Aspiring Writer

Ahhh, so writing is supposed to be a slow process...

2009-10-06T14:01:00.002-03:00

Measuring it in human years is beginning to be frustrating; perhaps I was meant to write stories for the trees.

I picked up a project started over a year ago and found it very difficult to get into the proper mindset. That bothered me... at the time the project was very important to me. I wonder if I'm bothered that I can't seem to get back into it, if it's because it is no longer important to me and should be.

Perplexing.

I read once that the best writing exercise you can do is to just write. Everyday. I wonder if this would count. You also have to be willing to "kill your children." That had a lot of loaded meanings. Such as not everything you write will be finished, or published or that the publishing process may force you to change you work in ways you would not have preferred. I suppose it is the "adult" transition of writing as a hobby and writing as a profession.

There are a number of types of writing I have sworn off without trying as well. Such as column writing. In my mind it was too contractual, too restrictive, not creative enough. But is any of that true or different from what I believe I would prefer. Would a publisher not try and put contracts or pressure in place for new books? Would the scope or plot of my story not restrict itself in some ways? Isn't any work of literature only as creative as it's author and not the subject? I know I certainly have plenty of opinions to voice.

Food for thought; perhaps writing here more often will keep my brain from starving.

Periods and Sessions

2009-05-06T14:12:00.002-03:00

I should commit to weekly updates, of course that would infer that I could commit to monthly updates and two months in a row hardly speaks of commitment.

The truth is - the guilty truth - that I have not been writing. Thinking about writing; yes. Actually writing; no. I'll need to remedy that in the very near future.

I am also attempting to broaden my readership beyond, well, me. If you can't have friends read your work, how will you ever trust the strange public to the task, right?

I may also in the very near future find a way to web-publish some material so that people can read more than just my musings. Perhaps a full-fledged website is in order.

Of Changes and Rests

2009-04-16T10:07:00.002-03:00

If a change is as good as a vacation, I should be the most rested person I know.

There have been no shortage of changes in the last year and I certainly do feel rested. Or at the very least as if I am waking up from a very long sleep.

I have taken the time to read over some of the works in progress I had on the go the last time I set my "pen" down, and they still ask to be finished; this is a good sign.

With a little luck (and some real commitment) one of my next posts will be an announcement of submission for publication.

I will rely on you to cross your fingers as it makes typing a bit tricky.

The Long Nothing

2009-01-22T14:24:00.002-04:00

It has very nearly been a year since beginning this chronicling, and I have to say, I've been neglectful.

I wouldn't call it writer's block, because that would imply an attempt at writing. Plain and simple procrastination--for shame, I know. So from now on perhaps the shame of publicly reporting my negligence will compel me to write; something should!

Lost in the Black

2008-08-11T15:43:00.002-03:00

When I stare into space at night there is sometimes a sense of longing, of emptiness, of fear. Even for all the stars in existence, for all the brilliance that I know is there, the darkness seems to be winning. Perhaps the greatest underlining fear of all when staring into space is the oldest: what happens when we die?

I've been struck with the though to write a thriller taking place in an outer space, or life-supported environment. Something that could easily carry an undercurrent of helplessness to it. An extra, environmental antagonist if you will.

"Lost in the Black" will likely refer to a number of themes running through the work, beyond the obvious isolation in space.

(Yes, the rather large gap in log entries does represent a rather large gap in writing activities, but we work on a commitment-free level around here.)

Ghost Wood

2008-03-25T09:50:00.002-03:00

I've been starting a lot of stories in very different genres. Feeling out for what feels right, I suppose. Currently, I'm flushing out some high level plot details for a series of (possibly) three books set in the american west: cowboy times, as it were.

I've never actually read anything written in that era, but it has always been a side interest of mine, so perhaps I should. My goal is to create a main character you both hate and love, though perhaps like and dislike would be a more realistic approach.

Questioning Oneself

2008-03-12T18:18:00.001-03:00

There is a writer I have admired for quite some time, but have never read a book that they have written. Recently I had the chance to pick up their first book and began to read. Understand that this writer is held in quite high esteem and enjoyed by all the right people: they now write for a living.

This brings me to the sad conclusion that I may very well never be a successful writer; I did not enjoy the book. There are fundamental things about it that disrupted my ability to finish it for some time. Some of the characters that I assume are believed to be well thought out are transparent and stupid to the point of groan-worthy. The writing perspective leaps from one head to another, one time to another frequently and somewhat jarringly in the same chapter; the same paragraph sometimes. In places there is far more explanation than should be necessary (some of it incorrect). There also appears to be an author-soap-box brought out via too many characters too many times.

Immersion is difficult to say the least.

So, the fear that this evokes in me is: am I wasting my time writing? I realize that this is their thing and not necessarily mine, but I worry that there is no audience for the stories or messages I wish to share. Or that perhaps I have none to share; no real substance.

Perhaps I've raised the pedestal too high? Perhaps I simply do not enjoy the genre? Or perhaps I'm looking for more reasons to procrastinate my own efforts.

The New Feels Old

2008-03-03T13:54:00.003-04:00

March is here; another month deep in my quest to become published.

I seem to no longer be writing dozens of fantasy-themed stories in parallel (none of which ever being completed), but I now do have a small collection of modern, dark fiction pieces being written (none of which yet completed).

*sigh*

I appear to have commitment issues. I'm unsure if this is an indication of whether the material is worth committing to or whether I simply am unable to finish what I begin. I had intended to write more, but just don't feel like it now (kidding).

Dark Beginnings

2008-02-28T15:30:00.003-04:00

I'm finally putting to paper a dark piece set in a modern time with a couple of interesting twists in it. It's a story that has been bouncing around in my head for a few years now and I've managed to put the first and final scenes on paper (well, screen at least).

My problem is that I've just read a compelling article on prose, and one of the key points is something that I've struggled with in the things that I've read and watched: delaying the reveal of something so obvious that your seemingly unaware characters begin to read like idiots; where you want to scream at the pages, "For the love of God, the butler did it!" (As appropriate, of course.)

This has, as I mentioned, nagged me in the content I've absorbed, and since twists and reveals are a large part of my writing, I now find myself on the other end of the issue. How much do I reveal before it becomes obvious and ultimately uninteresting?

Online Support

2008-02-27T08:54:00.002-04:00

I have started (very much just started) posting on various online forums. Asking questions, leaving comments, and just generally lurking. Forums related to writing. It seems to be a very helpful community and I have stumbled onto a couple of sites that run writing-encouragement programs.

NaNoWriMo is a website built around the National Novel Writing Month (November 1 - 30). The goal of this month is to write a novel, start to "finish," of 50,000 words within the month of November. Not sure how I feel about the idea; any writing is at the least good practice. But this could be an obsessive distraction for me; potentially dangerous. I'll keep it in mind though; November is still a ways off.

Our Eloquence appears to be a community that fosters "Word Sprint" relationships: writers to help and encourage each to reach goals. Be it word counts, chapters, or perhaps complete short works. I haven't flushed out all of the details of what is provided there, but it has captured my interest.

No word back from Dark Recesses or Deep Genre on my submissions, but this is a world of patience as much as a world of words.

Everyone's a Critic

2008-02-15T10:38:00.002-04:00

Well perhaps not everyone, but these people seem to be: DeepGenre. They maintain a section entitled "13-Line Critiques". You submit the opening of your short story, and they post it with a bit of a critical review. Others may then comment on your material as well.

In the spirit of open and unbiased criticism, I've submitted the opening lines of "The Twisting" and "Death in the Family" for their review. I'll post a link to the results here.

Magic Numbers

2008-02-14T10:53:00.003-04:00

In my current existence, magic numbers are those that are hard coded into your software somewhat arbitrarily.

I'm beginning to learn that writing has its own magic numbers. Bodies of published work, much like the essays we wrote (or avoided) in high school, have standard word counts that are expect. For a first time novel, that number is around 70, 000. I'm not sure how achievable that is for me at this point, but I've already written 4500+ words without completing a chapter.

So far these words represent a first draft of the pivitol moments in three separate chapters. And speaking further in vague details, my current outline consists of 15 chapters. I'm not sure if this is standard either, or if a standard even applies. If the story is told and the pacing is correct, then the book has done its job, right?

The Longest Fall

2008-02-11T22:26:00.000-04:00

I've struck upon an idea for Novel. I've become determined to complete the writing of it, but perhaps not the publishing. I've outlined the first 3 chapters, planned out several others and I'm confident that the writing of it would come quite natural.

The subject matter would be... sensitive... I'm not sure where I would go next. But that really isn't important, is it? Nothing ventured, nothing gained.

For now, I've settled on "The Longest Fall," but given that in the 3 days since deciding to write it, the name has changed once already (from "Slipping") who knows what it will finish as.

Method to the Madness

2008-02-08T13:35:00.001-04:00

I'm not entirely sure that I've made my goal here clear, so let's set one, shall we?

My intent with this record is to share the experience of becoming published with anyone who is interested in reading it. Through both successes and failures, goal number one is to attain, in hand, a physical publication of something I've written.

Depending on the path that takes we can decide on goal two then. ;)

Driven to Distraction

2008-02-06T22:00:00.001-04:00

I have the feeling that February may be a month of purging. I find myself drawn to distractions easily; have for most of my life. It is likely the casual acceptance of the fears and doubts concerning what I might accomplish that others seem not to share in me.

I believe I've already identified what is important to me, in one respect at least. The hard part now is going to be to commit to; commit by releasing all the rest.

On a more positive note, "The Twisting" has had several reads and one full editing pass by myself. Feedback is positive and I think I've made it stronger by the effort. Now what to do with it...

Starting to Learn

2008-02-05T22:27:00.000-04:00

Having a love of writing and having a talent or skill for it are very different possessions. Much like throwing a baseball to your father in the backyard and driving the third strike in the ninth inning across home base. One most certainly can lead to the other, but there's no true certainty to it.

I've decided to help myself in another way by soliciting the aid of others: other writers. I'm currently in the process of collecting books written to help you learn to write as well as how to approach the published literature market as a business.

I'm also taking some advice to heart that I've been carrying in my head for a good long time, and reading books in genres I normally would not. Starting with some more popular titles as well as some that simply piqued my interest. Broadening my horizons as it were.

Perhaps I'll Do It My Way

2008-02-04T18:01:00.000-04:00

Recently I've been furthering my research into the process of publishing a book. With particular interest in getting published. During this search and read activity, I've come across an interesting website belonging to a self-publisher.

Morris Rosenthal has compiled a great deal of information concerning this process and has put it to use personally in the creation of Foner Books. This had been an option I had once considered it, by quickly set aside for no particular reason. May just be worth considering once again.

Short Story Made Long

2008-02-04T09:51:00.000-04:00

"The Twisting" is finished. Well, the initial draft is at least; passing it around for some initial feedback while editing it myself. It's almost as if you're writing the same story over and over again. I like it and will likely submit it to Dark Recesses Press.

In the past I've found editing to be an easy way to become disenchanted with an idea. No matter how unique and amazingly fresh the story seemed when originally penning it, by the time I've made a few passes with red ink it starts to feel tired. Another demon determined to distract me from the big picture, to be sure.

The Twisting

2008-02-01T09:22:00.000-04:00

Tentatively entitled "The Twisting," I've begun a new body of work with new characters. Set in a modern city, it may never be more than a single story, but it feels fun to write. I've had a few ideas for crime related stories and this will give me a chance to explore writing for that style.

This particular story will follow an investigator's morning at a bizarre crime scene. It's a scene he's investigated on a number of different times, with slight variations. All disturbing. It's difinitely darker than I would normally write and with precious little forethought. "Speed-writing" we'll call it.

If Not Now, When?

2008-01-31T13:45:00.000-04:00

Well, I've suffered the nag of writing for longer than anything else. So let this be the digital record of me actually doing something about it.

I've recently come across the website of one Louise Penny and I must say I'm impressed. Her words of anonymous encouragement for aspiring authors are both inspiring and humbling. It is easy to allow fears, and doubts, and distractions keep us away from our passions if we let them.

The best piece of advice I took from the information there was to finish what you start. Self-confidence aside, you can't do anything with unfinished work. You don't even get to say, "I tried and failed," because the work was never completed. I found that as much of an encouragement as I did a reprimand; both can be helpful.

I will try and devote time on a regular basis to updating the few of you reading this on my writing endeavors (perhaps we can start a poll on rejections?).

As a quick update of the last 16 years or so, I've accumulate a massive amount of unpublished and even unfinished work. Mostly fantasy, which may be more admiration work then something to be published, but until it's finished and submitted, you never truly know.

On the 24th of January, 2008, I submitted a short story entitled "Death in the Family" to Dark Recesses Press. The turn around time is up to 16 weeks, so it may be a little while before I hear back. I am also not sure of the etiquette for sending the same work to different publications. Something worth looking into (16 weeks is a long time to sit and do nothing).