A Reflection on Writing Dreadborne Harbinger

Hey everyone,

Now that I am approaching 100 chapters deep into the story, I wanted to take a moment to share a bit more about my journey as a writer and the process behind "Dreadborne Harbinger." As many of you might suspect, I've been a lifelong fan of fantasy and science fiction, devouring countless books and immersing myself in these incredible worlds. In recent years, that love has expanded to include the exciting realms of LitRPG and GameLit. Some of those series that have helped spark this expanded love for reading in me include the series starting with the Iron Prince by Bryce O'Conner, the entire Defiance of the Fall series by JF Brink, the World series by Jason Cheek, the Beware of Chicken series by Casualfarmer, and most recently, the various series' by Jez Cajiao and Bruce Sentar among others. If you haven't read one or more of these authors' work yet, or would like to support them as well, I resoundingly urge you to do so.

Coming back to my writing, it has been a passion of mine for almost two decades now. I have several unfinished works across various genres, each clocking in at 40k or 50k words, gathering dust in the digital depths of my hard drive. But "Dreadborne Harbinger" is different. This is the story that has truly captured my imagination and driven me to push my writing further than ever before. As of today, I've poured just over 270,000 words into this epic tale, spread across 92 chapters, and I'm just getting started!

"Dreadborne Harbinger" is a blend of GameLit/LitRPG and epic fantasy, though I'd argue it leans more heavily into the epic fantasy style. While the GameLit/LitRPG elements are undeniably crucial to the story, I firmly believe that world-building and character development are paramount. These are the elements that truly bring a story to life and resonate with me and, I hope, my readers on a deeper level. To me, the stats and skills are a framework, and important, but the heart of the story lies in the characters' journeys and the Multiverse they inhabit.

In terms of my writing tendencies, two things I tend to focus on include rich descriptions and subtle foreshadowing. I love weaving intricate details into the narrative, hinting at future events and building a sense of anticipation. I'm sure many of you have already begun to pick up on these foreshadowing threads. Some of those hints have already paid off in recent chapters, while others are still simmering, waiting to be revealed. And there are even a few long-term mysteries that won't be resolved for quite some time!

When it comes to world-building, I'm not a fan of lengthy, dry info dumps. As essential as they might be, I feel they can disrupt the reader's immersion. That's why I decided to begin Klarion's journey at the Imperial Academy. The Academy provides a natural and organic way to introduce the world's lore through his classes, interactions with other students, and the challenges he faces. This allows me to build the world piece by piece, rather than overwhelming you with a wall of text.

It's important to note that while Klarion's time at the Imperial Academy is a crucial part of his early journey to power within the Empire and the Multiverse, it won't be the sole setting for the entire series. I plan to intersperse non-Academy settings at specific points during his schooling. In particular, you can expect to see a significant portion of his "summer vacations" taking place outside the Academy's walls, allowing us to explore other facets of the Empire and the Multiverse. Anyway, I thought I would just share a bit more about myself, the works I have read in recent years, and a little about where I will be taking Klarion in the chapters ahead.

As always, I'm incredibly grateful for all of your support. Your enthusiasm and feedback fuel my passion for writing and inspire me to keep pushing myself to produce more for you all to enjoy. Thank you for joining me on this journey! Stay tuned for more chapters and additional world-building articles!