I'm toying with the idea of writing a story about a busker. So I'm jotting plot ideas and undertaking research.
What are you working on?
- Thread starter Naomasa298
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Maybe a dystopian setting where music is outlawed.
Working on "Seeing Stella" - an Occult Realist Horror story about a guy who gets vaguely involved and obsessed with a woman name Stella. He end's up seeing her in various parts of the city he lives in, ends up having this strange and hideous version of her break into his house. I've got an ending line which I like:
I'm still settling into it. I did some non-fiction tonight, which I'm happy with. I intend to write some tomorrow. I'm in a "restless insomnia" sort of mood rn though.
I want to eventually work up to a novel but it's a struggle. I want to write longer and longer short fiction until I can handle a Novellete or a Novella, and then do a Novel.
The last I heard from Stella was a scratching at my window. My friends say it was “just the wind rustling against the trees” but I know better. Stella is in all of us, in me, in everything — and that’s why I know I’ll see her again.
I'm still settling into it. I did some non-fiction tonight, which I'm happy with. I intend to write some tomorrow. I'm in a "restless insomnia" sort of mood rn though.
I want to eventually work up to a novel but it's a struggle. I want to write longer and longer short fiction until I can handle a Novellete or a Novella, and then do a Novel.
I'm in the research and plot development stage of a historical Southern Gothic novel with overtones of magical realism. That's a fancy way of saying I'm reading papers, daydreaming, and making disorganized notes.
Right now, I have three projects going.
The first and main one is The Frozen Forest, a story about an undead dragon entity named Drekar (whose name always gets me humming the Svartsot song of the same name) who preys not on flesh but on minds; his influence is so bad the entire forest he haunts has simply given up and let the cold take it.
The second one is a short story, Wanderer, where one of my main characters finds a wounded bird and heals its wounds. That's it. Just a fun little vignette showing what that character is about.
The third is technically several projects - reworking the info/stats pages for the main barbarian floofs I write for. Given that I prefer showing over telling how they act and what they're capable of, I have trouble staying focused on these.
The first and main one is The Frozen Forest, a story about an undead dragon entity named Drekar (whose name always gets me humming the Svartsot song of the same name) who preys not on flesh but on minds; his influence is so bad the entire forest he haunts has simply given up and let the cold take it.
The second one is a short story, Wanderer, where one of my main characters finds a wounded bird and heals its wounds. That's it. Just a fun little vignette showing what that character is about.
The third is technically several projects - reworking the info/stats pages for the main barbarian floofs I write for. Given that I prefer showing over telling how they act and what they're capable of, I have trouble staying focused on these.
I’m rewriting an old short story, “Dusk and Dawn at Laufenden”.
It’s an origin story of sorts for my main recurring heroine, so there’s no way I could leave it out of the collection about her that I’m putting together, but I’ve come a long way as an author since 2017. The text itself needs a facelift if it’s going to stand alongside my more recent work.
So far, I’m pretty happy with the new version. It’s more vivid, with better tension, and I’m looking forward to what’s in store.
It’s an origin story of sorts for my main recurring heroine, so there’s no way I could leave it out of the collection about her that I’m putting together, but I’ve come a long way as an author since 2017. The text itself needs a facelift if it’s going to stand alongside my more recent work.
So far, I’m pretty happy with the new version. It’s more vivid, with better tension, and I’m looking forward to what’s in store.
Tbaron1756
New Member
Right now I have two projects going. Zombietown Population 0 and Dead Fire which is the origin of the Zombie virus in my Zombietown world. Though I am toying with the idea of starting a 3rd project this week.
Currently working on a fantasy romantic tragedy. After that, I might do a space pulp adventure.
Draft II of Novel III finally got well underway last night after a week of dithering, uninspired effort, and downright avoidance. Seriously, simply turning the key and adjusting the choke was not working. I had to kickstart the hell out of it.
I'm about a third through my current novel. It's a high fantasy, of sorts. It's not the book I want to write right now, but it is the book I need to write right now. The idea came to me and I need to finish this before I move on to the ones I want to write. I have an epic trilogy in mind that has been in the works for years but I know i'm still not a good enough writer to finish that yet. I'll likely finish my current novel (this year), get it out there and then pick up one of my small, less ambitious plots next.
working on a couple of threads, one is about a serial killer that has a girl with him, he's not a parent, her mother was a victim, she escapes with another child whose mother is also a victim. I'm trying to figure out how she remembers the names of the victims and where they were from. Thinking about a rhyme to include. second is about a young woman with paranormal capabilities, she blocks it but now is faced with the knowledge that she can "save Sarah". It always feels like I have to figure out the path of the story or I can get sidetracked.
I'm proceeding with Book III down a slightly different path than normal since a) a full outline exists and b) I have 18 months to write this novel instead of the lifetime I've had for all but one of the others. I dithered too long (many reasons, all legitimate except procrastination) on Book II's 18-month deadline and ended up on a four-month literary deathmarch at the end of the period. I brought the manuscript in about a week or ten days early, but DO NOT want to repeat the experience. Ergo, this time I've implemented weekly word goals and quarterly deadlines on Draft II. We'll see how it goes.
I started a rewrite of my very first book right before the new year. It’s going okay; I’m almost out of act one. I’m hoping to be done with act one by the end of next week. If I can do that, I will be staying on track with the timeline I set for myself.
Louanne Learning
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Winner: 4th Contest August
Winner: June Flash Fiction
My last story was serious, so it's time for a comedy
Working on a sort of theological swords-and-sorcery fantasy short as a side project. Also plotting out my sci-fi Moby Dick.
I can't seem to write one without simultaneously and generously including elements of the other.
Sigh. I lead an impure literary life.
Louanne Learning
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Winner: 4th Contest August
Winner: June Flash Fiction
My Plan.
Y'all have no idea how momentous (and freakin' unheard of) having a writing plan is for me. Applaud or throw roses or chant enthusiastically to encourage me to follow it.
First Draft completed November 25, 2025. 52,000 words.
Second draft to be completed by June1, 2026
20,000 words each for January, February, March, April, May
667 words per day or 800 words per day with 5 days off per month
Third draft to be completed September 1, 2026
Tighten and improve the language, check historical and other references, smooth out plot bumps, embellish or tighten as needed.
Final manuscript submission deadline June 1, 2027.
Final polish, all aspects of the manuscript
Y'all have no idea how momentous (and freakin' unheard of) having a writing plan is for me. Applaud or throw roses or chant enthusiastically to encourage me to follow it.
First Draft completed November 25, 2025. 52,000 words.
Second draft to be completed by June1, 2026
20,000 words each for January, February, March, April, May
667 words per day or 800 words per day with 5 days off per month
Third draft to be completed September 1, 2026
Tighten and improve the language, check historical and other references, smooth out plot bumps, embellish or tighten as needed.
Final manuscript submission deadline June 1, 2027.
Final polish, all aspects of the manuscript
Going back once more to rewrite things. I came up with the brilliant idea of combining my three projects in a sort of continuous story. But that means going back and changing names and events. Luckily I'm not too far into the first two projects to make it too cumbersome.
Why do I do this to myself?
Why do I do this to myself?
