I like to take stock on where I am with my work and I feel it’s important to share that with you here. Every two weeks you can find out what I’m currently writing and what I’ve been reading.
Writing
The absolute best part of my job is breaking story. It’s intricate and it’s messy and it never ever turns out the way you expect. There are non-stop surprises, ranging from the fantastic to the heartbreaking.
If I could I would outline every day for the rest of my life. I love the craft behind building a story. From the inciting incident to the turn to the climax.
That is where I am this month; breaking down the next piece of Greystone’s first cycle, the second short story collection that builds right into the final novel.
The working title is Pathways in the Dark.
My kids hate me right now because they keep seeing me play on my cell phone but it is because I keep finding a new note on the collection. A piece of the puzzle that started with Signs of Portents so long ago. An answer to a question I never thought to ask.
Pathways is about finding your way. Every major and minor player introduced since the start of the series (that’s managed to survive) has a role to play. I’ve been racking my brain trying to figure out each story. How to weigh in new threats with callbacks to previous tales. Who gets the focus and why?
I should be doing other things. Tales from Portents is two months out. There’s so much work to do on it and the lead-in release of Resurrectionists. I should be resting up after NaNoWriMo and drafting The Medusa Coin.
Soriya Greystone and Greg Loren had other plans for me. And I wouldn’t want it any other way.
Speaking of NaNoWriMo, I hope you’ve enjoyed my pieces over at The Write Life. The last one will be out next week. I am eternally grateful for being given this opportunity to share my experience. There were some tough days in there but I definitely feel like a stronger writer because of NaNoWriMo.
Lots of news on Tales from Portents and Resurrectionists in two weeks!
Reading
I’ve been binging on my stockpile of comics that have built up over the last few months. Novels are still on the backburner for a bit but I’ve picked one out. I’m counting that as progress.
Superman: Lois & Clark – Not based on the 90’s show, though that would be AMAZING. In 2011, DC decided to update Superman. They threw away his marriage to Lois, made him younger and more rebellious. It didn’t really work for the character. This book brought back the Superman from my youth. (“My” Superman.) Dan Jurgens pulled out all of the elements I loved about the character, including his marriage to Lois, and really crafted a heartfelt story about the couple living in a world not their own. The addition of a child in the mix was great as well.
Dan Jurgens pulled out all of the elements I loved about the character, including his marriage to Lois, and really crafted a heartfelt story about the couple living in a world not their own. The addition of a child in the mix was great as well.
Very happy to add Superman back to my reading pile again. It’s been way too long.
Transformers: Drift – Empire of Stone – I confess, I have an unbridled love for robots in disguise. And when handled by IDW’s team of writer’s and artists? They are damn near perfect month in and month out. Shane McCarthy follows up the first Drift mini-series about a former Decepticon (turned Autobot turned neutral) with a buddy cop romp.
Seriously. It is Lethal Weapon with two giant alien robots. Ratchet (Murtaugh) and Drift (Riggs) play off each other to perfection. The action is over the top and chaotic. The character moments flow seamlessly and hit the right note and the right time.
A great afternoon read.
I just started Grant Morrison’s Seven Soldiers of Victory so I’ll hold off on talking about it until next time. (psst, it’s mindblowingly crazy so far…)
Thanks for reading!
