What I am writing when it isn't fiction

I got a question yesterday about what types of writing I am doing. The magazine market is getting smaller and smaller every year. There are similar types of markets opening up on the Internet. The pieces tend to be smaller than they were for magazines, but the market is growing. The hardest part of selling to these markets is simply finding them. I have had to rely upon word-of-mouth.

Time demands

Demands on my time may mean in the next few weeks I will have little chance to get to this blog, but I will try. My current writing tasks are those that will bring in money almost immediately, and I need cash for simple things like feeding myself – Grin. Yesterday, I turned out almost 1500 words, and they have already been accepted. It will ensure a check soon arrives. I have two more assigned topics that need to completed ASAP. Please do not think I have forgotten my blog.

First impressions – probably wrong

I was asked how well I know my characters when I start to write. I do a quick sketch of the main characters – probably not much more than 200 or 300 words. Other characters I have just a first impression of them, and it can prove to be wrong. I think I can offer you an example from the “real world.” Before my disability caught up with me, I was a landlord. Many of my tenants were college students. One day I met with a potential renter. She appeared to be just another college student. She looked young – I assume just a high school. She was very attractive and dressed casually. I showed her the apartment, and we sat down to talk. The apartment was much to her liking, but she said something that was very startling – “I am a murderer. You may not want to rent to me.” She explained that she had just gotten out of jail because she had just turned 18 and her crime was committed while she was still use a youth. She went on to explain she had killed a friend during an argument. They were arguing in a kitchen and she picked up a knife laying on the table and slashed her friend across the throat in anger. Before help could arrive her friend bled to death. It was obvious my first judgment of her had been wrong. I never would have thought the innocent little girl in front of me had such a startling past. I am sure some of you wonder if I rented to her. The answer is yes. Was she a good renter? No, she had problems with drugs, but that is another story. First impressions can be wrong in the “real world” as well as in the “writing world.”

A perfect world humbles you

I was asked a question the other day that I answered quickly, but it made me think. The question was about my fantasy novel Bringer of Justice. The person asked if I was trying to create a “perfect world.” My quick answer was “no.” The reason is in a perfect world there could be no conflict; therefore, there could be no story. As I began to think about the question, I realized it was beyond my capabilities to create a perfect world. The basic question is what would make a world perfect? If you try to answer that question the list of things needed quickly multiplies until it is clear to see it would be an almost infinitely large list. It also humbles you as a writer.

Exceptional writing day

Yesterday was an exceptional day for writing. I was able to write until late in the afternoon when visitors arrived. If I could get that many words on paper every day, I could finish a novel in as little as six months. It was a day when the characters took over, and it was almost like the dialogue was dictated to me by them. I have often wondered why days like yesterday occur. I suspect it is my mind processing ideas until they gel. I also suspect today will be devoted much more to editing.

Gray days and writing

It is a gray day today. I could rephrase that as – it is a great day today. Days like today with the promise of rain are great writing days. I feel no guilt sitting here at the computer writing. It has been a very productive morning so far. I have stopped for the day in terms of new work because I fully understand it is going to happen next. For me, it is a good idea to stop where I will have an easy place to start the next day. I will spend the rest of the day working on things such as this blog and editing previous day’s work. On the other hand, the ideas for tomorrow will go around and around in my head becoming clearer and clearer. I know it will be a very productive day. It feels good to have great days strung together.