I went through a long dry spell on the writing/creativity front. I think Ian stole it from me, personally. He’s been so incredibly creative and productive lately.

Well, I think I’ve finally got my mojo back. I finished and edited Two Thieves in the Night and submitted it to Leading Edge magazine. I’ve subscribed to and read issues from a few science fiction and fantasy magazine publishers. The work published in Leading Edge resonates with much of my work; it is often light but enjoyable fantasy-themed short fiction. A fantastic aspect of this magazine is they are geared towards new writers. Rather than the brief rejection letter most publishers send, they send you a 2-3 page review of your work and what to improve in order to get it published with them. I submitted Winged Visage sometime back and got some very favorable feedback. I haven’t been able to edit that one to my pleasure but I did manage to eek out the above story and edit in the interim. So here’s hoping my work has improved in their view!

While I wait for their feedback, I’ve submitted the story to Urbis, the writing social network cum peer review site that Ian turned me onto sometime back. Also, I’m now fleshing out Redemption (working title) using my current outline approach.

I’ve tried a few different techniques for writing including Ursula K. LeGuin’s approach of letting the characters talk to you and tell their tale. I think that’s a bit too much of a tempest for an untried author like myself to master..my protagonists begin yakking on and on about irrelevant or too trivial of items! Here’s how I’m tackling writing these days:

• I start by dropping all my ideas for settings, story ideas, characters, etc. onto my Creativity Palette website.
• Next, I choose a story concept. I run it over in my head and make sure it has what I consider crucial to having a story worth telling:
  • Something unique about it. This is particularly important in fantasy & science fiction. Whether it’s a plot device, a technology or magic, a bizarre story format, a unique character concept, etc. If it’s just more of the same, I shelve it until I can be more original.
  • An interesting character who changes or evolves in some way. We have to like and identify (or enjoy hating) some character in the story, and we have to see them change. Wanting a character to strive for their potential, or face their demons, etc. is what keeps us hooked. If the characters are static and never change, we give up on the story.
  • Can I create a basic plot structure? Is there an interesting hook, something happening to lead the characters and readers on, an exciting/interesting climax, and a way to resolve it all?
  • An underlying theme. I’ve seen more and more there has to be at least a subtle message in the story. Virtually all stories are retellings of basic archetypes, and themes/morals are embedded in each archetype. So it’s usually not a problem of whether a theme is present. If it’s not, one of the above goals isn’t met either because something isn’t happening interesting enough to challenge our protagonist and our perspective.

  I validate all this as I build an outline of characters (attributes, personality, and challenges/growth they’ll encounter), plot, themes, and settings.

• From there I write out the story beginning to end. I only jump ahead if I have a particular scene in my head yelling at me to get out.
• Editing is the final, hardest step. I do a pass or two for grammar and spelling, passive voice, etc. Then I let it sit for a while. Recently written work has an impenetrable gloss of perfection over it in a writer’s mind. I come back and re-read the whole story, noting where I’ve jumped to conclusions or the pacing’s not right. I do a second similar pass, and that’s about it because at that point I’m not finding much to change.
• I find the right place to submit it and cross my fingers!

I can’t exactly speak from a perspective of success, I’ve only had one story published. But, I’m hoping to keep that number gradually bumping up.