Difference between revisions of "The Lost Metal"

Following completion of ''[[The Alloy of Law]]'' Brandon plotted out three more books, following the same characters, to finish the story. Brandon began writing ''The Lost Metal'' in April 2021, after he finished ''[[Cytonic (book)|Cytonic]]'',{{tweet ref|1377732696865042432|Brandon's starting announcement|date=2021-04-01}} and completed the first draft on August 4, 2021.{{tweet ref|1423320505839325191|Brandon's completion announcement|date=2021-08-05}} The second draft was completed on September 20, 2021,{{wob ref|15360}} and went to beta readers and Brandon's editor shortly thereafter;{{wob ref|14971}} the beta read then finished some time in November.{{wob ref|15360}} Brandon plans to do one more substantive edit based on their feedback, likely when he needs a break from [[Stormlight 5|''Stormlight'' 5]]; after some work on polish, continuity, and proofreading, the book should be turned in to Tor in summer 2022 for a November 15,{{ref|name=TorAnnouncement}} 2022 release, around when the first two Era 2 books are released in leatherbound.{{wob ref|14971}} The post-beta read edit ended up taking more time than Brandon expected, through February 2022, and has already resulted in the book growing longer than Brandon anticipated.{{wob ref|15411}}

The book will include some information relevant to the broader [[cosmere]], including the identity of [[Trell (Trellism)|Trell]], the nature of [[trellium]],{{wob ref|14695}} and some clues about [[Kelsier]]'s plans,.{{wob ref|11747}}{{wob ref|13135}} but mostMost of those elements are more foreshadowing for [[Mistborn Era 3|''Mistborn'' Era 3]]{{wob ref|5996}} and the book will mostly focus on the characters of [[Wax]], [[Wayne]], [[Steris]], and [[Marasi]].,{{wob ref|14695}}{{wob ref|14693}} though Brandon also considers the book to be slightly more cosmere-aware than any other book he has written.{{wob ref|15409}} The book will likely begin with a [[Wayne]] flashback, rather than one of [[Wax]].{{wob ref|13838}} At least very early in the development process, Brandon envisioned Wax having basically retired and the book opening with Wayne as Marasi's deputy.{{wob ref|10283}} It will almost certainly include a broadsheet, like the other books in ''Mistborn'' Era 2.{{wob ref|14602}}

The first draft of the book is about 149,000 words total.{{wob ref|14971}} Part One is about 30,000 words and has two separate narratives, each with two of the main characters, and alternates viewpoints between all four main characters. Part Two is about 45,000 words and brings all four of the main characters together, continuing to alternate viewpoints. In Part Three, the characters split again, with one on their own arc of about 30,000 words; two of them together for an arc of about 40,000 words; and Steris on her own for a short arc of about 10,000 words. Brandon wrote each of the arcs of Part Three separately from each other, which he found was a good approach as it essentially let him write the ending three times and he likes writing endings.{{wob ref|14852}} In total, Steris will have around seven or eight viewpoints.{{wob ref|14969}} The epilogue is a bit longer than normal, as it is the last book of Era 2 and Brandon wanted to linger with the characters and setting a little more.{{wob ref|14971}} The book later grew longer than Brandon expected in the third draft.{{wob ref|15411}}