New Writing Project: Project Meat
I’ve not updated my writing files at the bottom of my signature in a while because, frankly, I’ve not been writing at any real pace. However, I did decide that I should, now that I have a new computer, go ahead and buy a new version of Scrivener (approx. $50 US). That cost, combined with an annual subscription fee for Duotrope (also approx $50 US), and that means that I’ll need to sell a story (or multiple stories) for $100 US in order to break even for my costs (not calculating the computer in here as I would never break even unless I sold a movie script or something else equally lucrative (when your highest sale is $56 US, you learn to keep your estimations and expectations in check). Still, I decided I should try to earn the two payouts back, so I decided to start on a new story for the month of September and that story is Project Meat.
From a Dream
“Project Meat” comes from the tentative title that I have for the project. It was originally a dream that I had. The dream, in broad terms, deals with a crashing ship on an alien world. Something very odd happens during the crash and then we see the consequences of that odd thing after the ship lands safely on the planet below. Now, the dream wasn’t a nightmare and ended just before things got “seriously” scary, but the implication of Sci-fi horror was definitely what intrigued me about the dream.
I also thought it was a creepy and not really a horrifying idea and that really is what I like when I’m thinking of Sci-Fi horror. I don’t really like “horror” movies or novels, but I do like some sci-fi horror because of the creepiness factor. Essentially, if you can fight back (Alien, Aliens, Mass Effect) then I like it, even if it is a little creepy and eerie. However, if you can’t fight back or the ammo is severely limited (Deadspace, Alien Isolation (game), etc.) then I’m not going to like it.
Plot, Setting, and a Little Bit of Characters, but no Conflict
Conflict is the heart of storytelling and right now that’s what I’m missing for the story. Well, that’s not totally true. There is conflict, but the way the dream ended, it ends just as the conflict is established.
The plot: I described it above, but something extraordinary happens as a ship is crashing. It isn’t the extraordinary thing that’s the plot–its surviving the aftermath of the extraordinary thing (and this is where the dream ends)
The setting: an alien world. The extraordinary thing either happens in space before they get to the planet or in the atmosphere as they descend to the planet.
The characters: in the dream, there was one family. I’m thinking of expanding it to multiple families. One family is more intimate, but more families give you more people to worry about and may increase the tension (if and when I find a strong conflict). One family means that any conflict would be family member vs family member and that is something I don’t want to do (unless it is an allegory for America where our divisiveness seems to be inculcated in our society).
Anyway, I thought I’d update you on a project that I bought a software package to work on. Hopefully, it turns out to be a good investment and one that I will be able to turn a profit from in the future. Have a great day!
Sidney
Please consider supporting these fine small press publishers where my work has appeared:
Read Skin Deep for Free at Aurora WolfRead Childe Roland for Free at Electric Spec
Purchase HawkeMoon on Amazon.com (Paperback) or eBookPurchase Dragonhawk on Amazon.com (Paperback) or KindlePurchase WarLight on Amazon.com (Paperback) or KindlePurchase Ship of Shadows on Amazon.com (Paperback) or KindlePurchase Faerie Knight on Amazon.com (Paperback) or Kindle
Currently Working On (8/2020):
“Project Wall” (Science Fiction Story)
Drafting: 2nd Draft
Unhallowed (Weird Western Story)
Revising: 2nd Draft (Working Draft)
KnightWatch Graphic Novel (Fantasy Graphic Novel)
Drafting: 1st Draft (Issue 1)
