Plotting and Brainstorming

Well, since I finished Alex Wonder, it is time to work on a new story. Thankfully, I have about twenty different ideas jotted down, typed on the computer, backed up, saved in the cloud, email to myself, blah blah blah. Now to choose one, or two or three, and begin working on the plot for them. Work on characters, scenes, conflict, all that good stuff.

This is actually my favorite part. Guess that’s because I can do it anywhere. Home, store, work, friend’s house, bar, bed. Mentally draining work though, especially when my imagination hits a little snag and finds itself in a loop, replaying scenes and situations over and over, never going forward. That’s when I need to hit pause, go into the scene, and truly focus on where the story needs to go next.

Where I am now. Decided to go back to this one novel I’ve been working on for years. Like ten. Yeah, long time. One reason it’s been such a long endeavor is because it was my first attempt at a novel. I have rewritten three times now. The third time I didn’t rewrite the entire novel, only about two hundred pages, which is good since I have realized I need to rework a lot of stuff. I haven’t looked at the story in over a year, so I had a chance to read over it with fresh eyes. So many mistakes in regard to plot. Situations, reasons, conflicts that when dwelled on and discussed, make little sense. Some of the story is salvageable, but the beginning needs retooling. I’m nearly there but I am at an impasse because I am having difficulty deciding how my main character will discover a hidden enclave. This discovery of course will swing the story into the Rising Action and get the story moving. I don’t want to rehash old plot devices to the discovery. I don’t want it to be by complete accident because really, if the accident had never occurred, would the story even exist?

But maybe I’m putting too much weight on how he discovers it. Over analysis is both a gift and curse of mine.

Aside from working on the first novel of 12, yes, 12 (it’s an epic in the works), I have been doing research on first century Israel. I am also doing research on the apostles. Reading up on some physics, space, worm holes, black holes, all that awesome stuff. And then there is the next installment to The Spiral Effect. Started working on the plotline today. Only wrote a few lines.

Really though, I need to pick one and stick with it until its finished. In a perfect world…

because I kind of work better this way.

Regardless if anyone reads this or not (I’m fairly certain no one does) typing on this blog relaxes my mind and keeps me sane. Which is good. We (and yes I am generalizing most people—but look at the evidence) tend to ejaculate words online just to get another person’s response. We like to be seen, heard, thought about. Glad no one reads this. And if any do, I’m glad they don’t comment. At times my ego begs for someone to stroke it.

Until tomorrow

May the Lord’s grace shine on us all

Book Marketing

So, I decided today that in order to reach more readers, I needed to hit up some sites geared toward new authors and buy some ad space. Total cost was only $65 for three sites, but since I’m on a tight budget for the meanwhile, I’m rather nervous. I’ve never been big on bringing attention to myself, always wanting the work to just speak for itself, but I realize you’ll never sell a book that way.

Now I’m flooded with anxiety. Did I edit and revise the book well enough? Did I fully capture my intention within the story? Is the story any good? Did I write a good enough description? What about the cover? Before publishing on amazon, I was fully confident in my answers to these questions. But now—hell, now I’m just plagued with writer’s remorse. Always happens when I publish a story. However, it’s never been this big. I mean, I truly love everything I have written. Sure, I want to go back and edit a couple of them, make them tighter, and then re-release them. But this story—this story, while just the beginning of a large event, became a part of me.

Alex Wonder…

And his part of the tale isn’t even finished yet. So many more stories to go along with The Spiral Effect. Fifty page shorts, 100 page novellas, maybe even full length novels. Alex Wonder came out to 218 pages. 118 more than I had originally intended, so who knows. But I need more time. Writing is so dear to me, I love it. Especially during summer time. And then school starts again in August. The anxiety. Depression. Angst to be behind this laptop—or pacing in my office—dreaming waking visions of these people and their world. Hence shelling out the cash for ad space.

I hope it works. That people see it, become interested. That they’d buy the book and enjoy it. That maybe it would change them in some way. Leave positive reviews so other’s will purchase it. And then a spiral effect all my own, into my pursuit of writing full time.

My hope. My dream.

Explains the anxiety. The nerves. Because what if the ads don’t pan out? It’s just three sites for one week. Is that enough time—enough space? Probably not. So I have to remind myself to not get discouraged if I don’t sell thirty or more copies during that week of advertising. That I’ll probably have to really break down, sell some more collectables, and purchase ad space that costs 300-600 dollars. Old adage—you get what you pay for.

And then full circle. Is the book worth it? I think so, but I’ve been wrong before. Confidence has never been a defining characteristic of mine. Then again, how many writers can say it is.

So, I will be confident. I will pray. I will have faith. Because through it all, failures and victories, God is bringing me closer to Him one step at a time, so enjoy the moments. They’re short lived.

The Spiral Effect: Alex Wonder

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00KZBCFT8


Free until Tuesday.

Editing

I finished the first draft of Alex Wonder last week. Read a book on editing fiction Saturday. Good tips. Of the 12 things to look for/watch/fix, each with a chapter of its own, I only have trouble with 2. Color me pleased that I have grown this much. Only took near 10 years of consistent writing. What can I say, I'm both stubborn and self taught. Probably says something about my teaching skills.

I marked up and highlighted the printed draft. Finished this morning and started fixing the mistakes on the iPad. Got to page 45 before I had to leave for my 17 year old brother's birthday party. Rocking time if I'm spending it typing on my blog.

Well, back to the fun and then more work. Never stop until its finished.