feel bad. But this is not without reason. One: I have a toddler who is taking up almost all of my time during the hours of light, so that I’m brain dead and tired during the hours of dark. And two, in the time I have found, I’m editing the hell out of my books I finished back in 2015. I sent one off to a Pro Editor and got it back, then published it in its newest format. Unfortunately, who can afford a Pro Editor for all of their books… Thankfully, the editing software ProWriting Aid is a great help and really catches a lot—So the books that I can’t pay to have edited, I am scouring with Pro Writing Aid. At the moment, I’m hurrying to send off another book to a Pro Editor—And that may be it for a while. I do plan on editing every book I’ve written (with the editing software—Especially before I publish them).

So, if you’re wondering why Dark Dayz: Ebony Dawn (book 3) is only posted to chapter 10 on Wattpad, this is why. I’m editing and focusing on quality over quantity. It pains me to halt my writing… I want to keep the fans happy and release new chapters episodically. I’ve been asked, “Why don’t you alternate editing and writing?”…My answer is that it’s not easy to switch your brain from creative to critical editing mode, and vice versa. So, for the moment, I really want to focus on getting my current edit up to par—Then I will publish it. And then I hope to be back to writing Dark Dayz: Ebony Dawn (book 3).

As for what’s on deck… it’s up in the air.

Yes, I plan on finishing Dark Dayz 3 before starting a new book.

But then what?

I’m thinking this schedule (and of course it’s subject to change)…

Dark Dayz: Ebony Dawn (book 3)
Strange World: End of the Beginning (book 3)Severed Chains: Fateless (book 2 rewrite)Severed Legends: Celestia (book 1)

…and then I don’t know.

I’ve completed the Omega Virus series…

I’m not ready to write Crimson Wars 2…

I’m not sure where God Forge is going (rewrite it from 1st person POV? or 3rd person into book 3—even though I hate writing 3rd?)

So, any questions? Any suggestions?

What books/sequels are you looking forward to the most?

Just as a reminder, you can buy my books:

Omega Virus 1, Omega Virus 2, Dark Dayz 1, and Strange World 1: on Amazon:

https://amzn.to/2TZcSY0

Dark Dayz 1 on LuLu (the paperback cover is so much better printed here): https://bit.ly/2TXQrlR

Dark Dayz 1 on Smashwords (ebooks only): https://bit.ly/2ttI9qA

And if you buy a book, please remember to leave a review. It really helps authors—Especially Indie ones.

My writing last year was chaotic at best—Even though I won NaNoWriMo. I only completed two books through all of 2018. I don’t want to have to say the same about 2019—But then again QUALITY over QUANTITY. Gotta keep telling myself that.

NOW PUBLISHED: Omega Virus – Book 1 – Beta Hour

Holy Gamers vs. Zombies Batman! I’ve published “Omega Virus: Beta Hour” on Amazon. Yes, just search Omega Virus and you will find it somewhere in the first few items.

I wrote Omega Virus: Beta Hour (book 1) back in 2013 and have had it published on Wattpad for a few years. It reached 203,000 reads and 8,000 votes before I became forced to unpublish it.

You can still find Omega Virus Books 2 through 5, as well as DarkDayz, Strange Worold, GodForge, and Severed Chains 1-2 on Wattpad. And please do! Read them and vote! One day they’ll be published too. My wife and I are already working on getting DarkDayz read for publishing.

Currently I’m writing the sequel to Strange World: Grimoire.
I started just a few days ago and I’m already ¼ of the way through, so needless to say, it’s going great!
After SW2 I’ll be writing DarkDayz 2, and then we’ll see. Maybe Godforge 2, or Omega Virus 6. It’s kinda up in the air right now depending on my schedule and what happens with the rest of this year.

So all in all that’s 14 novels written, and well over a million words total. It’s insane to think of… I started writing in 2007 after taking a Story Writing class in college.
I’d always enjoyed writing, but I’d never became serious about it until then.

Remember my New Years Resolution was to write at LEAST six novels this year? I’m already halfway there. But I’ll be happy with FOUR at this point.
Being an author isn’t a job—It’s a dream—And I’m living it.