After decades as a technical writer, a few brief stints as a wannabe bohemian poet, and some consistent successes finally churning out complete drafts of ideas thanks to some great experiences with NaNoWriMo, I’ve recently found the courage to make samples available here, mostly to demonstrate the extent of my inability to say focused on task, hold myself accountable for finishing every one of these works, and to share what I have with potential alpha readers.
Yes, I really am shuffling between sixteen manuscripts/outlines in two distinct genres and three different series. I discuss why this is directly related to my writing process elsewhere. These are generally first drafts or even “Draft 0’s” (in the case of original NaNoWriMo speed-drafts), but I feel strongly enough about their current state to let the general public sample them. Feedback and enthusiasm from friends will determine the fate of each (second draft or waste basket).
The Halferne Anthology
The “Halferne Anthology” was supposed to be one book with six short stories. Just some fun, in-universe backstories to play with when I wanted to stretch into new genres and styles of writing. As with all things, I got ahead of myself, and now two of those short stories are completed drafts, three are better than halfway to draft 1, and the last one is just now getting a fresh outline. So, I suppose, I should quit calling them “the prequels” and just call this my first series. Unlike the “Auria Cycle,” these are all standalone stories, each in a different genre, that can be read in any order with only a small arc that loosely ties them together if you puzzle-piece all six together.
(Click a cover image to learn more about that title…)
The Auria Cycle
Okay, we’re not calling it that, but like William Gibson, I hate coming up with names for series. This one was supposed to be my magnum opus. I’ve been crafting, outlining, and scribbling on it since the spring of 2001. Now it’s a slightly contradictory, if not completely misaligned, sequel to “The Halferne Anthology.” Where the Anthology was supposed to be backstory and this was supposed to be the main series, it now feels like Infinity War — entirely different tone, way too many characters and plots going on, and bits of it flat out contradict the setup stories.
The Pessimal Comedies
This series consists of all comedy novels that inhabit a shared universe, but even that universe is a bit of a joke. Aside from a few easter-egg references to each other, and the fact that the three main characters all share the same last names, and everything takes place either in the town of Weaver Bay or “The City” up the road, the books are in no way related. Each book is a different genre, and the even style of humor employed differs from book to book. The books may be read in any order … or even individually skipped if the style and subject matter don’t seem to fit your wheelhouse.
As mentioned elsewhere numerous times, I have no aspirations to be a professional author. A wise man who runs a major publishing company, many of whose books I have on my shelf, confirmed that by the time his company, the agent, the editor, and the cover artist get their cut, one book is worth less than one of my current paychecks. However, if I keep writing, by the time I retire, I’ll probably be good enough to sell a few of them, and they’ll make a nice paying hobby and second income. So, that’s the dream right now.
So, I’ve promised myself, aside from a possible non-fiction book opportunity that has recently come to light, I will not start any new WIPS until these sixteen are at least second-drafted. Where they are second-drafted, the latest are made available in the margin (or wherever your device puts the links), and I welcome any Alpha Reader feedback. Clicking the cover in the carousels above will take you to “my writing accountability page,” which shows the current status of each work, along with the list of things left to accomplish. It also offers up free snippets and links to relevant blog posts where I discuss that book. You know, just to prove I haven’t abandoned anything.
