Hey friend!
I first published How Far the Sky sometime at the end of April 2025, and I thought,
“Thank the gods. I finally have a published book.”
But Should I Have?
I lost my job at the end of March and said to myself, “Fuck it—write a book!”
It’s something I’ve been dreaming about since high school, and honestly, I’ve got the chops to do it.
I started working in earnest while the ambition and adrenaline were still hot and cranked out 38,000 words in just under a month.
I was so excited. I finally did the thing.
The Problem?
It was ass.
That might be harsh—but really, I think it’s fair. The formatting issues, the typos, the plot holes… enough to make a fourth grader look up from Minecraft and go, “What the fuck?”
It was all bones and no meat.
I literally wrote my first draft and yelled YES!
…when what I should’ve said was, “Whew. Let’s put a pin in that.”
Here’s What I Learned:
Finishing is worth celebrating.
Even if it’s a first draft. Even if it’s ass.
Because truthfully? A lot of people never get that far. Sure, I got a little too excited and hit publish without thinking twice (and trusted a… let’s say, less-than-reputable editor). But I still did the thing.
And that’s damn near everything.
Publishing doesn’t mean perfect.
Even after rewriting the novel and going through proper beta reading and line edits, it still won’t be flawless. There’s going to be something in it that makes me cringe eventually.
But that’s okay. The story matters—even if it isn’t perfect.
You can be proud of your progress and still want better.
Better for your work. Better for yourself.
I could’ve let my imperfect little pixie stand on her own in all her messy, unfinished glory.
But I wanted more.
The story deserved better.
Frankly, my readers do too.
What’s Next?
Look for the new version of How Far the Sky at the end of July or mid-August.
Already bought the first version? Shoot me a message and I’ll send you a new copy—no fuss.
Want early access? Interested in beta reading?
Email me: beta [at] tjstineman [dot] com