Writer’s Block – Echoes in the Endless Returns & Totally Unknown Writers Festival
Last week I mentioned that I restarted writing of my novel. Well actually I’ve restarted the writing of TWO novels. Yes, I’m writing TWO novels in tandem. And while it sounds like a bad idea, this can work since I can switch between the novels depending on the mood I’m in. If I’m in the mood for something epic, I’ll continue with A Collection of Shards. If I’m in the mood for something more quiet and personal, I’ll work on Echoes in the Endless. In either case, I’m planning to work on both simultaneously. Also I can not give an estimate of when I will finish writing these books. My previous estimates and personal due dates came and went, and the book writing did not progress.
Echoes in the Endless will look similar to the earlier variants that I started working on. However instead of the majestic huge starships of space operas, I’ve taken a liking to the gritty grim spacecraft of today. I also enjoyed hard science fiction, that involved reality based stories. Yes authors go into great lengths to explain things and it does make stories less “plastic epic”. However these constraints lead to more provocative unconventional stories, and I plan on writing those and not another clone of “Battlestar Galactica” or “Star Trek”. A warning to all readers, neither of these books are meant to be happy. I’m a realist not an optimist so I tend not include pink tinted glasses with my stories.
Finally, I’ve been initially invited to contribute to the next Totally Unknown Writers Festival. Everything is still in the conception stage, however with any luck I’ll read something at next year’s show.
And for kicks, I read the flash science fiction 365 Tomorrows a lot. Here is an awesome piece: EULA by Cesium Artichoke
We Are Away
And so it begins. Yesterday I finished writing the notes for my novel, A Collection of Shards. I mapped out the basic plot, main characters and setting in those notes. I am impressed with how the idea for the novel is coming together. The novel will have a tight plot with lots of action. I plan on putting a lot of attention to details. The story will feel visceral at times, dreamy at others. I based my characters on real people, should they should feel alive. On top of that I plan on narrating the story in a weaving manner, to make it feel layered. And thanks to the real locations and technology, I can attempt to write a story based on an “altered reality”, similar to that of Strugatsky’s The Roadside Picnic.
With the novel already well planned, I’ve started writing the first chapter. I changed the beginning to a totally new scene that I’ve not worked with before. Still I’m excited about writing this novel. It make turn out as the next science fiction epic.
I’ll Be Right On It
It is a bit early in the morning to come up with material to write about. And I did not get much sleep this night. Today I probably wouldn’t be able to stop yawning. And insane amounts of coffee will only keep me from trying to take a nap on the new office’s couch. All that said, I am on track with my current work: personal, professional and long-term. I’ve even managed to get to those much delayed tasks. Yesterday I restarted my coding projects. Today I will dedicate some time on building a portfolio: in writing, graphics and coding. And I really need to clear the dust off my resume too.
The key statement for expressing the feel of these past few days should be: I’ll be right on it. And I will. Things get done and on time. The only thing missing is sleep, but I’m sure that will return if I keep at it.
As an aside, I played Alpha Centauri this morning. What a difference lower the difficulty a single level makes. At the moment I’m kicking ass and taking names. I can also verify that what they say about state theory is true. It is all about power and domination over a territory. It takes incredible restraint to not exercise aggressive military power, especially when you know you can get away with it. Hmm… that should prove a great uncurrent theme in my novel.
Final aside: I have to rewrite the first chapter of my novel. I can’t adapt any of my previous writing to it, in any real degree. I can use some ideas and elements here and there, but regretably it looks like the first chapter needs a rewrite. The overall plot and characters feel strong. The setting needs some thought, since the terrain in reality does not work a 100% with my idea. Anyways, I plan on just writing the rough drafts first. Then I brace for painful edits later on.
Brief Hiatus
I’ll be taking a brief hiatus again from daily updates to this blog. I need to concentrate more of my time on writing my novel.
Update on Writing
Yesterday I wrote the first section of chapter 1 of my novel. I’m not sure about all the elements of the novel, especially the names and characters. I might not want to base my characters completely on real life friends. But I will work with what I have as a rough, rough first draft. I plan on hashing out the novel first, and then start editing once I am further into the writing. I might even forego editing until I finish the entire novel in the rough.
At the moment, the first part of the chapter now lives. I plan on writing two more parts, since the story will consist of two or three interwoven threads or storylines. And for consistency, I will keep that style throughout the book. I might merge the storylines together at the end. That seems like a popular solution to wrapping up a novel, or maybe not. I plan on crossing that bridge when I get there.
Bruised and Sore
Uff! I’m bruised and tired from yesterday’s taekwondo session. The warmup consisted of a lot of running, jumping jacks, pushups, sit ups, and leg raisers. At the end I wanted to pass out from panting exhaustion on the floor. A great workout, followed by practice on kicking and hand motions. There is so much for me to perfect, but I think I’m making good progress. Still I’m months away from a black belt. Give a year or so. 
This morning however I could not be bothered to get up. Or rather got up stiffer than a stiff. And sore, and parts of my anatomy (limbs I mean, I don’t know what you are thinking about) aren’t fully cooperative. Movement in general today feels constrained and straining. I’m sure it will wear off by the time I go for the next session.
Fortunately, muscular bruising hasn’t adversly affected my thinking. The story and ideas for the novel are rapidly taking shape. And I’m enjoying writing it, since I have not thought out the entire story in such detail that it bores me. Instead every paragraph explorers a new thought and dream. I’m not sure how it will turn out and that is what makes it exciting. Also I started reading up on Qt development. I must say that the more I read about Qt and C++, the more I like those two technologies. I’m already looking forward to coding up my first C++ applications in the near future. Should be quite exciting. And finally a word about my secret project… I’ve done a fair bit of work on it, and I’m just dying to write about it. This project challenges me in everyway that I want to grow professionally and artistically. However I can’t openly talk about it… or maybe I could. We’ll see I guess once I have something concrete to show for my pains.
All in all I am bruised and sore. But I’m excited with the prospects that appear before me. Little bits of sustained effort are paying off.
Introducing “The Keeper of the Serenity”
After a good days of worship, work and yard work, I managed to snag a few minutes to sit down and type. Typing by itself should never be considered an enjoyable experience. However when typing involves sitting out on the deck with your laptop (running an illicit version of Kubuntu), that activity becomes fun. And even more when you are typing, nah, conceiving a novel.
After so much internal debate and arguing, I finally think I have an idea distilled into novel form. Yes, the novel still exists in a science fiction realm. I am a child of the future, and I feel most comfortable there. However I refused to give into the temptation of using magical devices. I am tired of authors, playwrights and screenwriters playing willy-nilly with the fabric of space-time. It seems wrong to tear gapping wounds in the universe, just to get to exotic places faster. It has as much finanesse as a bullet entering a body has finanesse. There is not such thing as clean shot. Blood, muscle, bone, nerve and tissue get twisted, minced, torn assunder and pulverised whenever hypersonic projectile meets human body. The same goes for all those other magical elements. Interdimensional portals, grey goo, biomechanical virii, aliens, et cetra. If an author goes down that road, why not throw in a wizard, a merry band of trolls and a dragon called Puffy? It is all fantasy anyways.
On the other hand, I like to drege up uncomfortable issues. I am rebel. But setting things in a pure post-apocalyptic world seemed a bit much. Especially nuking Toronto seemed too much. After dining out and having so much fun downtown… I decided nuking downtown Toronto felt wrong. So I decided to devastate some poor future city on Mars. In fact Mars in the near future seems like the best backdrop for many of my ideas. I can develop my own old ideas into this setting. And I can also use real (or feasible) technology, politics, and social settings, without touching too many raw nerves. I can’t please everyone but I try not offend too many. I prefer not to make enemies in the process of my writing. Overall I like the backdrop/universe, it has potential for this novel and other similar projects.
Also some of my friends will probably end up in some form of characters in the novel. It is almost unavoidable to do so, or at least to base characters on people you know. Exactly who, where and in what role I will see. And as promised certain names shall be dropped. Now all I need to do is to write it in its entirety. Fortunately the novel consists of ideas and elements distilled and refined of over a decade of daydreaming and writing attempts. This time I will write the novel and not just attempt to write it.
Oh, and the working title: The Keeper of the Serenity. Apologies to all you Firefly fans out there, but I want to call the protagonist’s starship the Serenity.
The Morning Came Again
Another fine morning and another beautiful sunrise rising over Toronto. This may seems like a common theme, but I love the mornings. I love the mornings cause it matches my personality. I am a forward thinker. I enjoy peering into the future. Little wonder why I enjoy trying out beta software. Or why I follow future trends. And I feel happy when I see I bright future coming.
The sky just turned a flamelike orange. And the Sun is a brilliant orange ball of light. Amazing how far away the Sun is, and yet how bright and warming it is. Beautiful.
I figured out my plot and my setting for the science fiction novel I plan on writing. Interestingly the setting turned out a composite of reality and my own past imaginings. And plot, influenced heavily by games and novels that I played and read through, should be rather original. While the novel recycles many of my old ideas, I think it will be original as a composition.
I also found two main characters. Should prove to be an interesting duo. An interesting contrast of personalities, hopefully that will drive the story forward. Part of me is proud of my achieving believable characters in such a simple manner. Part of me is telling me to not reveal too much and to mix it up more. As Marika notes: getting good characters is something a writer has shape, model and chisel away at.
I think I will start the story off in the morning, with the sunrise. I run off to write the first chapter.
An Encore
I didn’t update my blog yesterday. Life turned out busier than I could imagine. I am still catching up on things. I took on so many tasks. I have a trip to plan. Writing and reading just piles up around me. I’m not sure in which direction I should concentrate my efforts. My efforts to catch up look comical at times. And my only wish is that I too like those Hindu gods, could possess extra sets of arms and infinitely divideable attention, so I could actually finish everything. Yet, with all the additional emotional chaos in my life, I still manage to move forward. In the past, I would of just curled up and moaned myself to sleep. Today I no longer have that luxury, I need to execute my plans and execute them well.
So a quick update is in order.
Writing
I’m still maintaining my daily blog entries. Not a simple task at times, I keep on scrunging around for topics to write about. I’m not sure how my PWC friend, Marika manages to update her blog twice a day and still find time to write books. I’m marking her as yet another example of the craziness, creativity and sheer amazing output that Finns are capable of. My own novel writing ground to a halt. Too many distractions and too many random tasks are to blame here. However, the novel is moving towards an iteration of an earlier novel idea and elements from other ideas. I plan on dredging up those previous stories, modifying them to fit the theme and context of this novel. It’ll probably end up looking like a post-apoc scifi “Jungle Book” of sorts. If you can get that around your head, great, now help me understand it! 
Coding
I’m changing gears at work, so hobby programming is not on my list of high priorities at the moment. I plan on getting back to Qt as soon as the rest of my life falls into place. Also I’m holding back from contributing to the KDE and maemo projects for a bit. I do need a bit more motivation to get involved. Many using the platforms more often will make that happen. But still need a working IT before I can even think about developing for maemo.
Life
Learning to feel at home driving. Cellphone enroute. Things starting to fall into place. I just need more time, to get everything done. Working on bring some sanity and regularity into my life. This should help on the health side, cut down on giddiness, increase productivity and increase self-satisifaction. With the warmer weather coming, I plan on getting out there more often. So projects might need tabling until I have more time. And a big thing is a planned trip, which will resolve certain important and nagging questions in my mind.
Echoes in the Endless (A Preview)
Today brought many disappointments to light. Some trivial, others complicated in their machinations. Then I remembered my todo list for this year. And since a few of you asked me personally about what I’m writing. So I present to you an excerpt of chapter 1 of Echoes in the Endless.
Note that this is an early revision of the book. The end product may be radically different. Enjoy.
Echoes in the Void
By: Dorian Antoni Puła
Chapter 01
Two Ligian Jaguar interceptors tore out of the Magnus Prime Ice Cloud that marked the end of the Gamma Trannes star system. The milky white ice cloud also marked the edge of Allegiance space. Captain Ewa “Hunter” Kruk sighed as her interceptor cleared the last of the ice cloud.
“No immediate threats detected.”, Ewa said. She watched as the sensor mast’s data floated ghostly in front of her forward cockpit monitor.
“Negative on Allegiance presence.”, her wingman repeated. Ewa looked to her right and sighted her wingman’s interceptor. The monitor overlaid a green triangle around the flat triangular hull of her wingman’s spacecraft. The interceptor’s camouflage skin softly faded from a light grey speckled with blobs of white into a uniformly dark grey. Powdery ice dust swirled off the interceptor’s forward swept wings and the high gain transmitter mounted to the belly of the interceptor. The transmitter encrypted and relayed the information to the Sentinel carrier group still hiding inside the ice cloud.
“Acknowledged Alpha Flight. Proceed with sector sweep.”, the deep voice of Admiral Jeremy Nelson boomed in her ears.
Ewa looked down at the floor of her cockpit. The cockpit’s bottom monitor displayed a large hexagonal sensor array hugging the belly of her own Jaguar. Thin long pale graceful ice dust trails streamed off the sensor’s edges. The monitor drew a orange outline around the sensor. Cleaning sensor array – 60%. The message written in large orange font flashed across the sensor. The surface of the sensor pulsated as its membrane tried to throw off the sticky dust. Cleaning sensor array – 63%.
“Permission to clear buffer zone. Particle interference with array.”, Ewa said.
“Granted. Proceed with caution.”
The admiral’s words sent a shiver down Ewa’s spine. Without the standard set of capital ship buster and anti-spacecraft missiles on either her or her wingman’s interceptor, she felt vulnerable. A Jaguar interceptor could outrun and outmaneuver any Allegiance interceptor. But if the Allegiance placed a beacon drone close to their position, it would sense their presence and sent out an alert to the nearest Allegiance fleet. Neither the carrier nor the accompanying Hibernian lance frigate would have time to escape. Ewa breathed deeply and eased her fighter out of the cloud.
To be continued…
All rights reserved. Copyright Dorian Pula.
Update: 200th post too! w00t!
