A Side Of Writing

I have to admit that it has been so long since I have blogged consistently that I am totally out of the habit. That should that normally ran through my head about mid-morning of “Hmmm I haven’t posted yet, I need to think of something and get it up on the blog.” just didn’t happen. So of course when I notice that it is dark outside and I realize that it is Wednesday and I haven’t posted since Monday I mentally kicked myself.

This week has been an interesting experience in writing for me. I have been sending emails back and forth with my partner in crime on the web comic idea we are planning on putting out. This is totally a new thing for me. I will admit that I enjoy reading comic books and have on occasion read web comics but the idea of making one while it is exciting, I feel totally out of my area of normal expertise. Luckily for me, Jack is a great artist and we have known each other for a long time. So it is pretty easy to get things moving. We have been spit-balling ideas for overall plot, characters, world building, theme, feel and art all week. And I think we are getting to the point where this weekend we will be ready to start looking at moving from brainstorming into pre-production. For me that means Jack is going to start on sketching out ideas for the look of characters and the world while I am going to start writing character sketches the way I know how, like a novel. That is one thing I know how to do.

Why am I tell you about this? Because writing isn’t just novels and short stories. It is screen plays and scripts. It is graphic novels and comics. It is everything that involves putting words out there to tell a story. Or at least that is my opinion. So of course I am going to share my adventure into writing a script and working with a graphic artist. And you never know, it might be something you become interested in doing. Or it might help show you something that will help your work in a more traditional novel concept.

Another great thing that I am proud to say is that I also have finished a very basic outline for the short story that I plan on writing this month. It will be something that I am going to work at getting published. But it is also something that will serve as a jumping point into a novella that I am planning on writing using the same characters and settings. That is the next project in that line of ideas which should happen directly after finishing the short story. We will see.

I will admit that I have not started on second drafts of the two manuscripts that I have in my queue. But I have written down plenty of notes on broad things that I know need to be fixed or changed. The trick now is to find the time to sit down and read both of them from front to back and take even more notes. For that matter I might just try writing a brand new outline while reading the first draft and then make the changes that way before the revisions start. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

For now I am happy with where I am at this month. It is only the 9th of January and I am in a good spot. For those that have been waiting patiently for me to start posting again I am very thankful for your staying with my through my hiatus. For those who are new to my blog, Hello and don’t worry there is a lot to come.