Murphy was a Writer

I really have to stop saying things.......

I've been sick most of the week. First, a 24-hour stomach virus, follow right on its heels by a cold, which I am still suffering through, sucking on a cough drop right this minute so I can write this entry up without hacking up all over the place.

It wasn't a completely  forgotten week. I did manage to outline two move chapters in The Assassin Prince. That puts me at Chapter 17, and it's an action chapter, which mean blocking out the action. I have the traces of the plot-lines for the next several chapters after that, so that will get done once I can stop coughing long enough to write them out.

I've also have the basics of the setting --- the type of society the heroes running around in, and one of its neighbor empires. Bits and pieces of the political situation are beginning to fall into place, as is the type of magic used in each society. Characters are falling into place, and new one are beginning to form. I don't have the technology level quite nailed down --- I am flirting with the idea of having weapons like matchlocks/flintlocks, but the idea isn't in stone yet. I have to see how the story flows first before I can decide one way or the other.

So, not much on the page, but much more in the mind. Other ideas for different series are popping up, but they're on index cards for a later time. The Assassin Prince is what I need to work on before looking at the other ideas.

That's all for tonight. I'm off to bed!

*****

Both Outcast Ops novels I co-authored are on Amazon and are both part of the Kindle Direct program. African Firestorm is here: Outcast Ops: African Firestorm on Amazon! For those in the United Kingdom, Outcast Ops: African Firestorm on Amazon UK!! Red Ice is here: Outcast Ops: Red Ice on Amazon!. and for those in the UK, Outcast Ops: Red Ice on Amazon UK! Read and if you like them, leave a review!

Craig

Back to work!

Spent a couple of weeks clearing off some writing projects off my plate so I can get back to The Assassin Prince.

I'm going to be splitting time between The Assassin Prince and other projects, but I want to spend on hour a day working on it. Outlining and research will take time, and the other projects will allowing my need to write to have it's outlet.

You may wonder what "Research" I need to do --- after all, it's a fantasy novel, about a place that doesn't exist on this world. But looking back on other fantasy novels, you can see the roots of European middle ages and other eras. While I have an idea of how the main factions look and operate, I want to get a feel for how the real-life counterparts functions and make adjustments to make them unique to my world. Political, military, social --- take it all in, and adjust as needed to fit this world I'm building. Not everything I will be creating will end up on the page, but knowing I've already decided on those matters will make it easier to write when the time comes.

Co-writing both Outcast Ops novels was relatively simple --- it's just taking what is already in the word and using it. Thanks to Google maps, I know enough about locations here on Earth to set the stories against, even though I've never been to South Africa or San Francisco (I can't speak for Rick on either location). I know the team carries H&K MP5s and the submachine guns fire 9mm bullets, while the AK-47 fired a 7.62mm bullet and is an assault rifle. Those are well known.

But a sword? Both the AK and MP5 are used the same way, pull the trigger and it fires bullets until the magazine runs dry. While a katana, a saber, and a gladus are all swords, they aren't used the same way. The first two are primarily slashing swords, while the third is more of a thrusting sword. If I have a Roman-like Legion, with large shields, they are not going to have katana-like swords, because the katana is more suited to a two-handed use (That's why Samurai didn't use shields beyond the code they lived by --- a shield would have robbed them of speed and power when using their katanas.) Now, I could give a Samurai a gladus, but that changes the entire way he fights.

Then I have to take in consideration how the warrior holding that weapon. A Roman legionary fights as part of a team, a unit, an army. He is protected by the men on either side of him, as he protects them. The gladus was designed to stab from behind the safety of a shield, because there's no room for sweeping slashes when you're shoulder to shoulder with fellow Romans. They train day after day on striking a wooden pole until becomes second nature. The use of the gladus is limited and doesn't have the variety of techniques other swords does.

A Samurai, on the other hand, is trained from a young age in the art of the sword. They learn all sort of offensive and defensive techniques and tactics using their swords. They fight individuality, singly or in small groups, in a looser formation, to allow the katanas room to sweep and generate the force to cut into their enemy. There is more of an individual mindset then what a Roman legionary has.

And that just the swords......

Anyway, enough for tonight. See you next week!

*****

Both Outcast Ops novels I co-authored are on Amazon and are both part of the Kindle Direct program. African Firestorm is here: Outcast Ops: African Firestorm on Amazon! For those in the United Kingdom, Outcast Ops: African Firestorm on Amazon UK!! Red Ice is here: Outcast Ops: Red Ice on Amazon!. and for those in the UK, Outcast Ops: Red Ice on Amazon UK!


Craig

A Maelstrom of DIY courses

Since my budget for taking courses to learn the new world of self-publishing is exactly $0, I have leapt at all sorts of free offers (Free e-books) in return for my email and filling up my mailbox with tips and offers for courses I can't afford.

It amazes me that everyone and their fellow authors seem to have courses, videos, books, seminars, and methods that they offer for those starting out in this new field. Now, I have no idea if what they are offering is actually worth the money, and I can't point to anyone and say that their program is good or their's is a rip-off. After all, I can't pay for any of them. But there is a maelstrom of offers on courses for all aspects of the new world of self-publishing that is mind-boggling.

(I am not including companies in this group --- they are a different beast. This is about individual authors who are offering these lessons.)

Some of these authors are well-known and have a track record that goes backs years; others are newcomers themselves but have some success. Others I have never heard of; that doesn't mean they aren't good people with quality stuff. It all comes down to who is trustworthy in your view. Because when it boils down to it, Author A might be a great writer, but their course might be a clear as Mississippi mud, while author B's course is more relatable, even if their writing isn't as strong.

But here's the thing; if you don't sit down and write the story, all the courses in the universe will not make you a writer. Unless you produce something, taking courses will not help. Some courses will teach useful things, but unless you put them into practice, they are useless. In my view, don't waste your money unless there's something already done on the page.

Now, if you're like me, with no money, you have to get a bit creative with learning the new field of self publishing. I have a mess of self-published authors, writing groups, and company blogs I read on a regular basis. If I read something I thing I can use, I save off the webpage, then later on, copy/paste the information into a text file and save it off for my own use. (I always make sure to keep the author's name on the article, if I ever need to quote from it in a public forum, like this blog. Otherwise, everything I write here are my own words.)

I am in the middle of organize these text files into useful folders. Now, while I'm not getting in-depth detail that I would by taking a course, I am getting an understanding of subjects, and from more than one source. It may not be as deep, but it should be wider. And from all these different sources, I shall form my own method.

And that's what it all boils down to: DIY --- Do It Yourself. You have to do what works for you. What these course do is show you how these authors did it. It doesn't mean that their method will work for you 100% of the time, or even 50%  of the time. You can learn to avoid pitfalls, and be given a method where you may not have had one before. But it doesn't mean it's the only way. No course will replace the act of sitting there, pecking away at the keyboard, or writing it in longhand. Writing is an art, a craft, and no teacher can infuse you the willingness to write. Like any craft, it must be worked at constantly and regularly. Teachers will show the way, but unless to take the steps, the path will never be started upon, let alone completed.

And if you do decide to plunk down the money for a author/teacher's course, make sure of who the teacher is. Google them, read their blog, read their books, research them and make sure you will get something from them you can use.

Am I going to become one of those people I spent most of the blog discussing? Hawking courses and how-to books? I don't know. At the moment, I wouldn't have a clue where to start. And if I decided to go that route, there are so many questions I would have to answer, as well as trying to figure out how to distinguish myself from everyone else. Do I really want to do that? I have limited teaching experience, and and an undertaking like that would involve sitting down and breaking my experiences, thoughts, and methods down to a level that most people could understand. Hell, I'm not sure I understand what I do well enough to teach someone else to do it.

And I would have to have one hell of a track record as an author to even consider that. If I'm not a best-selling author, why bother? Who is going to buy a how-to from someone who can't sell to enough people to be considered popular? So, the short answer is no, the long answer is. . . .maybe, but not anytime soon.

So that's it....until next week (Hopefully)

*****

Both Outcast Ops novels I co-authored are on Amazon and are both part of the Kindle Direct program. African Firestorm is here: Outcast Ops: African Firestorm on Amazon! For those in the United Kingdom, Outcast Ops: African Firestorm on Amazon UK!! Red Ice is here: Outcast Ops: Red Ice on Amazon!. and for those in the UK, Outcast Ops: Red Ice on Amazon UK!

Craig

Me and My Big Mouth

Well, that was one resolution that didn't take long to break....

I've been working hard, getting back into the swing of things and writing. But the reason I've been silent is there are a few things going on behind the scenes and I can't say what. In part, because things are so nebulous right now, there's nothing to report

But I have been writing, and the results of the last two weeks, the massive rewriting of a longer story had been done and needs only a few details before I turn it in. Three shorter stories need to be gone over before I submit them, and two more are being worked on.

The Assassin Prince is still being mulled over when I have the chance to mull, but right now, it's on the back burner and other things have taken president at the moment.

So, while I am writing, things are happening that one day, I may something about, this post is more of a "Hey, I'm still here and still writing!"

So, we'll see where it goes......

Later!!

*******

Both Outcast Ops novels I co-wrote are on Amazon and are both part of the Kindle Direct program.For African Firestorm go here: Outcast Ops: African Firestorm on Amazon! For those in the United Kingdom, Outcast Ops: African Firestorm on Amazon UK!! For Red Ice: Outcast Ops: Red Ice on Amazon!. and for those in the UK, Outcast Ops: Red Ice on Amazon UK!
So, that's the start of 2016, welcome to a new year!

Craig

2016 Writing Resolutions

I have been less of a writer than I should be.

I went looking on this blog for my 2015 Resolutions....

And found out I hadn't written one.

In fact, between July of 2014 and April of 2015, I didn't write a single blog post. Not a single one!

Now, my blogging has gotten better over the last two years -- average better that 40 posts a year, but still, that's less than once a week. Which leads to the first of a 2016 writing resolutions:

Write more blog posts!

That means, starting today, I will write at least one blog post a week. I aim to post on Mondays for sure, but once a week is firm. If something comes up I want to comment on, or I have a glut of posts waiting to go, I'll post more than once a week. I also intend on expanding the sphere of comments to objects like Book reviews and comments on the industry from my (very limited) viewpoint. The problem is there's a lot of stuff out there, a storm of "how-to" books, blogs, podcasts and websites, and navigating that is going to be tough. But I will try.

So, I start today with this blog (If you've been following me, I have a second blog devoted solely to the Battletech universe and my writing in it.) in really sitting down and writing.

Two Novels!

I unexpectedly found myself as the co-author of two novels in 2015.

The opportunity came out of the blue when Rick Chesler posted on Facebook that he was looking for co-authors for a new series of his. I responded and from that came the two novels in 2015, Outcast Ops: African Firestorm and Outcast Ops: Red Ice. While this was a joint effort, I did learn a lot about writing outside of the box I was in. I learned to research locations, using Google maps to get a feel for places I'd never been to. I learned a few things about my writing I needed to improve on, things I hadn't realized were problems. I also learned to structure my story, and how to insert a few scenes (or a full chapter in Red Ice) that weren't in the original outline. In the end, I have two novels under my belt, and they've been pretty well-liked by readers.

Which means I'm ready to strike out on my own. The Outcast Ops series is on hold for the time being, as Rick has to devote his time to other writing projects. So, It's time for me to go solo.

The two novels I'm targeting for writing this year are The Assassin Prince, a fantasy novel and the first of a series of Techno-thrillers with sci-fi elements, called (Tentatively) Operation Shattered Chains. The Assassin Prince is up first, as the second is right now just a couple of ideas that need to be worked out a bit more before going forward with that.

More Short Stories

Most of my work has been in the area of short stories. With only two Battlecorps stories published in 2015, I need to up my output there. That means finishing Battletech stories and submitting them. I have a number of first-draft or partially written Battlecorps stories, along with a rack of ideas that have yet to make it from my mind to paper. The goal is to see six Battlecops stories for 2016.

I also want to write a few non-Battletech stories and maybe self-publish them up as part of an anthology series. I have several universes fighting for attention in my head, so maybe the best way is to release them in short stories and see if any of them catch fire with readers. Maybe two volumes in 2016? We'll see.....

Write!

All the above is pie in the sky unless I actually sit my butt down and write. I'm aiming for 1,000 original words a day, five days a week, so 260,000 words for 2016. The updated word count will be part of this blog starting Monday. That means 1,000 original written words a day -- that won't include rewrites, blog posts, or outline notes --- but a thousand words of a story, short story, novel, whatever.

I will use this blog to keep me motivated and force me to keep at it.

*****

Those co-authored novels I mentioned are on Amazon and are both part of the Kindle Direct program.For African Firestorm go here: Outcast Ops: African Firestorm on Amazon! For those in the United Kingdom, Outcast Ops: African Firestorm on Amazon UK!! For Red Ice: Outcast Ops: Red Ice on Amazon!. and for those in the UK, Outcast Ops: Red Ice on Amazon UK!
So, that's the start of 2016, welcome to a new year!

Craig

A Writer's Observations: What to write?

First, if you don't read  Kristine Kathryn Rusch's Business Musings blog post she does every Thursdays, do so, Go here: http://kriswrites.com/ click on the "Business Resources" tab, and the Business Musing link is right at the top. She back to writing about the business of writing, and like her previous series, under the "Business Rusch" banner, I believe they are important topics from someone who knows the publishing business like few do. (Don't forget her husband, Dean Wesley Smith, who's website can be found here: http://www.deanwesleysmith.com/ He's just posted the first two chapters of his work in progress, HEINLEIN’S RULES: Five Simple Business Rules for Writing.)

Anyhow, the last couple of weeks, Kris has been discussing what a writer should write; Do you try and chase public opinion and write what is hot, or do you maintain your cool and write what you want to write?

My own view on the question is simple: Write what you want to write.

The problem with chasing what is hot is that trends will cool off, and what was big last month isn't this month. You can't chase after that's hot --- it's like a dog trying to track a rabbit, but being distracted by other smells, and running from one scent to another, only to be distracted by a stronger scent. All that's going to happen is the dog is going to get tired running to and fro and won't find the rabbit.

To chase after what is hot simply because it's hot is a fool's errand. Unless you like the sub-genre in question (Say, for example Vampire Romance), writing is going to be a pain. You have to waste time reading novels from the genre, to get a feel for it, work out the plot so it fits the genre, write in a style that fits the genre, then publish it, all the while hoping the fan-base hasn't moved onto Werewolf Romance in the meantime. Of course, if Vampire Romance is a genre you like, it because easier to write that sort of story, just don't expect to beat Twilight novels in sales.

Which leads me to the following statement --- "The best-selling writers don't follow trends: they set them."

Simply put, those writers set the trends, while others follow along, trying to grab onto the coat-tails of those trend-setters. For every unique novel setting a trend, you have half a dozen, a dozen, a score of authors putting out their own version of that original novel. The Harry Potter novels are a prime example, as are the Twlight novels. Look into each genre, and you'll see others trying to capture the same magic (and money) as those big-name novels. Some succeed, most fail.

But unless you like writing that genre, it's more chore than craft. Writing something you don't like to read is a chore. A woodworker who doesn't like working with wood will produce crappy wood items -- the parts will be uneven, the legs won't be the same length, and the pieces put together poorly. Same thing with any other craft work -- unless you like it, the product produce will always be inferior to someone who loves what they do.

The same thing applies to writing -- unless you love reading the genre, writing in that genre will be a waste of time. The product will be inferior, and time, money and energy spent working on it will be wasted. It also starts to burn out the creative juices as you try to force yourself to write without enthusiasm. Do it enough times and you become an ex-writer or a failed writer.

If I can't generate any enthusiasm for a story, I won't write it, simple as that. The two Outcast Ops novels I co-wrote were a task, but if I had not enjoyed the genre, I wouldn't have been able to hold up my end of the partnership. That's why anything I write and publish is something I loved to do, be it genre or universe. No sparkling vampires, no bodice-rippers, and no profound slice of life novels for me. That isn't me.

Well enough trying to sound profound --- Kris does it much better, so go read what she has to say.....

Short update on The Assassin Prince; Nothing new on the outline, but some thoughts about the background has been percolating. The fun thing about fantasy novels is that you can take bits and pieces from different times and places, mix them together and produce a unique civilization for your story. I'm already considering parts of the Roman Empire, 15th-17th Century Europe, and 15th Century China, with sprinkling from other eras. Nothing firm yet, needs to brew a bit more. In the meantime, I'm working on Battlecorps stories to sooth my writing urges.

If you want to read the novels I co-authored, African Firestorm is on Amazon and is part of the Kindle Direct program. African Firestorm on Amazon! For those over the pond in the UK, click here! If you want to read Red Ice, it's also part of Kindle Direct program: Outcast Ops: Red Ice on Amazon!. and for those in the UK, Go here!

Later,

Craig

NaWriNoMo Bust and Future Plans

As the title says, this year's NaWriNoMo is a bust.

I couldn't get the writing traction I needed to write those 50,000 words. I went in with only a half-formed story idea, one or two sentences for the first dozen chapters, and little else. It's not the story idea was bad --- it's just I didn't do enough groundwork before NaWriNoMo to make it a successful month, and that's my fault. I also had a couple of days when I didn't feel well enough to write, so that was an additional hurdle in my way.

Still, it wasn't a total bust -- I did writing 31K worth of words and I did work out a nice chunk of the story's background. But that should have been done beforehand. I need to let it marinate a little more, but I think I can go back in a couple of months and do the groundwork and resurrect the novel. If I have my say, the novel, Operation Skyfire will see the light of day sometime in the future.

So, now what?

Now, it's back to plotting The Assassin Prince, and writing short stories. I need to firm up the background of the novel, make sure the story holds together at the outline stage and maybe expand the chapter details out a little more. As for the short stories, I have several I need to revise, plus another I just started, so I can relieve my writing itch with them while I work on The Assassin Prince. I'm aiming to have the outline finished by the end of the year. 

Still, I haven't forgotten about the two Outcast Ops novels I co-wrote. Red Ice has been ding well, staying above the 100,000 rank level, and has a couple of reviews --- 5/5 Stars. African Firestorm has been bouncing up and down, but it has a reviewer's rating of 4.7/5 Stars. So, while they're not megahits, I am happy that people like the novels.

African Firestorm is on Amazon and is part of the Kindle Direct program. African Firestorm on Amazon! For those over the pond in the UK, click here! If you want to read Red Ice, it is here: Outcast Ops: Red Ice on Amazon!. and for those in the UK, It's here!

That's all for now -- back to writing!

Craig