The Voices in My Head...
I'm not sure how other writers formulate characters and story lines. It does come up in conversation; most writers simply prefer flippant sarcasm (or misdirection) over serious discussion. Possibly, it's because writers don't always know where or how their inspiration will strike and some, like me, are afraid to peer too closely at the process in case inspiration decides to vamoose.
My first novel (ever; not under this pen name) was the result of a simple question that I then researched for about four years. From time to time, characters in that story universe pop into my head and start conversations, and sometimes that conversation leads to the character in question having his or her story written. (In fact, I'm about to release one such story.) Other times, a character will *ahem* be a little naughty. I'm on the tail end of writing a story driven by that, er, naughtiness. The character simply would not stop having sex in my head. I took the hint and now, he's quite happy with his lot. (Of course, he's getting a Happy Ever After, eventually, so that could have something to do with it.)
Normally, though, the characters that speak the loudest aren't from the World of the Vampyr universe. Sometimes that's good, especially when I have to focus on finishing other manuscripts. Sometimes it's bad, like when I'm on deadline and trying to finish an episode. Gianna in particular has been difficult to write; she and I will both be happy when I can turn my attention to Jason in January and begin working on The Vampire's Favorite (already partially plotted).
I've already spoken some, here and there, about my plans for the World of the Vampyr. Next year, I hope to publish both TVF and The Master Vampire, which I figured would end the series and my involvement in that universe. I then planned to focus on a speculative fiction idea and an Urban Fantasy, both possibly written under another name.*
Er, no.
Willow popped into my head a few nights ago and told me in no uncertain terms that I would be writing her story. Now, unlike some characters I could mention *cough* Jason *cough*, Willow is happy to wait until I'm ready to write her, which is a very good thing as there's another story I have to write before I can focus on her.
That other story involves Darien, who's been hanging out mostly naked in my head for a couple of nights. (Yes, I'm enjoying the view. Hubba.) He's not been having sex, thank goodness, but he's been pretty insistent. This woman, he tells me, she's my mate. (No, it's not Willow. She's intended for someone else, so she tells me.) He's had kind of a hard life (long back story), so once TMV is finished, I might actually take a little time to focus on him, which will keep me in the World of the Vampyr for a while longer, especially if I decide to extend the story to Willow. The good part of that is that readers will be able to see the after effects of TMV, the consequences of what happens in that story rippling out to the larger supernatural world.
All of that is simply in the realm of possibility right now. While I've cut back on next year's writing schedule in general (four novels planned under another pen name and two under this one, all to be written in 2015), I'm trying to leave plenty of room for inspiration to strike and for my fingers to tap out stories set in a couple of other story universes, written under various pen names.
It also leaves at least a little wiggle room for reader-initiated story lines. If there's a particular story or character you like, don't hesitate to contact me. I have been known to explore those ideas especially for readers. Hey, I'm just the one writing them. Without y'all, there'd be no reason to. So, don't be afraid to reach out and ask or suggest. I'm very open to that, though I have to warn you now that I might not be able to get to it and that the story may not take the form or direction you think it should. Alice and Gregory, for example. I would really love to write their story as a separate manuscript, but I don't see it happening. Alice is too close-mouthed, for one, and her regret and shame over her involvement in Gregory's past is...well, she's not ready to talk about it, though I'm pretty sure it's gonna come up in either the final episode of The New Vampire Series or the first part of TMV. (Eric, bless his heart, is forcing her to face her past; otherwise, she might not ever, her regret is so great.)
One thing I can say is that once the TNV series is completed, future stories will most likely be released as novels. I've mentioned this before (and also that I know at least a few readers will be disappointed), but it's for the good of the stories, I promise, or I wouldn't do it. Now, I'm not completely ruling out the episodic format; I'm simply leaning more toward releasing future stories as complete stories, or at least writing them that way which, of course, means that releases will be much farther apart.
Right now, I'm enjoying my foray into the World of the Vampyr. For a story that started out almost entirely as an experiment, it's blossomed into a world I care very much about. I'm not sure that even once I finish writing TMV that I'll be ready to leave Eric, in particular, behind. I know a few readers who will likely feel the same way, and I find that absolutely amazing. As a reader, the best part of a story is having a character I enjoy spending time with so much that I don't want to let him or her go. I have a couple of bookcases full of such stories, books I'll pull out again and again, just so I can revisit favorite characters. I hope readers find Eric, Jason, and Gianna as compelling. I hope these stories bring you years of enjoyment and that they find a home in your heart, the way they've found a home in mine. * I've written here about the UF before and actually already have it nearly fully plotted and two chapters written.
My first novel (ever; not under this pen name) was the result of a simple question that I then researched for about four years. From time to time, characters in that story universe pop into my head and start conversations, and sometimes that conversation leads to the character in question having his or her story written. (In fact, I'm about to release one such story.) Other times, a character will *ahem* be a little naughty. I'm on the tail end of writing a story driven by that, er, naughtiness. The character simply would not stop having sex in my head. I took the hint and now, he's quite happy with his lot. (Of course, he's getting a Happy Ever After, eventually, so that could have something to do with it.)
Normally, though, the characters that speak the loudest aren't from the World of the Vampyr universe. Sometimes that's good, especially when I have to focus on finishing other manuscripts. Sometimes it's bad, like when I'm on deadline and trying to finish an episode. Gianna in particular has been difficult to write; she and I will both be happy when I can turn my attention to Jason in January and begin working on The Vampire's Favorite (already partially plotted).
I've already spoken some, here and there, about my plans for the World of the Vampyr. Next year, I hope to publish both TVF and The Master Vampire, which I figured would end the series and my involvement in that universe. I then planned to focus on a speculative fiction idea and an Urban Fantasy, both possibly written under another name.*
Er, no.
Willow popped into my head a few nights ago and told me in no uncertain terms that I would be writing her story. Now, unlike some characters I could mention *cough* Jason *cough*, Willow is happy to wait until I'm ready to write her, which is a very good thing as there's another story I have to write before I can focus on her.
That other story involves Darien, who's been hanging out mostly naked in my head for a couple of nights. (Yes, I'm enjoying the view. Hubba.) He's not been having sex, thank goodness, but he's been pretty insistent. This woman, he tells me, she's my mate. (No, it's not Willow. She's intended for someone else, so she tells me.) He's had kind of a hard life (long back story), so once TMV is finished, I might actually take a little time to focus on him, which will keep me in the World of the Vampyr for a while longer, especially if I decide to extend the story to Willow. The good part of that is that readers will be able to see the after effects of TMV, the consequences of what happens in that story rippling out to the larger supernatural world.
All of that is simply in the realm of possibility right now. While I've cut back on next year's writing schedule in general (four novels planned under another pen name and two under this one, all to be written in 2015), I'm trying to leave plenty of room for inspiration to strike and for my fingers to tap out stories set in a couple of other story universes, written under various pen names.
It also leaves at least a little wiggle room for reader-initiated story lines. If there's a particular story or character you like, don't hesitate to contact me. I have been known to explore those ideas especially for readers. Hey, I'm just the one writing them. Without y'all, there'd be no reason to. So, don't be afraid to reach out and ask or suggest. I'm very open to that, though I have to warn you now that I might not be able to get to it and that the story may not take the form or direction you think it should. Alice and Gregory, for example. I would really love to write their story as a separate manuscript, but I don't see it happening. Alice is too close-mouthed, for one, and her regret and shame over her involvement in Gregory's past is...well, she's not ready to talk about it, though I'm pretty sure it's gonna come up in either the final episode of The New Vampire Series or the first part of TMV. (Eric, bless his heart, is forcing her to face her past; otherwise, she might not ever, her regret is so great.)
One thing I can say is that once the TNV series is completed, future stories will most likely be released as novels. I've mentioned this before (and also that I know at least a few readers will be disappointed), but it's for the good of the stories, I promise, or I wouldn't do it. Now, I'm not completely ruling out the episodic format; I'm simply leaning more toward releasing future stories as complete stories, or at least writing them that way which, of course, means that releases will be much farther apart.
Right now, I'm enjoying my foray into the World of the Vampyr. For a story that started out almost entirely as an experiment, it's blossomed into a world I care very much about. I'm not sure that even once I finish writing TMV that I'll be ready to leave Eric, in particular, behind. I know a few readers who will likely feel the same way, and I find that absolutely amazing. As a reader, the best part of a story is having a character I enjoy spending time with so much that I don't want to let him or her go. I have a couple of bookcases full of such stories, books I'll pull out again and again, just so I can revisit favorite characters. I hope readers find Eric, Jason, and Gianna as compelling. I hope these stories bring you years of enjoyment and that they find a home in your heart, the way they've found a home in mine. * I've written here about the UF before and actually already have it nearly fully plotted and two chapters written.
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