Changelog Archive

Earlier development updates

December 20, 2025

Second Draft Complete

Major structural revision complete. The narrative now flows more naturally between the three main threads.

Key Changes

  • Restructured Part II through Part V for better pacing
  • Expanded the Ramadi sections with additional detail
  • Refined the isolation narrative thread
  • Added new transitional scenes
  • Incorporated early reader feedback

April 7, 2025

First Complete Draft

The first complete draft of the manuscript is finished. All seventeen parts are now written, though significant revision work remains.

Completed

  • All narrative sections drafted
  • Three-thread structure established
  • Opening and closing sequences finalized
  • Core emotional arc in place

Known Issues

  • Some transitions feel abrupt
  • Middle sections need tightening
  • Voice consistency needs work in early chapters

March 15, 2025

Structural Outline

Completed the structural outline for the full manuscript. The three-thread approach (Combat, Isolation, Redemption) is now the organizing principle.

  • Seventeen parts outlined
  • Key scenes identified for each thread
  • Chronological framework established
  • Thematic connections mapped

March 1, 2025

Project Started

Began writing "The Ghosts We Carry." Initial work focused on the combat narratives and establishing voice.

  • First three chapters drafted
  • Working title established
  • Memoir format chosen over fiction