This is always an interesting position to be in.
Writing is, on the one hand, simple. Sit at the keyboard, let the ideas flow, and get the words on the screen. On the other hand, there’s often quite the process involved.
This essay, for example, is being written by the seat of my pants. This means I’m writing as a pantser. If you’re not familiar with the term “pantser”, it means you write in flow by the seat of your pants. Little to no overall plan, no outline, what comes to mind and works for the final product is what you are reading.
This essay, as well as most of the blog posts I write, is an extension of the title. That’s where I’m going, exploring what I do next. Before I get to that, however, sharing my process feels like it’s worthwhile.
Not so long ago I did all my writing as a pantser. Whole novels were written without an outline, a definitive plan, and with one series, not a fully formed plot. This worked for me over most of my writing career.
However, at the start of the pandemic, I gave planning a try. Writing as a planner means you create an outline with greater or lesser detail. Then, you flesh out the overall story before you actually begin writing it.
In this way, I produced my Forgotten Fodder sci-fi series from start to finish.
I believe, thus, that the four books of Forgotten Fodder are among the best, most cohesive works I’ve done. The fear I had of planning overriding creativity proved utterly incorrect. This led me to plan the final book of my Void Incursion sci-fi series and the entire new Savagespace trilogy.
Reaching the end
Six months ago, I finished writing the Savagespace novels. Originally a six-book series, each book was less than 200 pages when formatted. Since it is all a continuous story, I merged books together and turned them into a sci-fi trilogy.
Like Forgotten Fodder, Savagespace was planned. I created a chapter-by-chapter outline for the plot and story movement. Once that was done, I began writing. Here, my old pantser habits get to play. The outlines I create are guides, not strict directions for the story’s creations.
Hence, my outlines are like a recipe for a meal rather than assembling bookshelves from Ikea. Recipes can be mere guidelines and altered to taste, whereas skipping steps in bookshelf assembly tends to lead to collapse.
When I finished writing Savagespace, I started my next work. However, I’m not done with Savagespace, as I’m doing alterations on books 2 and 3 as I’m preparing them to go to the editor. Also, I just got book 1 back from the editor.
When I finished Savagespace, I started a new project. Taking a slight detour from my regular work, I began to plan a comedy sci-fi story. The idea would morph into something that’s been a lot of fun to write, which might or might not get a sequel or series.
To my surprise, after about 4 months of consistent work, the end of this novel is in sight. I’m down to the last few chapters of my sci-fi comedy, Jay and Char Save the Galaxy.
From plan to first-draft completion, this story has taken me about 6 months to develop and write. I’m really excited to share this. However, I won’t be publishing it until 2025.
Yet with “the end” in sight, I must address the question.
What do I do next?
The upside to writing full-time is that I’m working on new projects continually. The downside is that when one is done, it’s time to take on the next.
Welcome to my process. As of this writing, I have the following options at varying stages of readiness for what I do next.
Forgotten Fodder
I planned out 4 more novels in my clone sci-fi series. Chapter by chapter, Jace, Onima, Kara, and the rest of the team take on a new case and a new conspiracy. All I need to do is take up my outline and start writing.
I love the characters of this series, which is why I’ve given them another storyline. There are also one or two more arcs I’ve created but haven’t even begun to plot yet. This is definitely a possibility for what I will do next.
But it’s not the only option I’m considering.
The Dalshuzo Accords
This is a wholly new fantasy world I’ve been planning. I’ve laid out a lot of the background and done a ton of world-building for this. It will be a different bend on several classical fantasy tropes, including some technology usually not seen in fantasy. It is not steampunk, it’s definitely more swords and sorcery.
Elements of the plot for this have been created, I know several of the main characters already. However, the plot is not clear to me, yet. I’ve also been debating with myself about the magic elements and how they’ll work.
I’ll likely return to the worldbuilding of this and see if I can garner a plot. When I get that worked out, this is something I’d love to get started on.
Unnamed Gentleman Space Pirate novel/series
I’ve been working on worldbuilding for this story. Yes, as the title states, it centers on a gentleman space pirate (tentatively named Sam Yeager). This will be more along the lines of hard sci-fi, implying but not directly working with alien life forms.
The concept is that the main character, far from home due to an abduction, figures out how to get home 10 years later. Except when he does, he learns some less-than-pleasant truths about his abduction, the consequences of that, and other matters that bring his current and past lives into conflict with one another.
This will be fun to work with when I get to it.
Jay and Char Save the Galaxy. Again.
I have an idea for a second sci-fi comedy story. Apart from the overall premise, and what Jay and Char must save the galaxy from this time, I’m not sure I’m ready to create another plan here.
Some of this is because I want to see how the first story is received before I take another walk down this path. Comedy sci-fi is new for me, but I’ve had so much fun writing this, I would love to spend more time with these characters.
What I do next always follows a new “the end”
There are always new stories popping up in my head. I have an entire folder in my computer of half-started, half-formulated stories, ideas, and the like. While many will never see the light of day (i.e., publication), some might just become my next project.
This is always an interesting position to be in. When one writing project is done, I get to take on another.
Done doesn’t mean finished, however. For example, I completed the initial writing of Savagespace more than 6 months ago. Now, I’m working on it daily with my next draft edits and accepting/rejecting edits from my editor. Another part of what’s next for Savagespace will be recording the audiobooks.
On the one hand, with another “the end” reached, figuring out what I do next is a conundrum. On the other hand, it’s an opportunity. No matter what I choose as what I do next, I get to live my passion and create something new that I’ll be sharing with the world.
Thanks for reading. As I share my creative journey with you, I conclude with this: How are you inspired to be your own creator – whatever form that takes?
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