Tag: amediting

A competition entry, the start of another sequel and a bit of therapy.

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Howdo!

 

Since last time I have focused on two things. Editing a short story I’m going to enter into a short story competition and writing a short story, which could be a novella, that will set up the sequel to another story of mine, my 2012 NaNoWriMo entry about demons and those that hunt them and protect the world, The Searcher’s Want.

The first thing started with me writing a brand new story for a competition. 1000 words about anything I wanted with a deadline of 14.08.2014. As I racked my brain to decide what I could write about, I remembered I had planned ahead. I had already written a fair few short stories for just this kind of situation. So, I found one of them that was 750 words, and started to edit the hell out of it for the competition. I had forgotten how much I enjoyed writing the story I picked, about a man scared to share a secret condition he has with his nearest and dearest in fear of rejection (not from personal experience I might add) and editing it brought it all back. Of course I think it’s awesome, but I shall keep editing until I have all angles covered. I’m also thinking it will be fine practice for when I edit The Town of the Mountain. It’s going well so far and I’ve started to edit it only looking at character with the next part being location as I’ve already finished the grammar and punctuation check. I’ll let you know how it goes.

The second thing was the start of my Searcher’s Want sequel. I did start to write a 1000 word story using characters from my demons and hunters yarn, but I stopped and started all over again without the 1000 word limit. And immediately wanted to plan for a sequel. I’ve written 2000 words so far and thought of new things I’ll have to embellish on at some point before I write the full sequel. It’s shaping up already and I think I have the theme and story line for the whole thing. Which has helped me a lot as, in between all this wonderful writing of mine, my day job is winding me up something rotten. I’d write more about it but I don’t want to waste any more time than I already have. So…

The writing has been a kind of therapy for me and helped me get through the last few days. I also know, more than ever, that I want to AT LEAST write stories for the rest of my life. If they’re only for me, that’s fine. If others like them, cheeky bonus!

Ok. Going to get back to it.

BYE!!

 

The villains are made. But what of the new hero’s?

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Hello!

 

As the title suggests, the villains have been created. The villains of my sequel to the Bugbear adventure I’m preparing to write that is. I found some notes from around 18 months ago that had, along with the Vampire, Gargoyle, Dragon and Demon, Giants and Werewolves as the villains for this sequel of mine. And, though writing about Giants and Werewolves sounds great, I didn’t fancy having to juggle too many bad guys at any given time. I have finished the villain’s short story that I mentioned at the end of my last post and have crafted the starts of a plan for the villains to combat the new scourge of their lives, the hunters. A plan is in motion so when I come to write the whole sequel, I can at least have a starting point.

I considered writing about the Giants and Werewolves but I’d prefer to be able to calmly create four villains than possibly botch creating six. And in the past I’ve not enjoyed creating loads of villains anyway. I’ve already got seven (so far) hunters to scribble about and I’ve decided to make three out of the four villains have vast amount amounts like them as well. The Vampire will at least have an army at his disposal. An army which can be added to at any time. And, three of the seven hunters only saw real battle at the end of Town of the Mountain, so they’re on a steep learning curve to say the least. Which is the main focus of….

My next short story. Which is already finished! It concerns the newest hero’s to this tale, three of the four hunters that survived almost being beaten to death by the hunters of the town of the mountain, who then survived a hoard of bugbears not long afterwards (for more information, either ask me or look back over my previous blog posts). The three, Jackson, Meredith and Albert, have been sent to London to tackle its Dragon problem. They engage the beast in a heated physical and mental battle before the Dragon retreats. Or so they think. These three may or may not act separately from the main hunters but I’m not quite sure yet. I’ll have to mull it over. I’m glad it all formed on the page enough so that I had a starting point at least. I’m yet to write all the character profiles so this could all go out of the window.

Anyway, in between all of this I’ve kept on reading Kidnapped by Robert Louis Stevenson. I’m just about getting used to the language used, which is well old and with a lot of Scottish words and ways of speaking, but thankfully I can still read it smoothly enough. If I couldn’t, the book would have been out of the tram window in no time. I’ll let you know if I do. And try and take of picture of it as well.

Right then, Bye!

 

A book finished, a birthday holiday, and a short story started.

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Hello

 

It’s been a while, hasn’t it? Since I last spoke to you I’ve finished reading The Picture of Dorian Gray. And a very good book it was to. Full of suspense, drama and it was extremely well written. Probably the most eloquent book I’ve read so far. It was paced very well and I’m happy to have added to my ‘Have read and liked’ collection. I’m hoping this collection will grow after I’ve finished my current book, Kidnapped by Robert Lewis Stevenson. I found it for £3.50 in a small book shop when I went to Anglesey. Of course, what I thought was a little known book, turned out upon its mention to my family that they had all heard of it. Anyway, so far the book it going well. I’ve taken to reading it to and from work religiously. It has made the trip very quick and more enjoyable than usual. Hopefully this will keep up.

I’ve also been busy having a 31st birthday (16th June) and a holiday in Rome (14-19 June) with my lovely girlfriend. I’m hoping to post some pictures from the holiday when I upload them to this here laptop of mine. Wouldn’t you know it, when we got back from my holiday, the charger cable didn’t work for it! So, as I watched the life drain from my computer, I realised I could not type a word or charge my iPod to listen to a song! I wanted to get back to writing after an amazing holiday in Rome and had to go almost primal by using a pen and paper! To be fair it was quite invigorating. Getting out of my comfort zone and having to concentrate on what I’m writing and making it eligible. Most of it wasn’t though but, once my new charger cable had arrived, I typed it all up and it became…

The next short story in my quest to prepare for the sequel to the Town of the Mountain. I was wondering who I should write about next. I ran over who I could write about and a few choices came to mind. Then I talked myself out of some of those choices and after doing this, I realised a question emerged. Who can I write about? Then, just as quickly as that question popped up, another more important one did. Who is the villain, or villains, of my sequel? I actually didn’t have one or any. So, I screwed my face up real tight and wondered who my villain could be. And then, as if by magic, it hit me. I started to think of a human as the villain but I decided against that. Why not a demon or two? I love writing about them? So, I decided that the bad guys will be the top demons of the four categories that plague my version of England. The head Gargoyle that leads to fight to ruin Liverpool. The head Vampire that wants to ruin Birmingham. The head winged demon that wants to ruin Manchester. And a whacking great big dragon, known as the big bad, that wants to ruin London. Once I had decided all this, I made the notes and started to write. I’m half way through it and very happy with what I have so far. I’ll let you know how it goes.

Well, I don’t like to ramble on too long so I’ll bid you a goodbye for now.

Have a good one, bye bye.

Another story done with. And a load more to write.

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Hello

 

As I mentioned last time around, I sat down and wrote something off the top of my head. Whatever came into my head, I was going to write and hopefully it would make sense. Or could make sense after a few edits. It turned into the first short story regarding the exploits of my main character after my bugbear story, Town of the Mountain. And…

I finished it!

I have always enjoyed writing action scenes and seem to type quicker when I do. A majority of the story was to do with a hunter, our hero Markus, fighting a huge, winged demon. I ended up making the demon a teenager which I didn’t expect. It also allowed me to add in a bit of humour, hopefully, into the story. It broke it up quite well. I may add a bit more into it in the edit. Whenever that is. I talked myself into writing a short story to carry on each of the main and secondary characters tales after Town of the Mountain. This equates to about 12 stories at least. It’ll keep me out of trouble and busy which is always good.

So, the story, called ‘The Hunt’, which is a working title by the way, came up to just over 2000 words. I’ve decided to make this my short story word count for each of these ditties that will help to start to map out the sequel to Town of the Mountain. The sequel, at this point anyway, centre around our hero’s helping out the rest of Britain which, like the hero’s little town, is overrun by some kind of monster. For example, Manchester will be infested with winged demons. London will be infested with vampires. Birmingham will be infested with Dragons. And so on in that fashion. I’m not sure how I’ll incorporate all of this into one story but I do like a challenge.

I remember a time I would have balked at that last sentence. Any challenge I used to like, say five years ago and most of the time before that, would have been from a computer game. Now I actually like challenges which could shape my future. This new found drive has also spilled into my day job. I set myself a goal of getting a new job that could open up possible opportunities later in life and I have. It’s only a secondment but I have to start somewhere. Here’s to a new challenge!

Right, I’m off to relax as I’m feeling tired. All this challenge talk is wearing me out.

Good pie!

It doesn’t look too bad after all.

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Hello

 

Following on from last time, I’ve started to write the beginning of the end of my short story ‘A night like any other’. It’s a story of two complete strangers and how they eventually meet and fall for each other over the course of one night out written from the first person perspective of each of the characters alternately.

I like writing using the first person point of view as it makes me think more and more about the emotions people go through day to day. In just writing about something as simple as getting ready and going on a night out I’ve enjoyed how much detail I need to go into to make it even slightly realistic. And this hasn’t meant me going on and on, this has just meant being more concise and to the point to get the reader into the minds of my characters as smoothly and efficiently as possible. I have previously written and almost completed a long story from the first person view point so I might go back to it to keep it fresh in my mind. I’ll make that decision when I’m done with this story I think because it is hard work. But the good kind of hard work.

So, I’ve written 500 words which I’ve written from the third person view point. So much for liking first person and all that. I said last time that I wasn’t sure it would work but I think it has. Bit biased but there you go. As I was writing it, the impression it gave me was of two different paths meeting at the end of each of their respective journeys. Both meeting in a kind of inevitable conclusion. Or is it inevitable and is it the conclusion they both want? Who smeggin knows. I’ll come to that part when I’m right RIGHT at the end. Which should be soon and as always I’ll let you know.

Ok. As I’m quite tired I’ll leave it at that and go back to bed. I’ve already napped this afternoon which may or may not have been a good idea. Right then…

BYE

 

 

 

 

Some words written. Some feedback read. And a huge YES to getting back on it!

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Hello

 

I did say last time that I would post again on Sunday but, after doing some chores and going for a knee damaging run, I thought I’d leave it until I was feeling better. And now, after a non-knee damaging run and no chores, I’m feeling just fine.

I managed to get my first 500 words written in over a week. It felt good. I was also able to drive my short story along so the next time I add more prose to it, I’ll be close to the end. An end I have pictured in my head. It’s been there ever since I started writing it. The anticipation is something that I used to hate but now, it has become something I actually look forward to. If that makes sense. Anyway, after those 500 words…

Came the feedback I was looking forward to. It’s been a while since I posted anything on a website I knew I would get feedback from. And I’m delighted to say it turned out to be very helpful. One thing I always want from feedback, but am afraid to ask for strangely, is the critic correcting my punctuation and grammar. No matter how much I want to improve, I reckon it’ll just sort of happen one day. It will all sink in. I just want that day to come pretty smeggin quickly. The feedback was very helpful and has been dually noted. I do have another bit of feedback to go over as well which is exciting. Though after a quick glance I don’t think this guy is a fan. But, I want that as well. Maybe I am going wrong somewhere.

Both good and bad, all feedback can be used as long as it has some kind of constructive element to it.

And…YES to getting to back on it. It being writing and reading. I’ve picked back up The Picture of Dorian Gray. And it’s as good as I remembered it was and keeps getting better. Though, Oscar does like to go a bit with his descriptions. Which can be annoying.

Right, that’ll do. Till next time, have a good one.

Cheers

My second short story of 2014. Maybe I’ll get this done after all…

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Hello

Firstly, I’ve been saying I will post some, if not all of the first chapter from my NaNoWriMo 2012 effort, The Searcher’s Want. I shall do this tomorrow after a couple of edits. Though I know this will not iron out all of the creases it will give you fine people a better sense of what the story is about and how it will end up.

Okidoke. So, last time I mentioned I finished my first short story of 2014, I’ll live. I always do. A little bit of prose concerning the 20th immortal (born 1900) who now lives in Manchester and is still trying to find the reason behind his existence. Being immortal has allowed him the luxury of being able to go and do anything he has wanted due to the amazing amount of time he has in which to do it. But doing this has given him no answers. I’ll be editing this at some point, not to sure what point that will be, but I’ll more than likely put a sample of it on this blog.

Once this story was done I wanted to start on another as soon as possible. Now, I didn’t want to just throw anything down on a computer paper so I racked my brain for a few days trying to come up with something and then I remembered another idea I have been sitting on for a while.

When I was single and went on a night out with my friends I, when I was younger at least, would consider it a good night if I met and got off with (kissed and squeezed and that) a girl. If not I would consider it a failure. In the past few years I’ve moved more towards having a good time and the girl would be a happy side note. But I always wondered, how would a story read of two completely random people going on a night out and meeting up? From them getting ready to that moment they catch each other’s eye?

One of my favourite films illustrates this really well and inspired me to have the idea in the first place. The film adaptation of The Rules of Attraction by Bret Easton Ellis. Roger Avery uses split screen to show what Sean and Lauren do on the morning before they meet for the first time. It focuses on different aspects of their separate journeys all on one screen. This is back from 2002. I’ve been sitting on this for so long I’m surprised it hasn’t melted. Hopefully it will look as good on paper as it did in that film.

Anyway, I made some notes and started writing. It seems easier to go straight into writing another story instead of leaving a gap of a month or so like I usually do. Maybe I’ll get this one short story a month plan done after all. I’ve never started writing so quickly after finishing so this could be how I should have been writing all along. Or not. Whatever.

I’m off to edit The Searcher’s Want. And I leave you with a question…Do you know of any films that use the split screen gambit to great effect?

Later

 

One down…and lots more to go.

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Hello

 

I finished the Bottle Imp! It was a really good story and towards the end was sending me all over the place emotionally. The ending wasn’t what I expected either. If I can write with even just a fraction of brilliance of Robert Louis Stevenson at any point in my life, I’ll be a happy man.

After that I started to read The Picture of Dorian Gray. I’m only a few pages into it but already it’s good. I’ve already gotten past the great line, ‘It is silly of you, for there is only one thing in the world worse than being talked about, and that is not being talked about.’ Ha! That immediately took my brain back to a Monty Python sketch. See for yourself;

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UxXW6tfl2Y0

I haven’t gone back to it since last week, due to a combination of a cold and forgetfulness, but I shall soon. Maybe tomorrow. Or even tonight. So far the story has already intriguing me, and after five pages no less.

In-between this and getting over a cold which threatened to derail two nights out (which it didn’t, get in!) I finished my first short story of many for 2014. A little tale about an immortal living in Manchester initially entitled, ‘I’ll live. I always do.’ It about Henry and his quest to find the meaning behind his eternal existence. But when he commits an act that leads to him finding out this meaning, is it what he had hoped for?

Probably. So far I have ended it how I wanted to the first time I started to think about it. I will be going over it again along with continuing to write The End Solution and editing some of a finished first draft of a long story of mine, The Searcher’s Want. I recall saying I was going to post Searcher’s on this little blog of mine and Solution someplace else. I will hope to do that soon and, hopefully, await your feedback and anyone else’s.

Right, I’m off to possible get an early night as my first run in over a month has knackered my out.

Bye Bye

One book down. But which one should be next?

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Hello

My continued attempts to edit two stories side by side have not been as fruitful as I thought they would be. I have been continuing to edit them but I didn’t do it for every day of last week. Which, in my head, was the plan. But I have managed to write more pages of The End Solution. It’s moving long quite nicely but I’m still no closer to finding out what the ending is going to be. I am starting to think I may have to write all of my possible endings out on paper and decide which works best. I’ve also found that I will have to go back and add in a few chapters to cover some story points I have neglected. Do I do this now or in the editing stage? I think I’ll do it now. Or maybe not. I’ll come to this decision after some careful thought. Or whilst I’m on the toilet. Or playing Pro Evolution Soccer. Or staring at the wall. Whichever way this comes to me though, I hope it is soon.

Any who, on a different subject, I finished Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde (http://www.play.com/Books/Books/6-/Search.html?searchstring=dr+jekyll&searchsource=2&searchfilters=s%7bdr+jekyll%7d%2bc%7b91%7d%2b) and it has become one of my favourite books of all time. The way Robert Louis Stevenson has weaved this story is unlike anything I’ve ever read. Maybe that’s my fault (there’s no maybe about it) but it’s a bold and striking style that captivates and keeps you hooked. Admittedly it can be a bit like hard work, some of the words he uses I’ve never heard of and the way I pronounce them in my head is most likely way off and the meanings will be as well, but if you are looking for a short, sharp and engaging read, I’d go for this one.

This finishing of the book malarkey has left me with a problem….what book do I read next?

At the end of my copy of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde there is another of his tales entitled The Bottle Imp. I only found out this was in with my copy halfway through reading it when I glanced at the back of the book cover. It is an apparently sinister story which will give me time to decide which of these books I’ll read next.

20140211_211313

If any of you fine people have read any of the above, feel free to give me your honest opinion about which ever it may be. Or some if not all of them.

Cheers

And so to the edit. Not forgetting the writing of course.

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Hello

I’ve started to edit the first chapters of two of my novels simultaneously. I’m liking how, as both stories are quite different, I’m not getting confused. Sometimes I think I’m going to focus more on one than the other or get parts of one story mixed up with another one.

The Searcher’s Want, which I started for NaNoWriMo 2012 and finished recently, starts off in the same fashion as The End Solution, my ongoing NaNoWriMo 2013 effort. I’ve found over these two and over my other stories short and long, finished and unfinished that I’ve written, start by putting the reader in the middle of the action. I have always preferred this when reading any story so it doesn’t surprise me that I have started my own stories this way. But I am pleasantly surprised I’m being consistent with my writing. Had to happen some time.

Both stories so far have started with the main character doing what he is chiefly known for. With the End Solution, the main character is about to and does remove the chemical from a potential threat to society. In The Searcher’s Want, he is searching for a demon and killing it. For me, putting the reader straight into the action is the best way to start. I like to be slowly fed the story. I also love reading a fast paced action scene. Writing them is a joy as well. All my long stories have many of these scenes in them but not too many. Well, so far anyway. I’ll probably remove some and add others when the edit gets into full swing. 

I’m going to post a draft of the first page or two of The Searchers Want on this blog and most if not all of the first chapter of The End Solution on http://www.critiquecircle.com/ sometime soon. Your comments and constructive feedback will be appreciated.

Along with this, so that I don’t get too settled into a routine, I’m continuing to write The End Solution. I wanted to write a page a day throughout January but a combination of laziness and doing other stuff meant I managed ten pages. Which isn’t too bad considering I’m editing as well. And so from this I ask….

Did you manage to get a lot of writing done in your January?

Good pie.