A week or so ago while laid up in bed with what the doctor called a mere sinus infection (but I called creeping death), I had time to survey all the creative projects I have going on this year, most of which involving writing stories. I had over a dozen stories slated for as many anthologies for nearly as many editors, plus an additional handful intended for certain online venues because I don’t have much work available online as most of it is currently in print. I also wanted to launch a couple of fiction serials online because I’ve loved episodic fiction since I was a kid and I have had characters and stories conceived for that kind of format for a very long time now. Then there are the readings of submissions for the Local Heroes anthology, as well as the next issue of Liquid Imagination online. Add to that the preparation of previously written and/or published stories to self-publish on Smashwords. And that’s all just for the first half of the year. The second half will be decidedly more singularly and selfishly focused as I get back to my YA novel that has an altogether different take on the whole institution of vampires, and then come November I will take a short break from that to begin work on an experimental novelette during NaNoWriMo that I’ve been itching to tackle for several months now. The NaNoWriMo competition is the perfect setup for tacking this experimental story that relies on chapters written daily and spontaneously to chronicle the new life of a man who is a stranger even to himself.
With a new perspective from the aforementioned death bed, I have made some changes to those plans. Only the stories already in progress (i.e. older stories that are simply being revised and polished for new anthologies) will continue, although I will commit to one brand new story aimed at special anthology project for the Halloween season. The plan is for it to be a bon-a-fide haunted story, perhaps my scariest ever (I’m not much of a straight up horror writer these days). So, I think that brings me down under a dozen stories; still a more manageable workload given the deadlines that loom. And in regards to serials, probably wise to pursue one and get a good lead on it before entertaining the notion of juggling an additional one.
I’ve also made a conscious effort to pull back on the online jibber-jabbering on writer’s websites and other social venues. That’s a lot more time better spent being productive, methinks. Art is a solitary vocation, and the less you have of other people’s voices in your head, the better your own voice comes through in your art.
Adding to my activities is the usual Spring time urge to make new music. It happens every year, just like every Autumn I get that urge to write unsustainable numbers of new stories. So, with the clearing out of some of the clutter, I’ve decided to set some time aside during the Spring months to get into my studio and produce some all-new music. I can only shun that side of me in favor of writing fiction and non-fiction for so long. I should just make it my Springtime ritual to produce new music every year. Almost two years ago is when I finally knuckled down to record that Sap album as a one man band.
The plan is to simply pick up a guitar, or the bass, along with the keyboard and drum machine, and just let the pent-up music flow. I don’t care if it’s something for Sap, or Saint Ruckus, or Dichotomous, or some as-yet-to-be-named project. I’m just going to let the music flow unhindered, unfiltered and unbridled. That’s pretty much the months of April, May and June, with a bit of pre-production and setup in March.
It helps to put this all in writing. So here’s what I have in the hopper (posting it here publically to keep a fire under my ass):
– Stories: “All in a Day’s Work”, “Call of Duty: A Cops Tale”, “Cult Storm”, “Fall of the Morningstar”, “15 Minutes”, “Finder Kept”, “The Formula”, and TBA new horror story – (Winter/Spring)
– YA vampire novel – (Summer/Fall/most of 2012)
– NaNoWriMo novelette, title picked but unrevealed – (Nov/Dec)
– The first Rucker Report “Applying Advice” over at Flash Fiction Chronicles – (February)
– An interview/guest blog session of sorts for Rick Taubold’s Anything Vampires blog, hosted by his vampire character Jonathan Clayton – (March)
– Part II of my interview with Bob Thurber @ Liquid Imagination, in which we will discuss his dysfunctional novel, Paperboy – (May/June)
– Stories: “All Things Considered”, “Living and Dying Under a Harvest Moon”, “Pieces of Candice”, and “Shard” will launch my e-book publishing endeavors over at Smashwords. (March; additional works throughout the year)
– Liquid Imagination #9’s Microfiction Section – (Spring)
– Local Heroes anthology (for Static Movement) – (Spring/Summer)
– Approximately six to eight new songs to be demoed – (March – June)
Absoulutely no rest for the wicked.
And the wicked like it that way.
Lost Signal 