Having been home with the kids, who are on vacation from school, writing has been a challenge. So I figured, why bother? Even if I drag my laptop around the house, I still don’t get much done with all the chaos. So instead, I’ve been daydreaming. 🙂
I have two new story ideas doing battle in my head. One is a dystopian story of survival. The other is a urban fantasy about fairies. Yes, that’s right. The mythical beings with wings. Only not all my fairies will have wings in my story. I’m throwing out many traditional facts about fairies and inventing my own. That’s the cool thing about being an author. You get to decide.
My daughter helped me brainstorm a bit on the story about fairies. I’m sure in her six-year-old mind, she is thinking Tinkerbell, while I’m thinking Legolas (I know, he’s an elf). Anyway. Both stories, should they ever get written, are still forming in my mind. But the first step for me–when applicable–is always drawing a map. A map gets my brain thinking of possible scenes, characters, and subplots I would have never come up with without a map.
Here is my map of Belfaylinn. The story premise goes something like this:
Kaitlyn’s brother Quinn has been acting very strange lately. Worried for him, she watches him closely. This investigation brings her to a disturbing discovery. Quinn is not Quinn at all, but an impostor. A real-life fairy with wings. And if this guy is a fairy, where is Quinn?
What do you think? When I finish my dystopian map, I’ll post it.
Once the kids are back in school, I have a long To Do list of writing that will keep me busy through the spring of 2010. But after that, what should I write next? Dystopian or fairies? I really like both ideas.
Fairies sounds cool! That idea of the missing person impersonated by fairy-persona is one of the common Northern European myths; I’d love to see what you could do with that! Then again, what’s the dystopia about? It all depends on which direction you want to head with your writing.
Cheers for your New Year! 😀
~Adele
Adele,
Yeah… I did some research and there are quite a few books like this already. So I ordered a pile of them from Half.com and I’m going to read up while I’m finishing book three. Then I’ll know what’s been done and keep my story different. But it’s me, and I’m weird and different all on my own. So I’m probably pretty safe there. Still…
I can’t decide till I hear the dystopian plot.
Hey, I would opt for the fairy story. It sounds really intriguing!
Idk what you are planning to do, but I think it would be interesting if you had Kaitlyn start liking the fairy impostor Quinn. An unexpected love interest. lol idk
Anyway, sounds awesome!
– Leighton
Yeah, that’s an inevitable plot device there. But I will thwart it as long as possible. Mwa ha ha! I have ideas for five books in the fairy series. I think they will all be very cool. I only wish my fairy map looked creepier instead of cartoony…
I vote for dystopian 🙂
Then I can pick Andy’s brain about how it all went down. I decided that my city people got electricity back, but the Outsiders don’t have electricity. Or maybe they have some of those old-fashioned windmills… Hmmm…
My vote goes for dystopian since once the last Blood of Kings book comes out you would have done three fantasy stories and fairies are usually relegated to fantasy, so let’s see what you can do with dystopian. 😉
That is a good idea. So I’d have a fantasy trilogy, my science fiction maybe-standalone, then a dystopian. Do a little bit of everything. Good feedback, David. Thanks. 🙂
Hey Jill, they both sound great. But I’m going to cast my vote for dystopian mostly because I’m a fan of the genre. Plus I think when the Hunger Games movie comes out, the demand for dystopian books will be high.
I do hope you end up writing both, though. I want to read both. 🙂
Ooh. You make a very wise point, Jacob. When does the Hunger Games movie is supposed to come out? Not for a while, I think. Production hasn’t started yet. They may still be casting it. But I will be sure to have book one ready to pitch. 🙂 If all goes well, my goal is to have book one of both series ready by this coming ACFW… Are you working on something new? Book two, perhaps?
Any time, Jill. Besides, no entertainer (author or actor or whatever) likes getting pigeon holed as “that” kind of entertainer when they have even more to offer. If one can do a variety, then one should. Yet don’t forget the Shaolin philosophy: “It’s not the 10,000 punches you’ve practiced only once I fear, rather it’s the 1 punch you’ve practiced 10,000 times. That I fear greatly.” If after writing a variety you find that you are better at one or two over the rest, then by all means focus on that for the remainder and become the “expert” and “master” writer there, while still dabbling wherever else you like on occasion. ; )
Good advice, David. Thanks. 🙂
Right. Summer of 2013 is what I heard last. I’m working on a book titled Balloon Hunter, or trying to at least. Chris and I are challenging each other to finish our projects by the end of January. The sequel(s) to KMS need(s) a lot more thought before I can start.
Having both series ready to pitch at ACFW sounds like a great idea. 🙂
Ooh. What’s Balloon Hunter about? It’s good to have the camaraderie of both of you working together. Kind of like NaNoWriMo, but with two people. LOL
I agree with Jacob about the dystopian one being smarter to write. “Hunger Games” comes out in 2013 (it’s “in development” now). I seriously can’t wait for that movie… *lol*
But I like both ideas, so I’m torn.
Cool map, btw. I wish I could draw stuff like that.
All right. You guys have inspired me. I’m going to get these books knocked out! If I can stay away from the Internet…
I can’t wait for the movie, too. I hope they don’t kill it.