Category: Writing

Thirty Day Challenge – Day One – Lightbulb Sun

On By UncannyDerekIn WritingLeave a comment

Today kick-started my Thirty Day Challenge.

It was really interesting when comparing today to my previous writing challenges. With the other challenges, I forced myself to reach a word count. While I still think that’s a great idea, I found today to be a lot more relaxing. If today is a precursor to the rest of this challenge, I’m looking forward to it!

I spend a lot of time writing, but also found myself going back and building up more characterization. It’s funny. Even though I have the characters all planned and plotted out, when you start to write them things begin to change. It all seems quite natural to the particular character too. In a nutshell, I’ve added a few different traits and added to the history about the character. I’m quite satisfied with how he’ll turn out.

Another thing I dinked around with some bioethic ideologies. More specifically, Abolitionism. While I’m dealing in a science-fiction universe, like I’ve mentioned, this story also involves a lot about politics and religion.

While the idea of “Abolitionists” are to use technology to enhance humans themselves into better physical beings and end emotional suffering, I decided to take it a step further and throw both a spiritual and political spin on it all.

. . .

You’ll see what I mean when you read the book.

The most exciting thing about this challenge too, is since I’m not plugging away at a particular word count, I found I’m able to freely listen to music without getting too distracted. It’s a lot more freeing and exciting.

Lightbulb Sun

For today, I replayed Porcupine Tree’s “Lightbulb Sun” a few times.

Until tomorrow, fellow readers!

Preparations Are In Order

On By UncannyDerekIn Writing2 Comments

With my thirty-day writing challenge starting tomorrow, I’ve had to prepare myself both mentally and scheduleally (it’s a new word, okay?). I have a lot coming up in the next few weeks and finding time to write for a little bit certainly gets complicated.

But I refuse to let life get in the way!

Besides, I have Grimlock providing me dinner.

Grimlock

ANYWAY! I cannot be more excited for this challenge, primarily because I’m not giving myself a word limit. It’s going to be creative artistry at its finest. I mean, given I’m not some uber-exciting artsy-farsty kind of guy, I’m sure it won’t be the “finest.” What I do know is that I have the heart to get this finished and completed.

I have the heart to tell the story I want to tell.

I have the heart to give the message I want to give.

I have the heart to really make something incredible happen.

It’s not only going to be great for me to do, it will also be something that I love to do. Another way to look at it is: my love for something is creating this.

What’s Actually Going On: The Thirty Day Challenge

On By UncannyDerekIn Writing7 Comments

You’ve probably seen the few posts I’ve been making here and there; featuring some bizarre things.

What’s really going on is that I’m writing a novel.

Unlike any story I’ve ever attempted before, I know this one will become published. Why? Because I have faith in myself that it will.

Okay?

While I’m just over 20,000 words into the actual story, I plan on doing yet another Thirty-Day Challenge. I plan on simply writing – letting it all flow and seeing where it takes me. While my “goal” would be to write a bit more than 120k words, it’s not going to be the deal-breaker.

I’m writing what I want to write, which is something that I’ve never let myself do. Over the years I’ve attempted multiple stories with a combined total of over 100,000 words. One of those stories reached over 75,000 words – and I’m giving up on it. Why? Because I’ve learned so much since then. I’ve learned that I have to write what I want to write, and not what I think I want to write (and believe me, there is a difference).

I’ve talked to and followed multiple authors and artists who have gone the routes of self-publishing. I know I’m going into an uphill battle, but I do know I will succeed.

Thirty-Day Challenge

I’m setting the Thirty-Day Challenge for January 14th, which should take me into the middle of February. Much like the one I did last year, I plan on telling everyone about it so I have the peer support and the weight of not failing.

After the story is written, I plan on going back into it and finishing off the details of it all as I’m trying to finish the story – not make it look pretty along the way.

Any tips or advice you could offer would also be tremendous.

You may have noticed that I’ve revamped UncannyDerek.com from comic books into something more goal-oriented towards my novel. I plan on using this site to help in my writing process – keeping everyone updated as I go along. Maybe I’ll even throw up some writing samples or drawings I’ve made for the story.

UncannyDerek.com will definitely be the hub for everything about the book.

What the Story is About

While I definitely cannot explain the whole story, I can tell you this: It’s a science-fiction set in the distant future, touching upon politics, religion, faith, oppression, segregation, capitalism, sociology, underdogs, angels, space travel, computer hacking, backstabbing, explosions, gigantic robots, galactic warfare, and one hell of an interesting love story to boot.

No aliens or time travel though. That stuff gets complicated.

And for kicks, here’s just some of the plotting I’ve been working on over the past few months:

SoFar

Don’t worry. It is as illegible as it seems. My hand writing is awful.

As many great new things come around the horizon in my personal life, I cannot wait to add this to it all in less than a week.

Peace & Love.