Spoiler Alert… this is the end of the sequel
Tag: novel character
The Devil is in the details
I have a clear message or idea I am trying to express in the story’s (Emergence Collective) subtext. But I am so wrapped up in the story, and all of my crazy fantasies, musings, and daydreams swirl together. Some things I wrote never made it into the book, and I honestly can’t remember which parts and thoughts it made in the final. In the sequel, I am making a more considerable effort to express the big picture concepts that I wanted to convey.
The Devil is in the details. Since I’ve got past the initial 60 thousand plus words under my belt. The sequel is going much smoother, and I have a better idea of how to get my crazy notions out.
Setting the mood
Well, it’s Monday again. Nuff said about that, amright? I had a productive weekend, got some excellent writing on the sequel, and am really happy with how things are going. (Again, if I am not excited about it, it’s probably not an exciting read, right?) I got to scratch several creative itches this weekend.
So, the environment is important to me when I am writing, and music is part of it. I like to listen to music that gives me the “feel” of the scenes or characters I am writing about. “Emergence collective” had a lot of “Lacuna coil” and “Death” playing in the background. It may not give you, the reader, the same feels as I get from my music (that I am guessing is pretty obscure to the mainstream)
I hope that the feelings this music evokes when I write translate to the character or scene I am composing and give a similar sense to the reader.
Value added?
Out of curiosity…. Is there interest in
Monthaversary!
So it has been 1 month since I started this blog. I’m going to give myself Kudos for Sticking with it! I tend to start a lot of projects that I soon abandoned. Short attention span, ADD, get bored with it, all the good excuses to move on to the next thing. But here I am, still trying it. In retrospect, I should have started blogging years ago. I discovered that blogging is actually fun to do, and it has done a couple positive things for me. For one, I am meeting a lot of cool people. I enjoy the community and interactions I am having, reading other blogs, getting improvement tips. Also, It keeps me in a creative mindset. So far …. no haters. Wow.
I started this blog primarily to promote my Book “Emergence Collective” and other writing projects. But it is also turning into its own creative outlet. So a big thank you to everyone who has checked it out, especially those who choose to follow me. Your time is precious, and I sincerely appreciate you spending some of it here.
For those who haven’t been here before or have only read a few of my posts, I suggest you check out some of my earlier posts. May I recommend my Character snapshots of “Emergence collective.”
Character snapshot: Barney Derrick
Character snapshot: Frank
Character snapshot: Willy Winston
Character snapshot: Mark and Trina
Character snapshot: The hole
Or if you like Horror, maybe check out “Alone.” It is a quick read, only 21 pages.
Thank you everyone who has checked out my blog!
Write as if you are an orphan.
I can’t remember where I heard that, but I think its harder than it sounds. Even though I write for myself, because I am compelled to, I think about who is reading it. Friends, family, strangers. But I think it inhibits the content of my writing, as I am always easing off the gas when it comes to graphic scenes of violence and sex. I, however, am an unabashed reader of those things, so Why can’t I write it? I sincerely applaud those that are brave enough to navigate those waters (as I stand on the shore looking on with envy). Maybe I will be brave enough to let loose a little one day.
Do you (I) know what you are doing?
It is not writer’s block. I tell myself as I stare at a blank page. The problem is there are too many choices. Maybe you can relate to this. As a kid (or adult, I don’t judge), You are standing in a candy store, anything you want there is yours if you want, but you can only have a few choices. How long do you waver between the creamy, decadent chocolates or the chewy gumdrops? Just when you have decided and reached (for the chocolate, I already knew what I wanted), the Swedish fish catches your eye…. That is how I feel sometimes; too many choices leave an empty page but in my mind, it’s full, and working on the next. I have mentioned before that my writing style is kinda convoluted. I think of the entire story, front to back. My roadmap. But there are a lot of side roads and interesting things to see along the way; I might wander off the planned route a little before I get back on track. But I do have a plan. Now I fill in all the little details. But those details have to have meaning that progresses the storyline and fits together like a puzzle. I take all these pieces, maybe workout a scene here, think about an interaction that might not show up for a few chapters, set that down, and work on another scene that won’t show up until the grand finale. So blank pages are not blank. In my mind
This method is working for me. But really, I have no idea what I am doing. There must be an easier way. I have been wondering how other writers do their thang. What is the process? Am I the only one that writes this way? Maybe I should start interviewing other authors, pick their brains, and see what works for them. What do you think? Let me know in the comments section below.
As far as my blank page goes, I have been reflecting on my story, and I think I have smoothed out some rough surfaces that made good connections in the narrative. Blank page I will crush you.
Feeling accomplishment
I had a good weekend and, got a lot of my plans completed, Projects for Etsy. But I did not write anything. I know, I know, I said it was a priority this weekend, but I am an artist and we are allowed to be flaky with personal goals. Even though I did not put words on paper, I do work on the story. When I am creating whether is it drawing (which I don’t do enough of lately), or painting, I am thinking about how I want the story to go. Visual art is my Zen place because I can let my mind free and wander where it wants while my eyes and hands are doing the work. My head is a rat’s nest of thoughts, so sometimes it takes a little time to unravel the threads of the story. Nevertheless, I am feeling pretty good about getting things done. Oh And Happy Pi Day!
A New 5 Star review on Amazon!
All 5 star reviews! Aren’t you getting curious why people are giving these great reviews? Maybe your missing out!
Back burners
Don’t forget to check on those things you put on the back burner every now and then. I have enough plans on the back burner, It looks like Hells kitchen. My process (do I have a process?) is that I am thinking of different projects and story ideas all the time. Sometimes I jot down an idea about one story then immediately start thinking of another, building plots and motivations. I’ve been doing this for a long time; if I was disciplined, I would have several books by now. Only recently have I actually started making it a priority (This blog is helping with that too.)
There is an indie author I really enjoy Phil Rossi, he wrote a bunch of short stories based on the world he created. Like long-form vignettes. I like that idea for two reasons; one is that it keeps you writing and adds content, and two, it expands the world-building and gives possible new material that you can use in your main storyline. Callbacks and references can be Easter eggs that are nice little treats for fans that are in the know. I think it’s a brilliant idea.
In addition to writing vignettes to add density to my world-building, I have several stories brewing in my head; I am not sure if they will become novels or not. A couple of them I am particularly excited to start fleshing out. After I finished “Emergence Collective,” I planned to do just that, but I got distracted with the second book and started writing it. Pushed back onto the back burner, but not forgotten.
“Emergence Collective” went in a direction that I wasn’t really aiming for, and I actually surprised myself that it did go that way. My next stories are less scifi fantasy spiritualism and more horror. Which is honestly one of my favorite genres. Hardcore science fiction and horror are my “go to’s.” Hopefully, I can do the genre justice. (Stay tuned for that!)
A blogger SMVLTUDEAU “Bloggin about Yaudi,” gave me an idea I am considering about workshopping stories on the blog. I think it can build interest in the stories and you could crowd source feedback. I will have to give it some though about if it will help or hinder the story progression.
Hand-prints of Darkness 