Kane – Page 14 – Kane Gilmour

Some Days I Think Bradbury Had It Wrong…

On April 2, 2011

One of Ray Bradbury’s many famous quotes rolling around on the Internet this week is the one about Writing being 99% thinking and the rest being typing.

As I try to get the word count up on Monster Kingdom, it certainly feels like writing is sometimes 5% thinking and the rest is typing. And typing. And typing.

Whether you are an artist or a writer, the hardest part is always getting the greatness to transition from your brain to your media.

7000 words and counting. YA novels tend to range from as low as 40k to as high as 90k or more in length. Typical is probably around the 50k – 60k range. I expect Monster Kingdom to come in around the 65k region. Quite a bit to go yet, in other words.

Writing Update

By Kane

On April 1, 2011

In MONSTER KINGDOM, RESURRECT, Web Comics, Writing

[Note: I’m making some streamlining changes here on the site. Gonna be fewer pages overall and more posts here on the main page. Instead of maintaining a static Writing Page, I’m just going to drop updates in here from time to time. I’ve also done away with the inspriation page–I’ll be placing reviews of things I like here in the main section as well.]

Writing Update:

Novels:

I completed Resurrect on 10 Aug 2010. I finished edits on 30 Dec 2010. The book is now with my First Reader. The book has been proofread and I’ll incorporate my First Reader’s feedback, then I’ll be sending it out to agents.

After Resurrect:

I’ve started work in earnest on the next book. It’s a YA paranormal adventure called Monster Kingdom. I plan to self-publish it as an e-book.

I have one other novel I hope to knock out (a Mystery) before I turn to Frozen, the sequel to Resurrect.

Short Stories:

I’ve completed a couple of short stories. “The Firmament of Night” and “The Wound in the Woods” are both a bit Lovecraftesque short horror tales. I’m still looking for a home for both.

Web Comics:

Warbirds of Mars is coming near the end of its first arc. Scott launched the website on 22 July, 2010. Feedback has been positive. He came up with the idea for what is now Week 9 and also for what is now Week 20. I’ve plotted out Week 24 is out now and Week 26 will wrap this first story arc. Scott expects to have a printed version of the comic ready for the Phoenix ComicCon in May. He’ll be there. I might be but it isn’t looking too good right now.

Idea Drawer

By Kane

On March 28, 2011

In Inspiration, Writing

I’ve heard a lot of authors refer to having some variation on an idea drawer. Mine is actually a spreadsheet. Right now I have ideas for about 40 novels on it. Most likely not all of them will get written–some are probably fragments of ideas that will get trashed, while others might get folded into other stories.

The ideas stack up because I’m working a 40+ hour a week job that sometimes goes to 60+ hours, as well as a second job editing book manuscripts for other authors. Hard to find the time lately to work on my own stories. But the build-up of creative juices is good. When the last build-up occurred last year, I rented a cabin in New Hampshire and pounded out a good third of my first novel. Hopefully the ideas crammed to the gills will lead to more productivity as I strive to get books that have rattled around inside my head for years onto paper, so there’s room for the next thing.

The spreadsheet has a page for novels, one for short stories, and another for comic book ideas–should I ever find my way into that industry.

Sometimes I only know the title. Other times I have the whole plot planned out. Resurrect was fully planned out. Monster Kingdom has been more organic and goes in places I’m not expecting. Both interesting ways to write.

Warbirds Nears End of First Arc

By Kane

On March 27, 2011

In Web Comics, Writing

Warbirds of Mars, the retro-noir WWII sci-fi Web comic that I write for genius creator and artist, Scott “Doc” Vaughn, is nearing the end of its first major story arc. The Martian Killers have formed their team, gone to WWII Europe, been on some hairy missions, and they are about to make their final escape over the next few weeks.

If you haven’t been following it, now’s a good time to catch up at:

http://www.bombshelterzine.com/wordpress/