The Future
I'm intending to finish the first Essence novel in 2022. If I can bring this in, I will, but it has to be right.
I will also edit the original story that caused all of this - The Essence of Jamie's Father, and finally publish it by myself. Currently that story is only available in The Immortality Chronicles anthology by Samuel Peralta. i almost certainly won't edit or rewrite The Conversion of Jamie's Father, self published in September 2015. The links from that story to the future of this universe are stark. |
Writing Weekends
I recommend writing weekends to all writers, especially those of us who have severly limited time to write in our lives, and many distractions.
I find them an incredible time to focus and now I also know how to use them wisely and achieve what I need to. I'll write more about this in a blog in this site. In 2019 and 2020 I went on a weekend each year. Of course this was before Covid, but I hope to get back to it next year in 2022. I went into the first weekend with about 250,000 ESSENCE words, and more than half of them were plotting and development. I was really struggling because, I could see the universe so clearly, but the story wasn't coming through. The writing weekends let me get to grips with that aspect and now I'm approaching 30,000 new words and some rewrites. It is taking shape nicely and I will try to finish the first draft in a writing weekend early in 2022. |
The Past
Essence came about because I had many ideas floating about; disconnected and directionless, when the Future Chronicles producer Samuel Peralta asked for submissions from new writers, for his forthcoming anthology in the series, called The Immortality Chronicles.
At that point I had a starting place only, an image of a nameless character, who was imortal, had lived a very long time and had had enough. The Earth was going to be burnt up by the sun, and he had decided to stay and end his life. I liked the image and the character, but it didn't make any sense. I asked if I could contribute to the anthology, and was accepted, but there were many writers waiting, should any story fall short. A fellow writer with many stories and success under his belt, who was in the wings waiting, talked about his ideas on a public forum. They sounded very similar to this picture above. If my story was terrible, his might be accepted and I realised there was every possibility of this. So I was faced with the very real possibility of not just rejection, but someone else writing something very similar and being published. This and the deadline were an amazing catalyst. I soon discovered the truth that, no two writers will produce the same story, even if they begin at the same place. All the other ideas and influences began solidifying as I wrote and the finished story - The Essence of Jamie's Father - makes it obvious how these ideas flowed out of the keyboard into the story as they came to me. The ideas that are contained in the rest of the universe are there in that story. Though they will confuse you, all will become clear. For reference, my main influences were: - Brian Cox - for telling us at every opportunity that the universe is going to end. Well, you're right Brian, but not how you imagine. - Isaac Asimov, for his excellent story - The Last Question. Please read it. The Essence universe follows on from it, with my own ideas and interpretation. Also, it's one of the best stories ever written. - Roger Zelazny, for the Amber series. I named a character Amber and though I didn't intend it, I can see many influences in the work. And lastly Hugh Howie, for WOOL, and one of the best openings to any book ever. And for being an all round nice guy who has done so much for self publishing and writers. Thanks Hugh. |