{"id":23007,"date":"2026-04-03T10:00:00","date_gmt":"2026-04-03T16:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.onelowerlight.com\/writing\/?p=23007"},"modified":"2026-04-03T08:34:36","modified_gmt":"2026-04-03T14:34:36","slug":"the-rough-draft-of-captive-of-the-falconstar-is-complete","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.onelowerlight.com\/writing\/the-rough-draft-of-captive-of-the-falconstar-is-complete\/","title":{"rendered":"The rough draft of Captive of the Falconstar is complete!"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"533\" height=\"800\" src=\"https:\/\/www.onelowerlight.com\/writing\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/COTF-test1-533x800.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-21930\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.onelowerlight.com\/writing\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/COTF-test1-533x800.jpg 533w, https:\/\/www.onelowerlight.com\/writing\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/COTF-test1-267x400.jpg 267w, https:\/\/www.onelowerlight.com\/writing\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/COTF-test1-200x300.jpg 200w, https:\/\/www.onelowerlight.com\/writing\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/COTF-test1-450x675.jpg 450w, https:\/\/www.onelowerlight.com\/writing\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/COTF-test1.jpg 600w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 533px) 100vw, 533px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Good news! The rough human draft of <em>Captive of the Falconstar<\/em> is now complete! I finished it just this morning. It clocks in at:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>12 chapters<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>63 scenes<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>84,786 words<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The AI draft was a little bit longer, at 85,055 words. I finished that last week (I&#8217;ve been working on the AI draft and the human draft concurrently). But the AI draft was never going to be good enough to put out into the world on its own. There were definitely parts that I needed to rewrite in my own words, in order to work out the finer details of the story. That&#8217;s one of the reasons why I always do a complete human rewrite of everything I generate with AI.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The next step is to make a revision pass through the book, to check for any plot holes or loose threads, and to make sure that all of the scene and chapter transitions work the way they&#8217;re supposed to. Then I&#8217;ll make a final polishing pass, where I cut the word count by at least 10%. At that point, all it needs is a copy edit and\/or a proofreading pass, and it&#8217;s ready to go out into the world!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">If you want to preorder this book, you can already do so at most of the major online retailers. It&#8217;s set to release on July 11th, which is plenty of time to finish all the revisions and edits.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-mybooktable-single-book\"> <div id=\"mbt-container\"> <div itemscope itemtype=\"https:\/\/schema.org\/Book\" id=\"post-22978\" class=\"mbt-book mbt-book-single mbt-display-mode-singlecolumn\">\r\n\t<div class=\"mbt-book-sections\"><a class=\"mbt-book-anchor\" id=\"mbt-book-summary-anchor\" name=\"mbt-book-summary-anchor\"><\/a>\r\n<div class=\"mbt-book-section mbt-book-summary-section\">\r\n\t<div class=\"mbt-book-section-content\">\r\n\t\t\t<h1 itemprop=\"name\" class=\"mbt-book-title\">Captive of the Falconstar<\/h1>\r\n\t\t<div class=\"mbt-book-images mbt-book-images-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Captive of the Falconstar\" class=\" mbt-book-image\" src=\"https:\/\/www.onelowerlight.com\/writing\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/COTF-test1-533x800.jpg\"><\/div>\t\t<div class=\"mbt-book-right\">\r\n\t\t\t<h2 class=\"mbt-book-teaser\">Freedom is a fantasy\u2014but revenge is forever.<\/h2>\t\t\t<div itemprop=\"description\" class=\"mbt-book-blurb\">\r\n\t<p>Sonya tells herself she wants freedom\u2014that she dreams of returning to her homeworld. But the truth burns hotter: she wants revenge. The problem is Zlata\u2014once a captive like Sonya, now queen of the Hameji star clan. As rival wives circle for power, pressuring Zlata to produce an heir, she turns to a dangerous solution that will force her to use Sonya in ways neither woman expected.<\/p>\n<\/div>\r\n<div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div>\r\n<a href=\"#mbt-book-purchase-anchor\" class=\"mbt-book-purchase-button mbt-primary-button\">Order Now!<\/a>\t\t<\/div>\r\n\t\t<div style=\"clear:both;\"><\/div>\r\n\t<\/div>\r\n<\/div><a class=\"mbt-book-anchor\" id=\"mbt-book-overview-anchor\" name=\"mbt-book-overview-anchor\"><\/a>\r\n<div class=\"mbt-book-section mbt-book-overview-section\">\r\n\t<div class=\"mbt-book-section-title\">About the Book<\/div>\r\n\t<div class=\"mbt-book-section-content\">\r\n\t\t<div class=\"mbt-book-overview\">\r\n\t\t\t<strong>Freedom is a fantasy\u2014but revenge is forever.<\/strong>\r\n\r\nSonya tells herself she wants freedom\u2014that she only dreams of returning to her homeworld. But the truth burns hotter and darker. She wants revenge.\r\n\r\nThe problem? Zlata stands in her way. Once a captive like Sonya, Zlata clawed her way to become queen of the Hameji star clan\u2014and now she keeps Sonya as her slave.\r\n\r\nBut as the Valdamar Clan rises to threaten everything Zlata has built, the queen faces a brutal dilemma: rival wives circling for power, a warlord husband who needs an heir, and a dangerous solution that will force her to use Sonya in ways neither woman expected.\r\n\r\nIn the ruthless game of Hameji clan politics, captivity takes many forms\u2014and freedom may cost more than either woman can pay.\t\t<\/div>\r\n\t<\/div>\r\n<\/div><a class=\"mbt-book-anchor\" id=\"mbt-book-meta-anchor\" name=\"mbt-book-meta-anchor\"><\/a>\r\n<div class=\"mbt-book-section mbt-book-meta-section\">\r\n\t<div class=\"mbt-book-section-title\">Details<\/div>\r\n\t<div class=\"mbt-book-section-content\">\r\n\t\t<div class=\"mbt-book-meta\">\r\n\t\t\t<span class=\"mbt-meta-item mbt-meta-mbt_author\"><span class=\"mbt-meta-title\">Author:<\/span> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.onelowerlight.com\/writing\/authors\/joe-vasicek\/\">Joe Vasicek<\/a><\/span><br>\t\t\t<span class=\"mbt-meta-item mbt-meta-series\"><span class=\"mbt-meta-title\">Series:<\/span> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.onelowerlight.com\/writing\/series\/falconstar-trilogy\/\">Falconstar Trilogy<\/a>, Book 2<\/span><br>\t\t\t<span class=\"mbt-meta-item mbt-meta-mbt_genre\"><span class=\"mbt-meta-title\">Genres:<\/span> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.onelowerlight.com\/writing\/genre\/fic028010\/\">Action &amp; Adventure<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.onelowerlight.com\/writing\/genre\/fiction\/\">FICTION<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.onelowerlight.com\/writing\/genre\/general\/\">General<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.onelowerlight.com\/writing\/genre\/fic028050\/\">Military<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.onelowerlight.com\/writing\/genre\/science-fiction\/\">Science Fiction<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.onelowerlight.com\/writing\/genre\/fic028130\/\">Space Exploration<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.onelowerlight.com\/writing\/genre\/fic028030\/\">Space Opera<\/a><\/span><br>\t\t\t<span class=\"mbt-meta-item mbt-meta-mbt_tag\"><span class=\"mbt-meta-title\">Tag:<\/span> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.onelowerlight.com\/writing\/bookstag\/2026-release\/\">2026 Release<\/a><\/span><br>\t\t\t<span class=\"mbt-meta-item mbt-meta-publisher\"><span class=\"mbt-meta-title\">Publisher:<\/span> <a href=\"http:\/\/onelowerlight.com\/writing\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow\" class=\"mbt-publisher\">Joe Vasicek<\/a><\/span><br>\t\t\t<span class=\"mbt-meta-item mbt-meta-length\"><span class=\"mbt-meta-title\">Publication Year:<\/span> July 2026<\/span><br>\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"mbt-meta-item mbt-meta-length\"><span class=\"mbt-meta-title\">Length:<\/span> Novel<\/span><br>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"mbt-meta-item mbt-meta-length\"><span class=\"mbt-meta-title\">eBook Price:<\/span> $4.99<\/span><br>\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\r\n\t<\/div>\r\n<\/div>\r\n<a class=\"mbt-book-anchor\" id=\"mbt-book-purchase-anchor\" name=\"mbt-book-purchase-anchor\"><\/a><div class=\"mbt-book-section mbt-book-purchase-section\"><div class=\"mbt-book-section-title\">Order Now<\/div><div class=\"mbt-book-section-content\"><div class=\"mbt-book-buybuttons\"><div class=\"mbt-book-buybutton\"><a href=\"http:\/\/www.amazon.com\/dp\/B0GS9C2S52?tag=1001parsec-20\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.onelowerlight.com\/writing\/wp-content\/plugins\/mybooktable\/styles\/silver\/kindle_button.png\" border=\"0\" alt=\"Buy from Amazon Kindle\" \/><\/a><\/div><div class=\"mbt-book-buybutton\"><a href=\"https:\/\/books.apple.com\/us\/book\/captive-of-the-falconstar\/id6760476806?uo=8&amp;at=1010l3Ee\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.onelowerlight.com\/writing\/wp-content\/plugins\/mybooktable\/styles\/silver\/ibooks_button.png\" border=\"0\" alt=\"Buy from Apple Books\" \/><\/a><\/div><div class=\"mbt-book-buybutton\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.qksrv.net\/links\/7737731\/type\/am\/https:\/\/www.barnesandnoble.com\/w\/captive-of-the-falconstar-joe-vasicek\/1149675329?ean=2940185017210\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.onelowerlight.com\/writing\/wp-content\/plugins\/mybooktable\/styles\/silver\/nook_button.png\" border=\"0\" alt=\"Buy from Barnes and Noble Nook\" \/><\/a><\/div><div class=\"mbt-book-buybutton\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.smashwords.com\/books\/view\/1987698\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.onelowerlight.com\/writing\/wp-content\/plugins\/mybooktable\/styles\/silver\/smashwords_button.png\" border=\"0\" alt=\"Buy from Smashwords\" \/><\/a><\/div><div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><a class=\"mbt-book-anchor\" id=\"mbt-book-about-author-anchor\" name=\"mbt-book-about-author-anchor\"><\/a><div class=\"mbt-book-section mbt-book-about-author-section\"><div class=\"mbt-book-section-content\"><div class=\"mbt-book-about-author\">\t<div class=\"mbt-book-about-author-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/www.onelowerlight.com\/writing\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/profile2020-small.jpg\"><\/div>\t<div class=\"mbt-book-about-author-right\">\t\t<div class=\"mbt-book-about-author-name\">Joe Vasicek<\/div>\t\t<div class=\"mbt-book-about-author-desc\"><p>Joe Vasicek fell in love with science fiction and fantasy when he read The Neverending Story as a child. He is the author of more than twenty books, including Genesis Earth, Gunslinger to the Stars, The Sword Keeper, and the Sons of the Starfarers series. As a young man, he studied Arabic at Brigham Young University and traveled across the Middle East and the Caucasus Mountains. He lives in Utah with his wife and two apple trees.<\/p>\n<\/div>\t<\/div>\t<div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><a class=\"mbt-book-anchor\" id=\"mbt-book-series-anchor\" name=\"mbt-book-series-anchor\"><\/a><div class=\"mbt-book-section mbt-book-series-section\"><div class=\"mbt-book-section-title\">Other Books in the \"Falconstar Trilogy\"<\/div><div class=\"mbt-book-section-content\"><div class=\"mbt-book-series\"><div class=\"mbt-series-book\"><div class=\"mbt-series-book-images\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.onelowerlight.com\/writing\/books\/queen-of-the-falconstar\/\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.onelowerlight.com\/writing\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/QOTF-test3-533x800.jpg\"><\/a><\/div><div class=\"mbt-series-book-title\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.onelowerlight.com\/writing\/books\/queen-of-the-falconstar\/\">Queen of the Falconstar<\/a><\/div><\/div><div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><div class=\"mbt-affiliate-disclaimer\">Some of the links in the page above are \"affiliate links.\" This means if you click on the link and purchase the item, I will receive an affiliate commission. You will not receive any additional charge.\r\n\r\nAs an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.<\/div><\/div> <\/div> <\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Good news! The rough human draft of Captive of the Falconstar is now complete! I finished it just this morning. It clocks in at: The AI draft was a little bit longer, at 85,055 words. I finished that last week (I&#8217;ve been working on the AI draft and the human draft concurrently). But the AI&hellip; <a class=\"more-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.onelowerlight.com\/writing\/the-rough-draft-of-captive-of-the-falconstar-is-complete\/\">Continue reading <span class=\"screen-reader-text\">The rough draft of Captive of the Falconstar is complete!<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2},"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[1567,1542],"tags":[756,925,63],"class_list":["post-23007","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-captive-of-the-falconstar","category-falconstar-trilogy","tag-new-releases","tag-news-and-updates","tag-triumphs","entry"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p7iXK-5Z5","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.onelowerlight.com\/writing\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/23007","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.onelowerlight.com\/writing\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.onelowerlight.com\/writing\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.onelowerlight.com\/writing\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.onelowerlight.com\/writing\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=23007"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/www.onelowerlight.com\/writing\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/23007\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":23033,"href":"https:\/\/www.onelowerlight.com\/writing\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/23007\/revisions\/23033"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.onelowerlight.com\/writing\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=23007"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.onelowerlight.com\/writing\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=23007"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.onelowerlight.com\/writing\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=23007"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}