April 2025 Writing Update

I wanted to share a quick update on my progress with the latest novel I’ve been working on. As of today, I’ve written 15,268 words after 11 days, which brings me about halfway through Chapter 4. It’s always satisfying to see the word count tick up, but more importantly, the structure of the story is falling into place, and I’m starting to get a strong sense of its pacing, tone, and character arcs.

This book is part of the Veil of Obsidian series and follows a unit from the Ravenous Maw, a militant order of the Obsidian Covenant. If you’ve read any of my previous work in this world, you’ll recognize some of the names and elements, though this story stands on its own. It’s a more focused, contained narrative—following a single company on a mission to the far north, where they’re sent to investigate a growing threat in a remote region called Vulkinor.

The writing process has been a mix of steady progress and occasional frustration—as it usually is. Some scenes flow naturally, while others take more time to get right. But I’ve been staying consistent, writing a little each day, and I feel like the foundation is strong. I’ve also been trying to be more intentional with how I introduce key ideas—planting them early so they pay off later in the book. With a project like this, pacing and structure matter a lot.

One thing I’m particularly happy about is how the dynamic between the characters is evolving. Even in the early chapters, you can feel the friction, loyalty, and tension that define the group. These are soldiers used to following orders, but they’re also individuals with their own doubts and instincts—and that’s starting to show through in some of their choices.

There’s still a long way to go, but the story is moving forward at a pace I’m happy with. I’ll keep pushing to hit that next milestone: finishing Chapter 4 and crossing the 20,000-word mark.

More soon,
– C. J. LaPolla