R.W. Krpoun's Blog, page 27

To what end?

That is my  reminder on plotlines. My strong suit, if I can claim one, is in the foundation of stories: characters, world building, situations.

My downfall tends to be of two sorts. The first are endings; I have trouble ending a book. Too often I have the core concept, a decent opening, and I’m pounding around on the keyboard…and suddenly I realize I have no idea where the novel is going or what the ending will be. That is what shunted Zerk and Call to Arms to the sidelines after 50k words.

The second problem comes along when I get the opening, foundation, and an ending in mind and I’m happily cranking out words…and then I realize I have and opening and an end, and only a vague concept of how the two are connected. That is how Game stalled.

My problem is that as I write plans and plots change to fit the page, and characters grow; and like every parent, I find that my offspring do not always grow the way I wanted or expected them to grow. For example, in the Phantom Badgers Kroh, Rolf, and Star were supposed to be a trio at odds in order to show the cultural differences the three represented. But as I wrote the three grew together as comrades.

I don’t know if other writers have this problem, but I do. However, projects do not die for me; they go dormant until inspiration hits and then they resume, often more than once. I started Zerk in 2015, stalled, worked on it again in late 2016 and stalled, and then picked it back up in late 2017 and brought it home.

Occasionally I have to cut off a false plot trail and regroup a few pages back, but not often.

Anyway, that is the process I labor with; at times I am amazed I finish anything.

Update IV

So the last two weeks has seen me wallowing helplessly in writer’s block, becalmed and in despair. Four thousand-odd words in 14 days.  And my office chair is crapping out.

Well, not really in despair, I did extensive research for numerous projects, re-edited Dark Obligations (no plot changes, just my on-going war with abuse of commas and typos), and immersed myself in material intended to get the juices flowing.

Which I believe worked.Yesterday I believe I cracked the story arc issue with Game, and have materially advanced the projected plot lines of other projects.

On other fronts, books sales are strong, with my favorite but slowing-moving Sunstone suddenly seeing a welcome upturn in sales. It’s not a surge for Sunstone, but it is getting read.

No less than four reviews popped up, which is a big thrill for me; reviews are hard to come by, and each I get is pondered.

As usual I was advised to get an editor and that is true, but the simple fact is that a professional reviewer costs more than any one of my books would earn in a year. Therefore I (and the majority of indie writers) must go with non-professional editing.

Anyway, 2018 is starting out well; writer’s block affects everyone, and I don’t let it get to me.

2017

First, a Happy New Year to everyone.

Next, a bit of reflection. 2017 saw me publish three books (Dream 3, The Master’s Compass, and Zerk), and enter into retirement.

Three books is quite a lot considering that I had a major creative block in the first part of the year, but Zerk was a stalled project that an idea suddenly unlocked; I hope to equal it in 2018.

Retirement was not the shock I had thought it would be; after over thirty years in law enforcement and a job since 1974 it was extremely nice to not have to set an alarm. They always tell you ‘you”l miss it’, but it four months now and not only haven’t I missed it, I’ve had exactly one bored day, and that was probably due to the flu.

One thing I have learned over the years is to stop and look back now and then. The future may never come, but the past is always with you.

That would make a great fortune cookie, I think.

Update III

Sales were solid throughout last week, although no reviews came my way. I blame that on eggnog.

I wrote Game to 33,000 words and ran face-first into a story arc block; it happens all the time. I am looking at some reading in search of inspiration, but for the moment Game moves to the bench.

Since Game was riding the pine, I resumed work on Call to Arms, which had had a story arc issue at 53,000 words, and wrote it to 57,000 words, thus passing my minimum goals for rough draft production (7k per week minimum). I do not know if the patch to Call will hold, but early results are promising.

Support work on YGAT #3 creeps along, but support work is often slow as it includes re-reading the previous books in the series.

A Merry Christmas to all as I sit at my desk on Christmas like Bob Crachett.

 

Merry Christmas and Seasons Greetings to all!

I would like to wish a happy day to my readers , their families, and to whomever finds this blog.

Another update

The last week saw strong sales, and a review for Zerk; hopefully others are trickling through Amazon’s system, which is running very slow lately.

I was especially pleased by a few sales of Sunstone, my favorite novel and slowest performer. Chains of Honor, traditionally another dust-gatherer, is working on having a good showing for a second month in a row.

I price my books to sell because while I enjoy money, I enjoy the idea of people reading my work even more.

As to productivity, last week I was hampered by getting sick, a moderate case of Ebola with a touch of cholera that would have killed a lesser man, but I have recovered. While I was able to write Game to 29,000 words, it was only by not doing any work on YGAT #3.

I have a project, Call to Arms, that has been stalled at 53,000 words for months, hung up on a final plot arc issue, but over the weekend I was hit by an inspiration that might be the key to breaking the deadlock.

I find this weekly report seems to be helping; despite being sick I hammered at the keyboard rather than have to admit I didn’t make much progress.

As usual I have more ideas and stalled projects than time to work on them, but retirement is definitely having a positive impact on output.

I hope everyone’s holidays are going well, and remember: Amazon gift cards and a recommendation of a hard-working indie writer’s books combine the best in efficiency and the personal touch!  

An update of sorts

With extra time on my hands in my retirement, I thought I would share where I am at a week’s start.

Book sales are steady, although reviews remain elusive. I re-worded Sunstone’s key words and reduced its price, as despite being my favorite book it remains my poorest seller.

‘Game’ has reached 23k words of rough draft and the plot arc is still holding strong. I still haven’t come up with a working title, much less a final title, but those are problems for the future. A book needs neither until the rough draft is done, and until the rough draft is done there is no point in worrying about it.

YGAT #3 is still in the support phase; with each book there is a document listing the timeline as is evolves, notes about characters large and small, details commented upon, and the like. It serves to keep consistency within the book, and it serves as a hard copy that is quickly covered in notes, page numbers, and changes, requiring periodic updates and re-printing. I am still adapting Rolling Hunger’s doc to the new book.

Now that Zerk is up for sale…

For a hardy $1.99, my work load is much relieved in terms of stress. Having a book in the edit and publishing process is always an emotional burden.

So, as is my custom since retiring I have a dual project system going. A stand-alone LitRPG novel is underway with 18,000 words so far, but lacking even a working title (I call it ‘Game’).

Second the third YGAT book, with a working title of ‘Floating Hunger’, is in the preparatory phase as I build up the details of the setting from the support document I used in the earlier books, re-read the first two books, and lay out the plot arcs. The deeper into the series the slower the writing and the grater the preparation time as I have to make sure that the setting and personalities stay true to the earlier works.

A covey of other projects hover on my computer desktop and in handwritten notes on my physical desktop, eager to enter the queue.

I am happiest when writing, less happy during editing, and generally I loathe making covers.

I hate covers

I’ve said it before, but it still is true: I hate making covers. Hiring an artist is even worse, because to have to locate one, and exchange endless e-mails while they try to grasp what you are looking for, and the ones I get are always behind schedule.

But I now have a cover for Zerk, and it should be appearing on Amazon by Thursday.

I do not do well with visual art.

Final Review of Zerk completed

Four hundred larger, Zerk is now complete. All that remains is to create the cover photo, which has been delayed as my wife was out of town.

So call up the bank and check on the rates for a loan, because Zerk should be hitting the electronic shelves in a couple days.

Meanwhile I have a litRPG novel (not associated with the DReam series), book 3 of YGAT, and the sequel to The Master’s Compass in the immediate pipeline.