Adventure, Inc & Other Stories

Did you ever create a character you didn’t like? I think that was the root of the problem with the urban fantasy I was trying to write. Going back over the story, I just didn’t like the protagonist. Even though I wanted her to be a smart-ass, hard-bitten ex-cop, I think I took it too far.

The interactions between her and the other characters just didn’t….click, I guess. That’s frustrating. I really like the idea of the story I started, and still think there’s something to do there. Just not with this character. Maybe I need to rebuild her, maybe I need to scrap her completely, but she’s just not going to work as is.

It’s one of those things that hit me pretty hard. I mean, I know that we’re supposed to create characters we don’t like. I did it in Adventure, Inc, and not with a villain. But your protagonist? I know there’s books out there with highly unlikeable protagonists. Peter David’s Apropos of Nothing series. The character is so unlikeable, that I couldn’t read the books anymore, despite liking the stories.

I’m not going to be someone to argue with a writer with Peter David, or any author for that matter, about their protagonists, but for me, it’s better to write a protagonist that you like. That you want to follow for 200 plus pages. I think as writers, we need to be able to root for our own heroes.

Now, David never once called Apropos a hero, in fact, in many ways, it’s implied that Apropos is a villain of the highest order. I admire the ability to write not one, but several books from the villain’s perspective. I don’t think I could do that. Even my unlikable hero made it almost impossible to write about her. Crazy but true.

How about you guys? Did you ever write a protagonist and then ended up not liking them at all? Please, let me know in the comments! Until next time.

~Mike

Well, last week was a trip. First my laptop’s keyboard and trackpad decide not to work, then I have surgery on Thursday. The surgery was planned, but the computer issues was not. Frustrating does not begin to cover it, let me tell you. Luckily, I had both an external mouse and keyboard, so that solved that problem. The surgery just needs to heal. It’s cool though, it already feels better than it did on Thursday!

I’m back now, and playing catch-up. I think by next week, I’ll have a fairly big announcement here, which is very exciting! I’m busy helping my friend settle some details for it, getting content, all of that fun stuff. I’m very happy with the project so far, and I think you’ll find it interesting.

I’ve got a handle on how I want my first reader’s wiki to work now, so I’ll be posting the link over on the side later this weekend. I’ve started on my second detective story, which I mentioned a couple of weeks ago, and I’ve got a nice handle on what I want to do with my latest Adventure, Inc story. I’m still working out exactly how much I want to plot, and how detailed I want to be. Too much and it takes the fun out of writing for me. Too little, and I end up rambling. Though I’m better at that than I was when I first started. I have complete stories in mind now, rather than just ideas.

So, that was my week. All in all, quite glad it’s over. I can move forward without the whole surgery thing making me nervous, even if the computer problem is a bit annoying. Still, time to get back on the writing horse and ride off into the sunset!
Or other, equally tortured metaphors! As always, comments (and well wishes this time!) are more than welcome. Until next time.

~Mike

I’ve said before how much of a natural procrastinator I am. I have tons of excuses, like many of you, but probably the most ironic one I have is searching for ways to be more productive. I’m always looking for that “magic bullet” for productivity, but tend to miss the idea that, while I’m doing that, I’m not really being very productive.

I think the funny part is, I started out the day by making a to do list, and yet, I spent a good couple of hours looking for a to do list “manager” so I could tweak the settings and make it cool and awesome and other things. Which I know I’d never use. Yet, I look for it. I don’t know why. Eventually, I remind myself that I won’t use it, and I move on.

It struck me as odd today, that we are so obsessed with finding better ways to “get things done” (or as the hep kids call it GTD), that we actually don’t. It works for some people, I’m sure. Just like any tool designed to enhance creativity or productivity, every method has their defenders and detractors. Honestly, I’m not either. I try out these tools every so often, especially when I have a lot to do, but they tend to be a distraction for me, because I get obsessive-compulsive about it. I have to find the best!

Which is silly. On my Mac, without adding any programs, has two tools already: iCal and Mail. They’re integrated and can sync to my iPod. So why do I keep searching for something I already have?

Personally, I think it’s just my brain’s way of telling me it doesn’t want to do any work. Which happens more often than I would like to admit. Heck, just in writing this paragraph, I got distracted by a press conference I’m only mildly interested in. I suppose we all have our distraction points or favored methods of procrastination. Just turns out mine was just layered with a bit of irony, thats all.

How about you? What’s your distraction of choice? What sets off your procrastination buttons? Let me know in the comments! They’re always welcome! Until next time.

~Mike

It’s easy to get sucked into research when you’re looking for information. For example, I needed example of what Soviet spies would be on lookout for during the Cold War. I ended up reading more about Cold War shenanigans than I ever thought I would. Granted it’s a fun read, better in some ways than an actual spy novel, but as long as I’m reading, I’m not writing.

Is that over simple? Oh, probably. I wanted the information so I could have a plausible thing for a spy to be after a character for. Sure, I could do the standard applied phlebotinum, but I’d rather have a nice real-world ground, even if I have fantastical elements involved. All that aside, I spent so much time reading about what I wanted to put in my story, that I ran out of time to actually write my story.

That’s never a good thing. Of course, one my rightly argue that as I write this post, I’m not writing the story I’m writing about (ooh, meta). I still count this as writing, because I am banging on the keys. Non-fiction is still writing! This is the only non-fiction I write, outside of school, so I feel it’s good practice for my studies.

Anyway, in looking over the urban fantasy, I decided just to put it aside. This is only the second story I’ve done that with. I just didn’t feel right about it, if that makes any sense. So, I put it aside and go back to it fresh after a time. Helps give perspective, even if its a bit disappointing. However, thanks to this [fiction] friday writing challenge, I had a great idea for an opening scene for a new detective story. The second with that character, which gives me hope that I can have a second series besides Adventure, Inc. to write.

I like the characters, there is a simple back-story, and the plots are easy to come up with. Can’t really ask for more than that as a writer! As always, comments are welcome. Until next time.

~Mike

Hot on the heels of Wednesday’s post of finding a name for my urban fantasy came the realization that I screwed the proverbial pooch and need to wrangle some serious words to fix the problem. Apparently, starting a project freeform and finishing it via plotting leads to inconsistencies. Who knew?

This completely derailed me and I did nothing but stare at the screen today slack mouthed and drooling. Not a pretty picture. This left me more than slightly annoyed. My plan for tomorrow, then, is a couple of free-writing sprints.

This is something that has worked for me in the past, especially when I don’t have much time to write, I set a timer for five or ten minutes and go to town. Depending on finger speed, you don’t get much quantity, but that’s not really the point. The point is, of course to get writing.

With luck, this will rev up the engine again so I can go back and fix that poor pooch. Depending on what I see, I may need to do major surgery. Which may be a pain, but I do want the story to be the best it can be. Considering my future plans, making it the best story I can is very important!

What about you folks? Have you ever tried a writing sprint? Do they work for you? Please let me know. Comments are appreciated! Until next time.

~Mike

I finally decided on a name for my urban fantasy. I decided to go… slightly generic for an overall series title. “The Spooky Stewart Case Files.” Hey, others do it. I may not be sold yet on the story title, mainly because I think it sounds cliche, but I am really tired of referring to the thing as “my urban fantasy project”.

If I’m going to be completely honest, very few of my titles really do it for me. I’m not sure how a lot of writers come up with names, but sometimes it’s like pulling teeth for me. Well, okay, not really, since I did have teeth pulled recently, but it’s really tough.

Some, I think are good. Others, like “Blood Struggle” are… kinda ‘meh’. So, I’m considering that my working title. Hopefully, something better will present itself as I finish up the story. Which has taken shamefully longer than I had originally intended it to, by the way.

Though, in a way, that’s good. I needed to rework my next “Adventure, Inc.“ story and give it a new name. That new one, though, I am okay with.

As always, comments are welcome. Hell, name ideas are welcome, too. Until next time.

~Mike

Lately, I’ve seen more than a few writer’s blogs that deal with needing permission to be a writer. I don’t understand that. Why would you need permission? You’re either a writer or you’re not. Do you write? Either for recreation or for pay? Then you’re a writer. You don’t need anyone’s permission to write. If someone doesn’t understand that, too bad. It really is that simple.

For me, finally getting over my own fears and putting pen to paper was the most liberating thing I ever did. I didn’t need permission. Sure, my family and friends’ approval was nice, even if I know some of them think it’s silly. If they didn’t approve, I’d still be writing. Their approval or non-approval doesn’t matter to me. And it shouldn’t matter to you, either.

Just write. Forget about getting approval or permission. If you wait for that, you just might be waiting forever.

As usual, comments are welcome. Until next time.

~Mike