Hey all.
Book 5 - "Capitol Punishment" - should be out in a week or so. By this point, I ought to be close to getting the first draft of Book 6 done. Or at least well on my way.
So why can't I start?
It's the last in Volume One - the final installment in the first phase of Dr. Jeremiah's star travels. There will be a pause while I write other things, projects I've wanted to work on for some time now. So I want to get this right,
There are things the book needs to accomplish. The ending is fine (I've know what it is for a very long time now) but making it count is harder. Earning it, letting it develop naturally and satisfactorily. That is what the key is going to be.
I could start writing now. Easy. All the details aren't worked out yet, but I could make it up as I go along - I've done it before. So why not do that?
Because I know it won't work. Won't work well enough, at any rate, to be satisfying as a semi-conclusion to the series. I need to make sure this one hits all the right notes, and in the right order. There's a hundred ways this could mostly turn out okay, and only a few that will be really good.
It's one of those latter that I'm aiming for. And so I keep hunting. Keep searching, keep outlining. And soon (with any luck) I'll hit on the right approach and start writing.
Any day now...
Learn about "The Sleepwar Saga", "The Star Travels of Dr. Jeremiah Fothering-Smythe" and more!
Saturday, September 19, 2015
Saturday, September 12, 2015
Keeping busy
I'm almost ready to start on Book 6 of "The Star Travels of Dr. Jeremiah Fothering-Smythe".
Right now, while I'm getting it outlined (and figuring out who some of the guest character are) I'm trying to keep the writing muscles exercised not only by redrafting Book 5, but by writing some short stories.
I've got a lot of ideas, and some of them might even be good! If I decide to publish them, keep an eye out. It could be something readers of this series will enjoy.
But either way, it won't be long until I can begin the first draft of the final installment of Volume One of Dr. Jeremiah's adventures.
I can't wait!
Right now, while I'm getting it outlined (and figuring out who some of the guest character are) I'm trying to keep the writing muscles exercised not only by redrafting Book 5, but by writing some short stories.
I've got a lot of ideas, and some of them might even be good! If I decide to publish them, keep an eye out. It could be something readers of this series will enjoy.
But either way, it won't be long until I can begin the first draft of the final installment of Volume One of Dr. Jeremiah's adventures.
I can't wait!
Thursday, September 10, 2015
Four words
The old adage is that a writer should write at least four pages a day.
Not an average of four pages a day. At least four pages a day.
Why? It's all about building discipline. About making writing a habit. Forcing yourself to sit on your butt and actually write - not just doing it whenever the moon is right, and the auguries are good.
And yet, it's nonsense.
I don't mean it's bad advice. Not really. But it doesn't work for me.
Why not? Besides the vagueness of the amount (four of what kind of pages? At what font size? Double spaced?) I frankly don't think it's any kind of great investment of my time to pound out four pages of absolute crap that I will just delete the next day to rewrite, There are better things I could be doing with my time.
Like outlining. I'm not a seat-of-the-pants kinda guy. I (generally) outline a story to absolute death before I even put pen to (virtual) paper. (Seriously, in the past I've hunted through sheaves of notes finding where I had which scraps of dialogue scribbled down, as the entire section of banter was pre-written over months of development, and over many separate pieces of scrap paper.)
So here's my compromise: four words per day.
Yeah, I know. But for me, just opening Microsoft Word and getting something down is discipline enough, for now. Even if the last thing I want to do is write, I'm trying to force myself to at least open the program and bash out my four words.
Cause you know what? Sometimes four words lead to forty. And sometimes those forty lead to four hundred. And once in a while, when everything aligns, those four hundred lead to four thousand.
And it never would have happened if I hadn't written those four short words - whatever they are.
If I don't have my next novella (or, soon, novel) ready to begin, then I will start (or continue) a short story. As long as I am writing something.
At least four words of something.
Not an average of four pages a day. At least four pages a day.
Why? It's all about building discipline. About making writing a habit. Forcing yourself to sit on your butt and actually write - not just doing it whenever the moon is right, and the auguries are good.
And yet, it's nonsense.
I don't mean it's bad advice. Not really. But it doesn't work for me.
Why not? Besides the vagueness of the amount (four of what kind of pages? At what font size? Double spaced?) I frankly don't think it's any kind of great investment of my time to pound out four pages of absolute crap that I will just delete the next day to rewrite, There are better things I could be doing with my time.
Like outlining. I'm not a seat-of-the-pants kinda guy. I (generally) outline a story to absolute death before I even put pen to (virtual) paper. (Seriously, in the past I've hunted through sheaves of notes finding where I had which scraps of dialogue scribbled down, as the entire section of banter was pre-written over months of development, and over many separate pieces of scrap paper.)
So here's my compromise: four words per day.
Yeah, I know. But for me, just opening Microsoft Word and getting something down is discipline enough, for now. Even if the last thing I want to do is write, I'm trying to force myself to at least open the program and bash out my four words.
Cause you know what? Sometimes four words lead to forty. And sometimes those forty lead to four hundred. And once in a while, when everything aligns, those four hundred lead to four thousand.
And it never would have happened if I hadn't written those four short words - whatever they are.
If I don't have my next novella (or, soon, novel) ready to begin, then I will start (or continue) a short story. As long as I am writing something.
At least four words of something.
Friday, September 4, 2015
Preparing for the end
Now that I have finished the first draft of Book 5 ("Capitol Punishment") with still a lot of work left to get it into shape, it is time to prepare for Book 6 (which currently is a very bare bones outline - a fact which frightens me a little).
In doing so, I am forced to confront the fact that Book 6 will definitely be the last book of what I am calling "Volume One".
The character's story arc will effectively resolve by the end of that novella, and it feels like the perfect place to rest the series for a while.
Book Seven begins a new story arc that I am actually quite excited about, so Jeremiah will definitely return for a Volume Two, but there is most certainly a need to pause after Book 6 is released. (This will also allow me to focus on some other projects which I have been developing.)
I think once you, the readers, get to the end of Book 6 (which, of course, will not be released for almost another two months) you will see why it is a great place to press the 'pause' button.
There is still a lot of excitement to go before then, however, and I hope you will be looking forward to the adventures in Books Five and Six which still lay ahead of us.
In doing so, I am forced to confront the fact that Book 6 will definitely be the last book of what I am calling "Volume One".
The character's story arc will effectively resolve by the end of that novella, and it feels like the perfect place to rest the series for a while.
Book Seven begins a new story arc that I am actually quite excited about, so Jeremiah will definitely return for a Volume Two, but there is most certainly a need to pause after Book 6 is released. (This will also allow me to focus on some other projects which I have been developing.)
I think once you, the readers, get to the end of Book 6 (which, of course, will not be released for almost another two months) you will see why it is a great place to press the 'pause' button.
There is still a lot of excitement to go before then, however, and I hope you will be looking forward to the adventures in Books Five and Six which still lay ahead of us.
Sunday, August 30, 2015
Book 4 released!
I'm aware that I haven't been updating this blog. I have been busy, and been exhausted, and just let it slip. I shall endeavor to do better in the future.
For now, though, I am posting this to let you know that Book 4 - "Kingdoms of Sky and Sea" - is available to purchase!
For now, though, I am posting this to let you know that Book 4 - "Kingdoms of Sky and Sea" - is available to purchase!
Hope you all enjoy, and I'd better get back to writing Book 5, as there are only four weeks to go until it's out...
Wednesday, August 5, 2015
Independent Authors Cooperative Press
Hey guys.
If you've noticed a couple of new logos on the blog, it's because I have joined a new group called the Independent Authors Cooperative Press.
Basically, it's a group of indie authors like myself, who are banding together to support one another - both in a creative sense and a marketing one. It should, in theory, allow us to increase our visibility, as well as improve our skills in writing.
I'm very happy to be in on the ground floor of this venture, and hope that everyone involved in it commits totally to the concept, as it could really be a great thing for everyone.
Of course, the actual writing still needs to be done alone - which reminds me: better get back to it.
If you've noticed a couple of new logos on the blog, it's because I have joined a new group called the Independent Authors Cooperative Press.
Basically, it's a group of indie authors like myself, who are banding together to support one another - both in a creative sense and a marketing one. It should, in theory, allow us to increase our visibility, as well as improve our skills in writing.
I'm very happy to be in on the ground floor of this venture, and hope that everyone involved in it commits totally to the concept, as it could really be a great thing for everyone.
Of course, the actual writing still needs to be done alone - which reminds me: better get back to it.
Saturday, August 1, 2015
Keeping things fresh
I'm not sure I have ever talked about this aspect of "The Star Travels of Dr. Jeremiah Fothering-Smythe", so as I work on redrafting Book 4 this seems as good a time as any to talk about it.
Basically, although the series is firmly a Victorian pulp SF tale, I am attempting to vary the story style somewhat from book to book. They remain in the same tone, always first-person narrated by Jeremiah, but the type of story being told should be somewhat unique every time. To make every book a little bit special.
Book 1, "Enter the Unknown", is lower in incident - being mostly about the introduction of this Victorian man to the wider universe - with a kind of H.G. Wells slant. A protagonist who is not completely fazed by his placement in such a bizarre environment, and whose focus is on the details of this new universe he has become witness to.
Book 2, "The Savage Planet", has a little more of an Edgar Rice Burroughs bent. It's not just the arena fight, but the kind of world into which Jeremiah is flung, and the way he is marked out as special among its peoples. There's not much of a John Carter vibe, but it's in there, and affects the focus of the storytelling.
Book 3, "Beyond the Frontier" is essentially a steampunk Star Trek. As in Victorian science fiction, I focus on the little details of the technology and its otherworldliness in a nonsensical but hopefully era-appropriate way, but the function of the space vessel and the type of dangers it faces, are very much drawn from Star Trek. I always felt that the show (and I am referring to the original, here) was very pulpy to begin with. Very much my kind of series.
Book 4, "Kingdoms of Sky and Sea" will be slightly more Flash Gordon-y. I endeavored to construct the plot in a way that utilizes cliffhangers every twenty minutes or so, to keep the pace going, and to give that cinema serial feel to the book. It has more incident and more action than usual, but also makes sure to contain a lot of intriguing details about the alien culture and technology in it.
Right now, the plan for Book 5 is for it to be even faster paced - with a touch of Star Wars influence - weaving three plot strands together in a way that keeps the action moving ever-forward. I should begin work on this story next week.
Throughout all of this, despite the attempts to give a different feel and focus to the story of the month, I am trying to have same basic approach to the character and the tone. A very H.G. Wells/George Griffith way of exploring the environment at least as much as the events. And above all of that, developing Jeremiah slowly from a self-centered and aristocratic coward into something that retains his basic sense of self but which has a new purpose and recognition of inner worth.
I hope it all comes across. And I hope it keeps the series fresh and exciting, but consistent. It's up to you all to let me know how that succeeds!
Basically, although the series is firmly a Victorian pulp SF tale, I am attempting to vary the story style somewhat from book to book. They remain in the same tone, always first-person narrated by Jeremiah, but the type of story being told should be somewhat unique every time. To make every book a little bit special.
Book 1, "Enter the Unknown", is lower in incident - being mostly about the introduction of this Victorian man to the wider universe - with a kind of H.G. Wells slant. A protagonist who is not completely fazed by his placement in such a bizarre environment, and whose focus is on the details of this new universe he has become witness to.
Book 2, "The Savage Planet", has a little more of an Edgar Rice Burroughs bent. It's not just the arena fight, but the kind of world into which Jeremiah is flung, and the way he is marked out as special among its peoples. There's not much of a John Carter vibe, but it's in there, and affects the focus of the storytelling.
Book 3, "Beyond the Frontier" is essentially a steampunk Star Trek. As in Victorian science fiction, I focus on the little details of the technology and its otherworldliness in a nonsensical but hopefully era-appropriate way, but the function of the space vessel and the type of dangers it faces, are very much drawn from Star Trek. I always felt that the show (and I am referring to the original, here) was very pulpy to begin with. Very much my kind of series.
Book 4, "Kingdoms of Sky and Sea" will be slightly more Flash Gordon-y. I endeavored to construct the plot in a way that utilizes cliffhangers every twenty minutes or so, to keep the pace going, and to give that cinema serial feel to the book. It has more incident and more action than usual, but also makes sure to contain a lot of intriguing details about the alien culture and technology in it.
Right now, the plan for Book 5 is for it to be even faster paced - with a touch of Star Wars influence - weaving three plot strands together in a way that keeps the action moving ever-forward. I should begin work on this story next week.
Throughout all of this, despite the attempts to give a different feel and focus to the story of the month, I am trying to have same basic approach to the character and the tone. A very H.G. Wells/George Griffith way of exploring the environment at least as much as the events. And above all of that, developing Jeremiah slowly from a self-centered and aristocratic coward into something that retains his basic sense of self but which has a new purpose and recognition of inner worth.
I hope it all comes across. And I hope it keeps the series fresh and exciting, but consistent. It's up to you all to let me know how that succeeds!
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