Why did I decide to write speculative fiction? Crime thrillers would be so much less effort, or romance, even. At least they are based in the real world.
But maybe that's why. I'm sitting here with thirty sheets of handwritten notes covering everything from the rules of magic to what people eat, from who is best at doing what, through to maps of important areas that exist nowhere except in my head. And I haven't even started on the plot yet!
Every time I start a new story, short or novel, I have to build a world. Usually from scratch. All of us writers of speculative fiction do, to one extent or another. Maybe that's why there are so many massive trilogies, or stories set in a common milieu, like The Culture.
And I guess that's part of the fun. Its also a huge source of frustration, when you find you cant do something because earlier in the universe you decreed magic worked a different way. Do you stick to the rules, or bend them? All up to you. How much do you want to rewrite.
Still, this universe has the scope to host several stories. Doesn't make me any more or less careful with it, and doesn't change how much detail I put in, but it make me think a little farther ahead.
Should be able to get to the plot by the weekend. Can't wait. The Under is such a rich universe, the options are going to be endless :)
18/08/2011
12/08/2011
11/08/2011
#amplotting
I'd almost forgotten how nice it is to be in that creative space where you are discovering where your next story is going to take you. Now that I've done as much as I can (for now) for the story I started in January (one written under my other, secret identity), its time to start scoping out the next project, and it looks like an unexpected front runner has made itself known already.
I had three possibles that had been kicking around since the new year; two were already more developed (a sequel to 'Aphrodite's Dawn' and a straight-ish fantasy tale) but its the runt of the litter that has suddenly taken off. After all, its a little over-confident to write a sequel for something you don't know if people will like :)
Plots and backstory and characters are all crowding around and jostling to be noted down. All I will say for now is that it is going be something of a Steampunk/Urban Fantasy cross.
I had three possibles that had been kicking around since the new year; two were already more developed (a sequel to 'Aphrodite's Dawn' and a straight-ish fantasy tale) but its the runt of the litter that has suddenly taken off. After all, its a little over-confident to write a sequel for something you don't know if people will like :)
Plots and backstory and characters are all crowding around and jostling to be noted down. All I will say for now is that it is going be something of a Steampunk/Urban Fantasy cross.
04/08/2011
29/07/2011
Is Young Adult literature becoming too sexually explicit?
Hard on the heels of the recent furore over YA stories being too violent and gritty, it seems we now have to go through the same process with sexual content. Depending on who you talk to, 'sexual content' can be anything from kissing with intent right up to 'doing it'.
Tracy Clark-Flory, a staff writer at The Salon, recently put out a very well balanced argument (found via YARN) against the finding of a recent survey on the subject. Its well worth a read, and its unsurprising to find out who sponsored the research.
I was lucky when I grew up. My local library with the imposing and - to a ten year old - endless Bristol Central Lending Library, who were kind enough to let me check out adult books from the age of 12. I got my introduction violence and sex from James Bond, and my first exposure to romance from 'The Green Grass of Wyoming' (yes, embarrassing, I know).
Maybe books for a younger audience are getting more explicit. Personally, I don't see the issue. I don't write stories that preach, or try to educate my readers about real life events. I try to write things that are relevant, but escapism; something to take you away from the real world for a time. Teen readers are going to find books to read that interest and excite them, even if they have violent or raunchy themes, and they will get them from the adult market if they cant find them in their own section of the bookstore.
But maybe, in the YA literature that makes some older people uncomfortable, there is an opportunity for the people who are they are written for to find out about stuff in a way that's more relevant to the age they are. Life is very different between 14 and 24.
Tracy Clark-Flory, a staff writer at The Salon, recently put out a very well balanced argument (found via YARN) against the finding of a recent survey on the subject. Its well worth a read, and its unsurprising to find out who sponsored the research.
I was lucky when I grew up. My local library with the imposing and - to a ten year old - endless Bristol Central Lending Library, who were kind enough to let me check out adult books from the age of 12. I got my introduction violence and sex from James Bond, and my first exposure to romance from 'The Green Grass of Wyoming' (yes, embarrassing, I know).
Maybe books for a younger audience are getting more explicit. Personally, I don't see the issue. I don't write stories that preach, or try to educate my readers about real life events. I try to write things that are relevant, but escapism; something to take you away from the real world for a time. Teen readers are going to find books to read that interest and excite them, even if they have violent or raunchy themes, and they will get them from the adult market if they cant find them in their own section of the bookstore.
But maybe, in the YA literature that makes some older people uncomfortable, there is an opportunity for the people who are they are written for to find out about stuff in a way that's more relevant to the age they are. Life is very different between 14 and 24.
26/07/2011
Full Fathom Forty
And why would I be mentioning this? Because my story 'Jack in the Box' is in it, along with forty other stunning stories lovingly selected and edited by David J Howe. I am really proud to be sharing paper with the likes of Graham Masterton and Sam Stone. 500 pages!
Its available for preorder, and you can find out who else is in it here
15/07/2011
"What I did on my Holidays"
Editing, mostly :)
Well, that's not entirely true, but it was a great way to pass the time when the weather kept us pinned down. I have another story I am editing, and I am in a 'writer's group' where we share things we have written with each other and make comments on it.
I did get to go to a few places though. The Eden Project was interesting - but make sure you buy your tickets online before you get there (otherwise its really expensive). Lots of walking and the Rainforest Biome was like a sauna. The food is really different too.
Tintagel, though, was a disappointment. I'm not quite sure why. I'd been there before, many tears ago, but it seemed to have lost some of its mystery and 'aura'. Perhaps it was because the cafe had been taken over and no longer served 'excaliburgers' :)
Oh well, back to the real world and my day job, but look out for some really exciting news in the next couple of weeks.
Well, that's not entirely true, but it was a great way to pass the time when the weather kept us pinned down. I have another story I am editing, and I am in a 'writer's group' where we share things we have written with each other and make comments on it.
I did get to go to a few places though. The Eden Project was interesting - but make sure you buy your tickets online before you get there (otherwise its really expensive). Lots of walking and the Rainforest Biome was like a sauna. The food is really different too.
Tintagel, though, was a disappointment. I'm not quite sure why. I'd been there before, many tears ago, but it seemed to have lost some of its mystery and 'aura'. Perhaps it was because the cafe had been taken over and no longer served 'excaliburgers' :)
Oh well, back to the real world and my day job, but look out for some really exciting news in the next couple of weeks.
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