A Post to Prove I'm Still Writing New Fiction

[mmerriam]

And not just marketing the Sky-Tinted Waters anthology and my new novella, The Curious Case of the Jeweled Alicorn.

I took a trip to Atlanta recently for a conference of the professional organization that Beloved Spouse is an officer of. I tend to go along with her on these trips, just like she comes to all the conventions I attend. We support each other's careers pretty aggressively. Since I'm not part of her organization, I treat the days she is in conference, committee meetings, and panels as a writing retreat.

I ride the bus for hours every week, back and forth to the Day Job, and anyone who has ever ridden public transit more than a handful of times can verify that public transit is full of colorful, weird, wonderful people in all their messed-up, beautiful glory. By the time we got to Atlanta, I had this idea about two mages fighting a low-keyed magical duel every morning on the 94 Express bus between Minneapolis and St. Paul, and the unfortunate third-party who gets involved.

By the time we got settled into the hotel, I could see the entire shape of the story and even went so far as to (gasp!) write an outline. This made me happy, except I had several scenes sorted out except the opening, so I had no idea how to actually start the story! Deciding not actually knowing how to start was no good reason to not get things rolling, I kind of flung myself at the story, putting words down and not worrying about if they sucked or not. It felt great (though reading back over the beginning, I think it needs to start in medias res). I wrote a couple thousand of words that first day, the prose coming fast and easy, if perhaps a bit clunky and ugly. No worries though, second drafts and rewrites are for clean-up. I loved it so.

But…

There's always the morning after. When I opened the document the next day, I was nervous and fearful. Oh shiny new story! In the sharp light of morning, I feared you would hustle me out the door with a promise to call sometime soon, but instead you showed up with fresh coffee and a warm smile.

Once we returned from Atlanta things slowed down, not because the story had lost the shiny, but because of my own responsibilities (day job, conventions) and because I caught a cold that made writing something akin to pushing my brain through jello. I started to find the flow harder to maintain, but I knew if I just kept pushing forward, things would be fine. This was a rough patch, nothing more.

This week, I was able to get back to it. It's up over 14,000 words and counting. I'm guessing it will hit between 20- 25K before it's all said and done. Novella seems to be my natural storytelling length. Which is weird, because I use to be Mr. Under 4K.

I wrote a nice, quick 800 words on Sunday morning. I've written past all the notes and outlining I had created and am now wondering through uncharted territory. I'm at the end of a scene, so I should probably stop and think about where we are heading before I write myself into a corner.

Originally posted at michaelmerriam.net. You can comment here or there.

Comments

[joelarnold.livejournal.com]

I love that idea! Can't wait to read it when you've got it out there.

[mmerriam.livejournal.com]

I think I am ready to start writing the last two or three scenes. I know I have the next one in my head, so I need to get the scene synopsis written.

[kitgordon.livejournal.com]

This one sounds terrific, Michael! I look forward to reading it.

[mmerriam.livejournal.com]

Thank you! I hope to have the first draft done by the end of the month.

[half-double.livejournal.com]

Love this idea! I especially love the suspicion (only in my head, natch) that, other than the "unfortunate third party", no one else on the bus ever notices. 'Cause that's what Twin Cities public transit is all about.

[mmerriam.livejournal.com]

That suspicion would be correct. The "unfortunate third party" actually wonders at that very thing. I'm hoping to have the first rough draft finished by the end of the month.

[pameladean]

Oh, that's excellent. It would totally be the 94 bus! I used to ride that one to St. Paul a lot, and now I sometimes hop on just for the eight blocks to my clinic if the weather is bad, and it would just completely be that bus.

P.

[mmerriam.livejournal.com]

The 94 is a strange mix of riders shuffling between the twin downtown areas. of course, every route seems to have some kind of quirk.

[glynisj.livejournal.com]

I wish there was a bus line in this small town. I don't like to drive anymore because my reaction time is too slow. When I lived in a city and was going to college, I always used the bus. Yes, it's a great way to get ideas. Now, Hubby drives me where I want to go but that means conversation. The ideas just don't flow very well that way.

[mmerriam.livejournal.com]

it's hard to come up with ideas when there are conversations and other distractions around you.