Ok, so lately I've been in a story writing mood, and it was only a week (or so) ago that I decided to compile the 6 short stories I've written this year, and print and bind them into a book. I've got all the supplies (see this thread for more detalis and information) and I've drawn some concepts for art I'd like to sprinkle through the book. All that's left is to finish the last story. I've got 1 part (or "chapter") done already, for a story I started a while ago, called "The Beating Heart of Mr. Lincoln", which is a kind of crime/thriller story that takes a while to evolve and develop characters. Character development was the main target for this one, and I think I'm going alright thus far. I started chapter 2 a while back, but then got distracted by other things. Today, I came home from work, turned on my computer, got myself a packet of chips and opened a can of Jim Beam and picked back up on where I last stopped (I thought it was the most sensible place to continue from...). My plan is to give this story 5 chapters, the chapter langths of which will probably be all around the 3-4 page mark, making it my longest story to date. Maybe one day I'll write that novel I've always wanted to write. But for now, it's short stories. So, the idea is to get the book's art drawn up, and the story finished, so I can print and bind 2 copies of the book at first. One of which I'll mail to myself to copyright the book, and one to keep to myself, so I can take pride in owning my own work. Next thing will be to print several more copies for friends and family.
If these goals become a reality, I also think sending a copy to the Newgrounds office, to see what the guys there would think would be a good idea, and maybe running a writing competition (much like the one gumOnShoe ran a while back, which got me back into writing) and offer up a copy of the book as a prize. From then, perhaps selling/giving away a few copies to the Newgrounders I've come to respect and befriend. I'm not sure if hoping to see the book for sale in the NG store would be a bit too much of a stretch...
I've also put serious consideration into adopting a pen name, at the moment; "Arthur Blane", a few incorrect letters from "Author Blank" which has sysnonims for "Writer" and "Block", so it's a little twist on my username.
The book is currently at 54 pages of text, and it'll probably easily go up to 80 (or so) pages once completed. I'm considering, once I'm done handing out copies, of just opening things up for sale, if there's a demand for it. The materials cost me $70 AU to get my gear together, so it'd be nice to get some of that back. I'll probably be able to print 10-12 copies from what I've got, but the cost to make more should go down.
Part of me thinks it's all wishful thinking, I really should print out the first copies before I start making goals that up until that point of first succesful printing/binding are little more than vivid dreams, trying so hard to become true.
On another note, I'm just about finished reading "Misery" by Stephen King. At points, it's pretty sick and twisted. And to read such comments about him being a brilliant author, it's somewhat comforting to know that that is the perception some people take on such dark, psychopathic material, it makes me feel a little more normal, as I see quite a bit of Stephen King in myself. I'll probably finish the book today or tomorrow, and then buy another of his books, or go back and read a bit more H.P Lovecraft. Or finish the beast of a sci-fi novel that I've been trying to bite down on for ages, but as with everything, time has escaped me, and I'm left at the same page as I was when I last put the book down some months ago. Which is a shame, because the author of said sci-fi book is brilliant, and I hate that I haven't finished this book, let along the following two in the trilogy (of which I mercilessly hunted down to get my hands on them).
So, yeah. I'll now reflect on the time taken to write this blog. I could have spent this time working on my short story.
Oh wait, gtg pee, it seems the two Jim Beams I just crank have travelled right through me.
Mizox
I find dark stuff disturbing, I never understood why people like it, I like action as much as the next guy, but horror just freaks me out
WritersBlock
I'm not a fan of horror movies, I much prefer action or comedy, but with literature, I find that crime/thrillers/horror can have a certain depth and intelligence that an action or comedy doesn't have. It has a much bigger hook. On screen, action and comedy have visual aids and so it's easier to pull off a good cliche and still come out on top at the end of the day.