erraticerrata
patreon
Book III Backcover/ AMA Scheduling and Aftermath
🕑 Added 2025-02-21 05:01:03 +0000 UTCHey there!
First off, of it's my pleasure to introduce the title and backcover to the third book of Pale Lights, "Borrowed Trouble". We can talk about the rest after you've had a peek.
--
Borrowed Trouble
The Thirteenth Brigade returned from Asphodel famous and triumphant, but as their second year at Scholomance dawns they learn they cannot afford to rest on their laurels.
Between the fresh students flooding Port Allazei, the addition of a fifth member to the brigade and the mysteries revealed by a sinister graduation ceremony there is quite a bit of trouble to go around. Of course, the Unluckies being who they are, even before ancient nightmares begin running wild they’ve somehow found additional trouble to borrow.
Tristan finds religion (then promptly loses it) while Angharad finds herself haunted by consequence (and, more concerningly, ghosts). Meanwhile, Song’s quest for accurate essay citations earns a (continuously rising) body count and Maryam learns that legacies are a heavy burden to bear (even when you have two backs).
As for Izel Coyac, still fresh to the Thirteenth, he does not need to borrow anything: trouble followed him all the way from home, and this time she isn’t taking no for an answer.
By the time their second year comes to a close, no one will ever doubt again that the Unluckies earned every bit of that sobriquet.
--
With that out of the way, we get to more technical stuff.
As I mentioned in late January, the 21st of March will have an AMA on the Erraticana Discord (link here ) instead of an update. I plan to put at least a few hours into it, which means scheduling in advance. I've started a poll below for which start time works better for you, the winner will be when it takes place.
Since I've already had inquiries about asking questions on "A Practice Guide to Evil", I'll put it here that to keep this about Pale Lights there will be a cap of ten questions about the Guide - last time I did an AMA there was the same rule and questions were submitted to the mods on the Discord, I expect it'll be the same this time.
The last part of this post is an uneasy admission - I've been working on Borrowed Trouble for a bit now, and despite the pause when my son was first born I'm finding that I'm pretty burned out, both physically and creatively. I could probably grit my teeth and power through, I've done it before, but I'm concerned that will result in a lower quality book.
I've already committed to everything up to the AMA on March 21st and that's not changing, but I'm strongly considering taking a break after that. Updates for Pale Lights would resume on April 11th, which would let me build up a reserve of chapters again and tighten up the plot. I'd pause payments for April, naturally.
Consider this me taking the temperature for your opinion on the break. I'll have settled on a decision by next week's update, and an announcement will follow.
See you around,
E.E.
Comments
Mikki Phoenix
Paid parental leave is a moral good. The world is a better place when parents and children are both supported via paid parental leave. In short: 1. Take your paid parental leave, goldangit! 2. And that's *PAID* parental leave -- so don't stop payments here on Patreon!
Matthew Rogers
Take a rest!
NeekaNeon
get the rest you need - times are hard enough as is without burning the candle in the middle
York
I was surprised with how short of a break you initially planned for. Take care of yourself. I'd be happy to keep paying the sub, because I believe in paid parental leave.
greg grinberg
This is your first right kid right? Take a break. Take a longer break than you think you need. You will have other things on your mind besides the story.
Aguido Horatio Davis
I am in principle in favour of you doing what you said you would do, even if it’s hard. Push through, write what you said you would write. Keep going. But that won’t, in the end, work. Burnt out is burnt out. If you’re taking the break, then please take a proper break and add a week or two to write some chapters to stack up in the buffer. (Then when real life happens to you again you have some margins.) If you’re taking time, take *enough* time. No half measures.
Devin Armstrong
I think.its.widely agreed that you should take the time to recover so you can do your best work, the amazing stuff we love from you. Take time for yourself and come back at your best!
Scott's Folly
If you need the break, take the break. In fact I'd suggest taking the break now, in between books and with the back-cover for the next up, rather than getting a few updates into book III and then pausing. The public page reached chapter 76 yesterday, so if those updates continue as scheduled (which I assume is relatively straightforward in comparison or can even be pre-scheduled) they'll get the Epilogue the week before the AMA. The lag between Patreon and Public would then have them restart on the 2nd of May, a 'convenient' start-of-month return. Incidentally, for those on this side of the Atlantic, the four AMA options correspond to: 11:00 EST = 16:00 GMT = 17:00 CET 13:00 EST = 18:00 GMT = 19:00 CET 15:00 EST = 20:00 GMT = 21:00 CET 17:00 EST = 22:00 GMT = 22:00 CET
GraySquirrelEatToast
Break recommended, but I don't care if you pause payments.
Mark W
Take another break if you need it. Your only get to adjust having your first kid once, and you work ethic is not in question after what, eight years of clockwork updates?
Sam Baker
Take the time you need
Anduvoru
Take the break. Your writing, and us, will thank you
Nate
Take the time! The reason we subscribe to you and not all the other internet authors out there is the quality - release schedules be damned.
Coricelesti
A bit late to the party, but take all the time you need for yourself. If I can wait years for Martin and Rothfuss than it‘s a cake to wait for you.
Nyto
dude you just had a kid. Take some time off.
Quau Brohan
To agree with literally everyone, take the break.
Calico
absolutely take the break EE! your work is a master craft and time away will only hone it further
Dakota Mangum-Turner
I think the answer is clear. There is no guilt in a break.
Griffin McCutcheon
Take the break!
Draken09
*concerning sounds of bones breaking, like you should be*
Taborask
You're asking the wrong crowd if you think any of us would tell you not to take a break. We're here paying money for something we could get for free just to support you. Take care of yourself man!
Matthew Wells
Break.
Shane Patten
Break!
Warbler
Take the break babe, writing is no fun when you're burnt out and what's the point if it's not fun?
John Harper
Adding to the chorus for taking a break. Getting burned out doesn't help anyone. You're already astonishingly prolific. Personally also happy to not pause the sub
Skryter
Absolutely take the break, it's well deserved.
Tanzanite Dragoness
Take the break! Please!
Jacob Shpiece
Take the break!
Razorhead
If you're thinking about taking a break that's a sign you likely need one. Recharge your energy!
Inay
I second my cohorts, take the break. Babies are hard work! Besides, very personally, 11th April is my birthday so I'd be quite happy for a return on that date xD (joke aside, take as long as you need for a break is my opinion)
Sean Boyd
Take the break!
Nicholas Strickland
Take the break!
Untellable
Break
Avid_Appletree
Take the break. I don't have children myself but my sister has a son that is roughly the same age so I know a little bit about how much attention the little one demands.
Ranger Science
Itake both the break and my money :D
Luis Fz
Take the break babe
Tarmandan
Please take a break! Your books are so high quality and the chapters so long, I don't mind waiting! I'd even be completly fine with you taking a one week break every month.
nothingtoseehere
6 weeks parental leave is not enough for most jobs, why would writing be different? Take a break.
prashanth sunder
Please take a break!
Aleksandr Sergeev
Please, take the well deserved break!
t
Please take a break. I am begging you. Maintaining the quality you put out is easily worth a full month of no chapters, and if you end up taking less than that anyway, then that feels like an god damn steal. Plus, I started Guide book 6 so I'd personally be set for a while anyway.
Conrad Wong
A break sounds like just what the doctor ordered! Good luck and hope all will be well for you!
voopy
As much as I want uninterrupted Pale Lights, take the break - for yourself, and for the work
Alexander Smith
Take the break!
Muaz
Take the break, this lovely work will be a marathon more than a sprint. It's very deserved
EndlessTurtle
Don't even worry about it, go and take a break
Michael Meikle
The phrase "Newborn" hits different, after the climax of Book 2!
Michael Meikle
As sad as it will be, to live life without your lovely chapters to look forward to every week, take all the time you need to recover! If you want to take all of April off, or longer, we won't mind if it helps you stay on top of your mental health and recover, especially after such a stunningly good Book 2! We care about you and want you to be okay and happy, especially with a young kid.
Sivcere
It's a wide world and you screw over someone by picking any time. For example, not picking 3-5pm ET screws over NZ.
Arvid Viaene
One more note. 5pm ET makes it harder for those of us who live in Europe / Central European time as that is around 11pm here. But can understand if it is easier for those in US.
Arvid Viaene
Agreed with the above that you should take the break! We’re better off for it because (I) the book will be better for it (ii) we don’t want burn-out. We want your continued writing for the long run! Your writing is a genuine source of joy in my life. And most importantly (iii) we care about you, whose books and writing have done so much for us, and thus are a friend.
Kevin Eian Bennett
With a fresh face added to your life, please take the break and enjoy your life to the fullest! We will be here to support your return, keep the creative power fresh!
Srivatsan Kumar
Take a break! Time with a newborn is time you will never get back! ♥️
Username5
Take a break. Ignoring the whole these days will never come again, you've just grown your family and that's a magical and stressful experience part, from a purely transactional point of view I pay for this story because it is good. Stressing yourself to put out a bad story is bad for everyone. You've brought such joy to so many and it would be a shame if it became a burden in your life.
Gabriel Chen
Never feel guilty for taking a break, I've been a huge fan of your writing for years and I'd hate to see you lose your passion for your work.
Scylla
It's always more important to take care of yourself before entertaining others
Ridge
Absolutely take a break, we’ll be waiting when you get back.
Gideon
Please, take all the time that you need. If I lose my passion for your work, then you just have one fewer reader, but if you lose your passion for your work, then one of the best web fictions out there is left in limbo. I don't think anybody is going to begrudge a new parent taking a little bit more time off.
Ian Fraser
Pace yourself! We appreciate your hard work, and much rather have a happy author than a chapter perfectly on time.
Young Youghurt
Man please take a break. Your work is phenomenal and you deserve it.
Nedardo
Take some time off! I think I speak for most people here when I say quality of the writing (and your sanity) is far more important than just powering through. As always, thanks for writing.
awakeatdawn
A new son seems like something to dedicate time to. More than okay for a month break.
joie01
feel free to rest EE. we can wait, we've waited before. higher quality book will mean ill enjoy myself more when i inevitably read all of this again for the 3rd or 4th time
