Today's EarWorm:
Today's Date: September 26, 2016
I'm sitting here and thinking about how life can just suck all the inspiration out of a writer. In my case, a change of seasons has brought on a cold and I'm living in mostly a daze of cold meds so I can stop sneezing hard enough to jar my entire body, making my back spasm in hate.
Life isn't all that kind.
For the last few months I have had more days with no words than days with actual words because it's been so busy. Appointments, ER visits, shopping trips, birthdays, days of just trying so hard to get some sleep.
It all sucks the inspiration right out of you.
But that doesn't mean that I don't have some kind of word count going on each and every day. Drabbles, short pieces, and handwritten pieces that I'm not going to count until I've typed them up onto my computer have all been done.
But this is something that, I hate to say this, takes practice to get down. You need the willpower to pick up that pen or pencil and put it down onto paper, or to pull out your GDocs on your phone or open the file on your computer and get those words.
You need to commit yourself to it.
Monday, September 26, 2016
Monday, September 19, 2016
Let's Talk...Sequels
Today's Date: September, 19, 2016
Today's Earworm: "Gansta" by Kehlani
I watched...or rather tried to watch Sinister 2. It's been about a week so far since I tired, and during that time I had to figure out why it didn't appeal to me while Sinister was so damn good.
Then I watched The Conjuring 2 and figured it out.
I didn't like Sinister 2 because when I was going in, I was expecting it to be like Sinister. I'm not talking plot. I know that the mythology in the story was set in stone and most likely they were going to continue on with the demon Bughuul. But I was expecting something more from the film.
Such as the same kind of pacing and seeing things happening at certain times. And a bit more happening with the mother and the kids.
Instead it felt off.
So this got me to thinking about my own sequels that I'm planning on writing. As most of this blog readers know most of my books have at least one sequel planned, and there are a few series that are in the works.
It got me thinking about keeping the pacing and style of the sequel(s) of the first book. Why?
Well, if you think about a series as a building, the first book is a cornerstone. It's what you build the future series off of later.
It sets the characters, the tone of the story, and the main plot points that are to carry into the next book and all following books of that series.
And you kind of have to follow that line through because if you don't it doesn't read right. It doesn't sound right. And it sure as hell looks odd if suddenly you're going off in another direction for the series.
Okay, look, I'm not saying that all series have to be about one character and one build up throughout. I'm talking it has to sound and look as if it's from the same world.
I personally have a couple of series that is more world series then character series.
Wait...what's a world series and what's a character series?
I heard that one coming from a mile away.
A world series is more of a story that is built in the same world but uses various characters as the main focal point of the story. Most often than not, the plot point of that story is different than the last book or the book that follows after it, but it's still tied into the world that was built in the first book.
And, again, most often than not, it is still tied into the recurring plot point that was built upon in the first book.
A character series is a series built upon the characters and uses those same characters throughout the series. The plot for each book can be a single point plot, where it's solved in just one book. Or it can build on a plot point and mix it with a longer point that will be covered in the full series with a single plot point.
It all depends on the writer and the stories.
I myself have a few mixes of both types. I also have world series and character series.
My Honey Drops series is, mostly, a world built series. Yes, I have the characters working towards a single goal for book 7 (I think, I don't have my list in front of me. It might be bk 6), but their own stories are different. They have different plots that they have to get through.
But the style of the story, the pacing and the world will be the same.
For my series Don't Look, again, it's a world built series but again, has an end point that I have no idea where it is. I don't know how many characters are going to end up in this series.
But for my new Comedy-Horror Ex-Retail Worker series, it's a character built series. Meaning that I have my main characters and they're going to be in all of the books to come. There are two plot points. One plot point is for the duration of the story but it ties into the plot point that will end up finishing in the last book.
It's what ties the rest of the books together.
But again, the pacing, the world and the style of the story will stay the same.
Because that's what builds the series. It's what makes the series good and cohesive.
At least that's what I've found in my writing career.
What are your thoughts on series? What makes a good series to you?
Today's Earworm: "Gansta" by Kehlani
I watched...or rather tried to watch Sinister 2. It's been about a week so far since I tired, and during that time I had to figure out why it didn't appeal to me while Sinister was so damn good.
Then I watched The Conjuring 2 and figured it out.
I didn't like Sinister 2 because when I was going in, I was expecting it to be like Sinister. I'm not talking plot. I know that the mythology in the story was set in stone and most likely they were going to continue on with the demon Bughuul. But I was expecting something more from the film.
Such as the same kind of pacing and seeing things happening at certain times. And a bit more happening with the mother and the kids.
Instead it felt off.
So this got me to thinking about my own sequels that I'm planning on writing. As most of this blog readers know most of my books have at least one sequel planned, and there are a few series that are in the works.
It got me thinking about keeping the pacing and style of the sequel(s) of the first book. Why?
Well, if you think about a series as a building, the first book is a cornerstone. It's what you build the future series off of later.
It sets the characters, the tone of the story, and the main plot points that are to carry into the next book and all following books of that series.
And you kind of have to follow that line through because if you don't it doesn't read right. It doesn't sound right. And it sure as hell looks odd if suddenly you're going off in another direction for the series.
Okay, look, I'm not saying that all series have to be about one character and one build up throughout. I'm talking it has to sound and look as if it's from the same world.
I personally have a couple of series that is more world series then character series.
Wait...what's a world series and what's a character series?
I heard that one coming from a mile away.
A world series is more of a story that is built in the same world but uses various characters as the main focal point of the story. Most often than not, the plot point of that story is different than the last book or the book that follows after it, but it's still tied into the world that was built in the first book.
And, again, most often than not, it is still tied into the recurring plot point that was built upon in the first book.
A character series is a series built upon the characters and uses those same characters throughout the series. The plot for each book can be a single point plot, where it's solved in just one book. Or it can build on a plot point and mix it with a longer point that will be covered in the full series with a single plot point.
It all depends on the writer and the stories.
I myself have a few mixes of both types. I also have world series and character series.
My Honey Drops series is, mostly, a world built series. Yes, I have the characters working towards a single goal for book 7 (I think, I don't have my list in front of me. It might be bk 6), but their own stories are different. They have different plots that they have to get through.
But the style of the story, the pacing and the world will be the same.
For my series Don't Look, again, it's a world built series but again, has an end point that I have no idea where it is. I don't know how many characters are going to end up in this series.
But for my new Comedy-Horror Ex-Retail Worker series, it's a character built series. Meaning that I have my main characters and they're going to be in all of the books to come. There are two plot points. One plot point is for the duration of the story but it ties into the plot point that will end up finishing in the last book.
It's what ties the rest of the books together.
But again, the pacing, the world and the style of the story will stay the same.
Because that's what builds the series. It's what makes the series good and cohesive.
At least that's what I've found in my writing career.
What are your thoughts on series? What makes a good series to you?
Monday, September 12, 2016
Brainstorming...With NO Idea of Plot But Maybe a Character
Today's Earworm: "Sur ma route" by Black M
Today's Date: September 12, 2016
Oh no! The horror! The Terror!
You need a story for an anthology submission, or a new book! Or you want to just write...
But you don't have any kind plots in the back burner. What do you do?
Well, you brainstorm. Okay, hold up, hear me out before you freak out about that suggestion.
This is how a plot comes to be. You brainstorm. You think about what you want to do and create a basic plotline and some characters. From there, you think of how things get from point A to point B in your story.
That's brainstorming.
But what if you don't have a plot point or anything but a character?
Well, that's where brainstorming comes from. Just randomly sitting down and typing a word. Any word and then building it up from there. Most times the character is going to give you jack all that can be used for a story, but you can still find a plot for them from there.
Let's see.
I can take a character and write out something for that character and turn it into a future plot. That's what I'm doing with my drabble series.
Yes, I'm working on them. I've just been scary busy lately so sorry you guys.
Anyways, you take a character.
Do you have an idea of them in some way? Looks? Personality? A line that they say? Their jobs or careers? Something?
Well, there's a good start. You have a character and something about them.
Let me give you an example. For Black Veiled Saviour, my murder-mystery, I didn't have a plot.
I had a character named Alexx, another character named Bo, and a pretty not quite pastel goth named Lollipop in my head. Her name has been since changed to something else mind you.
That's all I had.
So I sat there and went, "What does Alexx do? What does Bo do? And how does Lollipop bring these two boys together?"
Well, Alexx was easy. He was and always has been a bartender in my head. So I went "Alright, what is Bo?" Well, I didn't know so I started to read one of my many crime mysteries and one of them had a private investigator.
It clicked. That's what Bo was! He was a private investigator and poor Lollipop was a dead girl who the cops had no urge to discover why she had been killed.
So how to make them meet then?
Well, Lollipop was like any gothy girl who was of legal age. She went to a club. And since Alexx is a bartender, why not have him working at one of her favorite clubs? And Bo goes there on a lead and bam! We have our two main characters meet.
Now...don't think that this took me less then a few hours to come up with.
No. Oh no no no. It took me nearly two weeks of messing with this one idea while working on things that I actually had a plan for.
And then writing that first chapter took me four days to write because I kept stopping to make notes about what was going on. I actually ended up scrapping that first chapter after writing it because it didn't read right but I kept some parts of it for chapters 2 and 3.
See what I did though? I had characters so I built from there.
Sometimes you don't have characters either. Don't worry. If anything, find a random prompt generator and write drabbles, flash stories, or short pieces around that prompt.
That's actually how a few of my older stories came to be.
Or go on Twitter and ask for prompts. See what strikes and what duds on you.
Brainstorming is all about finding that spark that you can build into a roaring plot. Remember, fires aren't just magically created. You have to build with bits of this and that before you can get a proper fire going.
Writing is just the same as that.
Today's Date: September 12, 2016
Oh no! The horror! The Terror!
You need a story for an anthology submission, or a new book! Or you want to just write...
But you don't have any kind plots in the back burner. What do you do?
Well, you brainstorm. Okay, hold up, hear me out before you freak out about that suggestion.
This is how a plot comes to be. You brainstorm. You think about what you want to do and create a basic plotline and some characters. From there, you think of how things get from point A to point B in your story.
That's brainstorming.
But what if you don't have a plot point or anything but a character?
Well, that's where brainstorming comes from. Just randomly sitting down and typing a word. Any word and then building it up from there. Most times the character is going to give you jack all that can be used for a story, but you can still find a plot for them from there.
Let's see.
I can take a character and write out something for that character and turn it into a future plot. That's what I'm doing with my drabble series.
Yes, I'm working on them. I've just been scary busy lately so sorry you guys.
Anyways, you take a character.
Do you have an idea of them in some way? Looks? Personality? A line that they say? Their jobs or careers? Something?
Well, there's a good start. You have a character and something about them.
Let me give you an example. For Black Veiled Saviour, my murder-mystery, I didn't have a plot.
I had a character named Alexx, another character named Bo, and a pretty not quite pastel goth named Lollipop in my head. Her name has been since changed to something else mind you.
That's all I had.
So I sat there and went, "What does Alexx do? What does Bo do? And how does Lollipop bring these two boys together?"
Well, Alexx was easy. He was and always has been a bartender in my head. So I went "Alright, what is Bo?" Well, I didn't know so I started to read one of my many crime mysteries and one of them had a private investigator.
It clicked. That's what Bo was! He was a private investigator and poor Lollipop was a dead girl who the cops had no urge to discover why she had been killed.
So how to make them meet then?
Well, Lollipop was like any gothy girl who was of legal age. She went to a club. And since Alexx is a bartender, why not have him working at one of her favorite clubs? And Bo goes there on a lead and bam! We have our two main characters meet.
Now...don't think that this took me less then a few hours to come up with.
No. Oh no no no. It took me nearly two weeks of messing with this one idea while working on things that I actually had a plan for.
And then writing that first chapter took me four days to write because I kept stopping to make notes about what was going on. I actually ended up scrapping that first chapter after writing it because it didn't read right but I kept some parts of it for chapters 2 and 3.
See what I did though? I had characters so I built from there.
Sometimes you don't have characters either. Don't worry. If anything, find a random prompt generator and write drabbles, flash stories, or short pieces around that prompt.
That's actually how a few of my older stories came to be.
Or go on Twitter and ask for prompts. See what strikes and what duds on you.
Brainstorming is all about finding that spark that you can build into a roaring plot. Remember, fires aren't just magically created. You have to build with bits of this and that before you can get a proper fire going.
Writing is just the same as that.
Monday, September 5, 2016
Writing on the Move
Today's EarWorm
Today's Date: September 5, 2016
So I have to join(ed) my friend (who I love to bits and pieces, she is my sister without blood between us okay?) on trips. The first one was on the first. The second one is upcoming on the 12th. Fun times right?
Yeah, especially since I do have, you guessed it, writing to do while I do these.
I actually have a few solutions that work well for me so I thought I would talk about it here.
If you find that something works for you, tell me. I would love to hear that they worked. Or if you do something not on this list, tell me still! I would love to hear everything you have to say.
I don't bite, I promise.
Anyways, let's go over what I do when I'm out and about with no wifi.
Today's Date: September 5, 2016
So I have to join(ed) my friend (who I love to bits and pieces, she is my sister without blood between us okay?) on trips. The first one was on the first. The second one is upcoming on the 12th. Fun times right?
Yeah, especially since I do have, you guessed it, writing to do while I do these.
I actually have a few solutions that work well for me so I thought I would talk about it here.
If you find that something works for you, tell me. I would love to hear that they worked. Or if you do something not on this list, tell me still! I would love to hear everything you have to say.
I don't bite, I promise.
Anyways, let's go over what I do when I'm out and about with no wifi.
Tablet/Phone
I actually have both but the smartphone I have is more of a glorified mini-tablet since I don't have a data plan attached to it. Which is fine. It works for me.
Really it does.
Before my friend gave me the phone, I used a tablet with a keyboard. The keyboard, unfortunately, died a horrific death with half the keys not wanting to work. But now with the phone, I can just as easily type on that.
I have GDocs downloaded on it and I do have wifi capabilities, so that's not a problem. As long as I have power and the ability to get some wifi sometime, I can type on any of my files that I have set up for offline work. And I put that to good use.
I open the file I want and I start to write on it. I've done it in car's, on buses before, at the doctor's office, anywhere that the urge to write has taken over me. I pull it out and start tapping it out. Took me a while to get the hang of writing on the damn phone but I can even do it when I'm stuck in bed. Which sucks majorly but it can be done.
Paper and Pen
Ohhh yes, I write the old fashioned way to. Yes, I kind of have to. I have a small hoard of pens and I'm forever finding more to add to that collection. I go through a pen in a month if I'm not doing a lot of hand writing.
I've learned how best to write in a moving vehicle okay? I've learned how best to hold my pen and how to decipher my already messy writing when it came time to type up the words.
I never go out of the house without a backpack with a notebook or a binder full of paper, at least three pens, some chapstick, lactose pills (yay for lactose intolerance! Makes eating icecream a fun time), my phone, car charger and charging line, carpal tunnel glove, a clipboard (for a solid surface), a couple of my travel sized notebooks (for ideas), hair clip, hair ties, and a body spray.
Or two.
As me and my friend say "We don't carry purses for very good reasons. We have a lot of stuff that helps keep us sane". And this is true.
My writing keeps me sane while we wait for our ride to get to us when we have them leave us to shop while they do their thing.
Oh and lately I carry around a travel sized bottle of suntan lotion and a small thing of baby powder.
Look, it's not that hard to find a way to carry things around for your use. I use a sling shoulder backpack so I have options on how I want to carry the darn thing around. It has two pockets (one main one on the front and one small side one that usually carries my IPod mini, phone and headphones) and the big area that carries all that I need.
Cause I do also have to carry a wallet and a set of keys around with me. It's cute and it's durable, and mostly waterproof as proven by being caught in a sudden rain storm.
It's not that hard to carry around supplies. You carry one such supply on you. And if you can text, you can write on a phone with a GDoc app.
But how do you write when you're on the move?
Monday, August 22, 2016
Let's Talk Pantsing VS Outlining
Today's EarWorm:
Today's Date: August 22, 2016
So let's talk writing and Pantsing VS Outlining said story.
Why am I going over this thought process? Because I have my ex-retail worker turned supernatural hunter story that is giving me bits and pieces of story and no real outline as to what is going on and when it needs to happen.
No, instead it's giving me bits and pieces for the damn thing.
Yeah. Joy. Fun. Really...
Not.
BUT! It did give me an idea for this weeks blog. Pantsing VS Outlining.
First, what is Pantsing? And what is Outlining?
Well, pantsing is a writing term that is defined as "writing by the seat of your pants". Pretty much you're writing whatever comes to your head without any kind of plan.
Outlining is the writing term for planning out your story from start to finish in a linear fashion. Pretty much you have something like the following examples. (Note: This is actually how most of my outlines end up looking like, either or.)
Example 1:
Today's Date: August 22, 2016
So let's talk writing and Pantsing VS Outlining said story.
Why am I going over this thought process? Because I have my ex-retail worker turned supernatural hunter story that is giving me bits and pieces of story and no real outline as to what is going on and when it needs to happen.
No, instead it's giving me bits and pieces for the damn thing.
Yeah. Joy. Fun. Really...
Not.
BUT! It did give me an idea for this weeks blog. Pantsing VS Outlining.
First, what is Pantsing? And what is Outlining?
Well, pantsing is a writing term that is defined as "writing by the seat of your pants". Pretty much you're writing whatever comes to your head without any kind of plan.
Outlining is the writing term for planning out your story from start to finish in a linear fashion. Pretty much you have something like the following examples. (Note: This is actually how most of my outlines end up looking like, either or.)
Example 1:
- Character's Name
- Plot point
- SubPlot Point
- Plot point
- SubPlot Point
- Plot Point
- SubPlot Point
- Character's Name...
Example 2:
- Characters Name/Scene Name
- Plot point that's more a short summary of what is to be written on during the chapter. This allows you to just write an idea down but still leave it with some flexibility to go in and change things as you write.
- Characters Name/Scene name...
Okay, so we know what outlining and pantsing is. Which one is better?
Actually...neither is better.
Say what now?
Don't get your panties in a bunch. It all depends on one factor: The Writer. I know some people who can't outline for their life. It either kills their muse or they just can't figure it out if they try. I know other writers who can't write without one. The story doesn't work for them.
For me? I tend to go with whatever the story calls for. For my ex-retail worker story it's kind of a mix of pantsing and outlining it. I have 2 chapters written already and know what I'm going to do in about six chapters, but I don't know what I'm doing in those six chapters, so I'm pantsing them (somewhat) while I write it.
I know that the story itself is going to be shortish, around 20 to 50K in length and leads into two more books.
And I'm still mostly pantsing the damn thing.
But...I thought you outlined?
I do. But not all of my stories come with a handy outline and even then I tend to outline about 10 chapters and write notes down for future plot points along with where they land in the future of the outline.
This story is just mostly pantsing it. But I tend to outline.
In fact, I tend to outline in my files depending on where I'm writing the story. Since I write mostly in google docs (mostly for the fact that I can haul the sucker around with me on a mobile device to write when I don't have my computer), I can do that.
With that way, I tend to go with the Character name/Scene with a summary paragraph/sentence. It works for me.
But I have to say this (and if you follow me on Twitter at @SLStrailo) you'll know that I don't consider either way superior to the other. I've done both exclusively and found that I work best if I'm fluid in how I plan out a story. Depending on the story, the length, and the amount of information I have for the plot will state on how I go about doing my planning for the story.
So, for example, take When My Eyes Close. I am outlining about 5 chapters past the chapter that I'm writing, which is normal for my outlining. I have my notes for future plot points to.
But for the ex-retail worker story (yes, I still have NO name for it), I'm kind of writing as I go. The same goes with the next part of the current series of short pieces that I'm working on called Murder and Lust. I don't really know what I'm going to do with it, but I know that I'm going to continue this series and work out what I want to do with the book series.
Again: I don't consider either Pantsing or Outlining to be superior either or. There is no right or wrong way to plan and write your story.
This is just me putting forth what they are and how I use them for my own writing. I mix. Others pants. Others outline. Yet others used to outline but now pants, while others used to pants but they now outline their stories.
Guys, it's all about you and how you feel when you go to start a story. It's what works for you and for your stories. Don't try to shoehorn yourself into one or the other. Find what works.
And if flying by the pants while you write is your thing, embrace it.
Or if you need to plot out every single little detail of your story, work it! You plan to your hearts content.
Just get those words out. Write that novel that is lurking in your head and your heart and your soul. Do it. Go for it.
Now I'm going back to cursing at this story. I have some rewriting to do.
If you want to, don't forget to follow me at Twitter, on my Facebook Page, or my Tumblr Account! I don't bite and I love to talk with my readers and followers.
Enjoy yourselves you guys! Write. Read. Live!
Monday, August 15, 2016
Post CampNaNo July 2016 and Preparing for NaNo 2016
Today's EarWorm: "End of Me" by Ashes Remain
Today's Date: 8/15/2016
So I had to sit down and really think about what I wanted to write for today's blog.
I drew a blank.
Then I remembered that I had started a list of ideas for future blogs just in case I don't have an idea ready for the next blog. And the first subject on that list? "Preparing for NaNo after Camp". Thus this post was born!
For all of those who follow my twitter (@SLStrailo), you know that I've been working on a series called Murder and Love/Lust (yeah, I still don't know if it's going to end up being love or lust). It's a short piece series set pre-books. Said books really don't have a plot as of yet, but I am working on that.
I have characters. That's part of the harder part of the battle for me when it comes to writing.
But now that it's been a couple of weeks since the end of July's Camp National Novel Writing Month, with me sliding in under the deadline like usual, I'm turning my eye to November and what is going on there.
To be truthful...I have no idea. Absolutely none. Whatever.
No...wait...I have some ideas. But I'm not sure what is going to happen, so we'll have to see.
Let's go over what I have in options.
Thread the Needle
This was actually started as my April 2016 Camp, I think, but it came to a stop because I started working on others and need to figure out just what I'm going to do with it since things are a lot different then our world.
Which is kind of interesting since I'm going to have a lot of people crawling up my ass for messing around with history. But hey, that's the beauty of writing fiction.
The Retail Worker Turned Supernatural Hunter
Again, if you follow my twitter, you've seen me complain about a new series. Originally it was going to be with a homicidal poltergeist, but then I started to get bits for a werewolf and shared those bits.
From there, I changed the plan because I was getting that instead of homicidal poltergeist.
Fun times.
Crimson Shadows Rewrite
Actually I've been meaning to get back to this story but it's always been kind of on the backburner. I just need to pull out the original story and made some more notes about what I want to do with it if I do go with this one.
I know what I want to get to, and have the first three books mostly thought out, but seriously? It's driving me up a wall.
Superhero Series
I'm actually not sure where I'm going to be on book 1 when it comes time but it is on that list to finish it off before working on another story. So we're going to see where I go in the long run.
When My Eyes Close
I started this story last year, but I haven't picked it up yet, but I've been doing a lot of things lately. So it kind of fell off to the wayside while I did some rather...interesting research. I have a lot on my plate but now I have the research done and I know where I'm going (mostly) with this story. It's just going to take a bit of time to do this. Fun times.
Anyways, that's my options and thoughts. So we're going to see what I need to do for the NaNo. I have a couple of months and some time to think about what I'm going to do, much less plan for it. So here's hoping that I get SOMETHING done yes? I can hope. I really can.
Can you hear all of the sighing going on over here? I swear that if I sigh any more someone is going to pop up and ask if I'm yearning for some long lost love.
Or vampires.
Yeah, like I haven't heard that before. >>
Anyways, I'll keep you up to date on what I'm doing in regards to this. Keep an eye on the countdown in the bar next to this post and please feel free to comment. :D
And if you have any ideas for what I should write on these blogs, please, leave a comment with a suggestion!
I tend to answer.
Thank you for your time!
Today's Date: 8/15/2016
So I had to sit down and really think about what I wanted to write for today's blog.
I drew a blank.
Then I remembered that I had started a list of ideas for future blogs just in case I don't have an idea ready for the next blog. And the first subject on that list? "Preparing for NaNo after Camp". Thus this post was born!
For all of those who follow my twitter (@SLStrailo), you know that I've been working on a series called Murder and Love/Lust (yeah, I still don't know if it's going to end up being love or lust). It's a short piece series set pre-books. Said books really don't have a plot as of yet, but I am working on that.
I have characters. That's part of the harder part of the battle for me when it comes to writing.
But now that it's been a couple of weeks since the end of July's Camp National Novel Writing Month, with me sliding in under the deadline like usual, I'm turning my eye to November and what is going on there.
To be truthful...I have no idea. Absolutely none. Whatever.
No...wait...I have some ideas. But I'm not sure what is going to happen, so we'll have to see.
Let's go over what I have in options.
Thread the Needle
This was actually started as my April 2016 Camp, I think, but it came to a stop because I started working on others and need to figure out just what I'm going to do with it since things are a lot different then our world.
Which is kind of interesting since I'm going to have a lot of people crawling up my ass for messing around with history. But hey, that's the beauty of writing fiction.
The Retail Worker Turned Supernatural Hunter
Again, if you follow my twitter, you've seen me complain about a new series. Originally it was going to be with a homicidal poltergeist, but then I started to get bits for a werewolf and shared those bits.
From there, I changed the plan because I was getting that instead of homicidal poltergeist.
Fun times.
Crimson Shadows Rewrite
Actually I've been meaning to get back to this story but it's always been kind of on the backburner. I just need to pull out the original story and made some more notes about what I want to do with it if I do go with this one.
I know what I want to get to, and have the first three books mostly thought out, but seriously? It's driving me up a wall.
Superhero Series
I'm actually not sure where I'm going to be on book 1 when it comes time but it is on that list to finish it off before working on another story. So we're going to see where I go in the long run.
When My Eyes Close
I started this story last year, but I haven't picked it up yet, but I've been doing a lot of things lately. So it kind of fell off to the wayside while I did some rather...interesting research. I have a lot on my plate but now I have the research done and I know where I'm going (mostly) with this story. It's just going to take a bit of time to do this. Fun times.
Anyways, that's my options and thoughts. So we're going to see what I need to do for the NaNo. I have a couple of months and some time to think about what I'm going to do, much less plan for it. So here's hoping that I get SOMETHING done yes? I can hope. I really can.
Can you hear all of the sighing going on over here? I swear that if I sigh any more someone is going to pop up and ask if I'm yearning for some long lost love.
Or vampires.
Yeah, like I haven't heard that before. >>
Anyways, I'll keep you up to date on what I'm doing in regards to this. Keep an eye on the countdown in the bar next to this post and please feel free to comment. :D
And if you have any ideas for what I should write on these blogs, please, leave a comment with a suggestion!
I tend to answer.
Thank you for your time!
Monday, August 8, 2016
What Is Up With My Stories?
Today's Earworm: "Beautiful Loser" or "Strangers" by William Control
Today's Date: August 8, 2016
What is up with my stories?
To be truthful, my muses are being a bit of a bitch. Excuse the language, but I'm sure that you all can forgive me.
This is kind of normal for me though so I'm not too worried. There was a time where I didn't write a single original piece for like a year, but that was while I was rediscovering myself.
It's just gotten to a point where I need to stop thinking of publishing and just write. No more contemplating the future of publishing and all that I need to know. I will get to that point, I really will. But that time is not right now.
Right now I need to turn my focus to writing and finishing stories.
On that note, I'm creating a new series of short pieces under the Murder and Love banner, with the first 16 piece set called Just a Little Murder. It's a horror mystery with a lot of dark themes and the books to come will be much more descriptive.
As it is, in Short Piece 4 there is some rather callous thinking of forced slavery in the BDSM world, but that is the character.
I keep telling people that my stuff can be dark but do they believe me? Nope. Not until I pull something like this out and show them with all attached warnings. It's highly amusing to see their reactions while they read.
Anyways. I have decided that I need to put aside the thoughts of what I'm going to do with the stories when I finish them and just work on finishing them.
With that said, I've decided to work on When My Eyes Close, which is my 2015 NaNo novel, my zombie fic that was inspired by J.A. Marlow and Honey Drops bk 1. I'm plotting them out and have what I want to happen in them pinpointed.
Mostly.
It's taking me time, yes, but then again, everything takes time to happen, so I'm not to worried really.
I am working on several interesting stories, including a "Magical Girl" kind of world, a Magical Modern world, a dystopia that is based off of my story that I handed over to Forward Motion writers for publishing, and a few others, so no worries about that. Actually, you can see the full list of things that I have in the works here.
I'll try and create a newer list here by September, so we'll see how things go with that.
As it is, tomorrow I'm going to be heading over to my friend's place after some last minute shopping for foods so we can go see "Suicide Squad" in theaters. We're picking up some chips, dips, and adult beverages. My local Albertsons has a "Build your own 6 pack" set up for like 10 bucks? Little less than that. And considering there is Smirnoff, various Mike's products, ales, beers and other goodies? Worth it.
Are we going to drink our six packs? No. I'll probably drink one or two and bring the rest home to indulge in over the next few months. I'm odd like that. I rarely drink but when I do I do it sparingly.
Yes, I'm over 21. So yes, I'm legal. More than. Thank you.
But we're going to need something to relax with on the 11th because we're going to be out ALL day on the 10th. Fun times. Really.
Anyways, I hope to see you here next week! Keep an eye out on Fridays for when I start posting my short pieces. :D
Today's Date: August 8, 2016
What is up with my stories?
To be truthful, my muses are being a bit of a bitch. Excuse the language, but I'm sure that you all can forgive me.
This is kind of normal for me though so I'm not too worried. There was a time where I didn't write a single original piece for like a year, but that was while I was rediscovering myself.
It's just gotten to a point where I need to stop thinking of publishing and just write. No more contemplating the future of publishing and all that I need to know. I will get to that point, I really will. But that time is not right now.
Right now I need to turn my focus to writing and finishing stories.
On that note, I'm creating a new series of short pieces under the Murder and Love banner, with the first 16 piece set called Just a Little Murder. It's a horror mystery with a lot of dark themes and the books to come will be much more descriptive.
As it is, in Short Piece 4 there is some rather callous thinking of forced slavery in the BDSM world, but that is the character.
I keep telling people that my stuff can be dark but do they believe me? Nope. Not until I pull something like this out and show them with all attached warnings. It's highly amusing to see their reactions while they read.
Anyways. I have decided that I need to put aside the thoughts of what I'm going to do with the stories when I finish them and just work on finishing them.
With that said, I've decided to work on When My Eyes Close, which is my 2015 NaNo novel, my zombie fic that was inspired by J.A. Marlow and Honey Drops bk 1. I'm plotting them out and have what I want to happen in them pinpointed.
Mostly.
It's taking me time, yes, but then again, everything takes time to happen, so I'm not to worried really.
I am working on several interesting stories, including a "Magical Girl" kind of world, a Magical Modern world, a dystopia that is based off of my story that I handed over to Forward Motion writers for publishing, and a few others, so no worries about that. Actually, you can see the full list of things that I have in the works here.
I'll try and create a newer list here by September, so we'll see how things go with that.
As it is, tomorrow I'm going to be heading over to my friend's place after some last minute shopping for foods so we can go see "Suicide Squad" in theaters. We're picking up some chips, dips, and adult beverages. My local Albertsons has a "Build your own 6 pack" set up for like 10 bucks? Little less than that. And considering there is Smirnoff, various Mike's products, ales, beers and other goodies? Worth it.
Are we going to drink our six packs? No. I'll probably drink one or two and bring the rest home to indulge in over the next few months. I'm odd like that. I rarely drink but when I do I do it sparingly.
Yes, I'm over 21. So yes, I'm legal. More than. Thank you.
But we're going to need something to relax with on the 11th because we're going to be out ALL day on the 10th. Fun times. Really.
Anyways, I hope to see you here next week! Keep an eye out on Fridays for when I start posting my short pieces. :D
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