It’s funny. I’m now, what I consider, deep into writing this second novel and the story keeps evolving in my mind. Several times I have had to go back through previous chapters and enhance them to include new twists and added characters as the synopsis of the original story I sat down to write has changed. This happened to me on the first novel also, but somehow it’s not quite the same. The Connected was completely written and then I did a rewrite and added 20,000 words, mostly because the original was too brief and didn’t allow for the characters to grow. Now The Connected was speculative fiction (science fiction to most though I’m not that scientific) and the new novel Muckydum is more down to earth, about life on Earth, but with Muckydum the story is expanding as I write it. What started out as a simple character study now has expanded to two main characters with two others that have become major influential characters. Right now I have to go back into chapter 2 and add some more to supplement another plot twist near the end of the book.
I would love to write some more short stories right now, I have had some ideas, but right now I’m too engrossed in this novel. As soon as I have the first draft completed maybe then I can get a couple of short stories down before returning to the novel for the second draft.
Take care.
April 17, 2009
Update
March 30, 2009
Plugging away in Tough Times
I have been pretty lackadaisical about updating this blog. Between working full-time, obligations and responsibilities at home and trying to make some headway on my new novel, both my web page and this blog have suffered.
The present economic state is not a good situation for a new author trying to break into the publishing market. Without a major publisher behind you it is very hard to get noticed unless you can pour hours upon hours of your time into blogging (on your own and others sites) and participate in discussions on popular writing or book sites (or Amazon). But if you spend your time doing that, then you fail to put out anything new to keep readers interested. It is a catch-22. And trying to get a publisher to take a chance on a new author in tough economic times is also verging on the impossible – profits is the key to success for them and they thereby rely heavily on their established authors to provide that guarantee of sales in times like these.
Having said all that, if you don’t keep plugging away, if only for your own enjoyment, a little bit of recognition and that slight possibility of ‘making it’, then you didn’t have what it takes to begin with.
I have been plugging away at my second novel, tentatively titled Muckydum, and I’m really enjoying the process. The story has taken shape and I’m quite excited by the prospects of how it could end up. Currently I have about four different ways to see it through to the end. I’m just waiting to see what happens along the way until I decide which path I’m going to take.
Hopefully in the future I will be able to spend more time to see what else is going on in the community. And I will try to keep this blog going.
Take care,
Steve
February 4, 2009
Working on Muckydum
I’m spending most of my free time working on my new novel. Sometimes it goes quickly, sometimes a little slow. One thing is for sure - I’m sick of winter! I’d rather be writing out on my deck in the warm sunshine than stuck inside with the snow falling (constantly) outside.