I was thinking of this blog last night and started feeling guilty because I haven’t updated in a while. Truth is, I don’t have much to update. I’m still writing, still plodding through a manuscript that needs thousands of words of overhaul. It’s still too long, even if most of it is still only in my head. I’ve taken to putting names down in an Excel spreadsheet because forgetting characters is a thing. It’s rough because I saw the light at the end of this tunnel, or I thought I did, about seven months ago, but that was either an illusion, or the tunnel has made itself longer. Fuck you tunnel.
However, those of you that followed me though my years of fanficiton, you know that I actually do better when I’m writing more than one thing at a time. Having trouble with a twenty chapter Naruto fic? That’s okay, start a seven chapter One Piece story. Granted, this usually turned into both stories ending somewhere in the thirty-five chapter, 185,000 word range, but the point is I sometimes can organize my thoughts a little better if I… add projects? That doesn’t even make sense.
I started that horror story. Finally. I really like it so far. It’s so nice to sit down and write something in the current now and in our own universe so I don’t have to stop every paragraph and world-build. I love world-building, don’t get me wrong, but damn, it’s tiring. This horror story will be heavily character based and will offer up some juicy bits of my favorite horror genre – body horror. Also, possible interdimensional monsters because I can’t seem to get away from that.
I’m sure someone is reading this thinking “yeah okay, add projects and nothing will ever get done, you idiot” because that’s what I initially thought but I think it will be okay. My writer’s group made a channel on Discord where we put out goals for the year. I really only have two: 1) getting a first draft of my fantasy novel completed and up for the writers group to read 2) starting and finishing my new horror novel. So not that bad. I can do this.
Some other good news, I made the Norwescon writer’s workshop again this year. I’m really excited to meet some more potentially great writers, get some helpful feedback, and of course get that sweet, sweet networking. Claire Eddy, the executive editor for Tor Books, is the professional guest of honor this year, and if she were participating as a clinician that would be killer. Not that I think my stuff would ever be published by Tor, but I’m sure she would be a great person to know.
So I guess I was wrong. I started this entry with “don’t have much to update” and ended having plenty to talk about. Whatever, with that I’ll sign off. I hope everyone is having a good beginning of the year. Hope you are all petting your cats and dogs and other critters every day. Hope you are eating well and taking care of yourself. Good luck in anything you are striving for, and have a great day/week.
Sam Stark 