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[horrorscifiguy]

I went to bed last night wondering about the things I'm creating versus the potential market of readers. My mind seems to waver between local flea market and global...ha ha ha.

I'm currentky working on a dark superhero novel, inspired by my deep devotion to The Dark Knight & Watchmen. Obviously there was a huge market of fans for those two projects, but I sometimes forget that there's a huge difference between superhero FILM fans and actual superhero comic book readers. And even more specific, book readers who would invest in a superhero novel.

And that's not counting the fact I'm not basing this on a popular hero with a fan base. This is an original novel with its own universe of heroes and villains readers will have to take chance on. It's already too adult for Coscom, whom I had originally targeted it to, but the more I wrote, the more my baser instincts took over. My PG-13 project quickly became R which now borders on NC-17. I'm really excited about it, but I'm beginning to wonder where this book will land.

Then again, who'd have thought Fifty Shades of Gray (Grey?) would have become the next adult Harry Potter/Twilight series?

Guess I'll just stick to my guns, write the hell out of it, and then work like an Egyptian slave to find it a home.

I'm pretty sure with my background my next book, a zombie epic, won't have the same potential problem.

[horrorscifiguy]

I'm wading deeper and deeper into the underbelly of the superhero novel, but also giving some attention to potential low budget horror screenplay ideas. I think it's time for me to get back into the script game and utilize some of the nasty horror ideas I have that really don't fit as well for possible books as they might as screenplays.

I doubt I'll ever be as good a screenwriter as I think I am as a novelist, but I do think I can be a solid film scribe. My imagination will be challenged, and the journey should be quite fun.

But gosh my creative direction for a screenplay is very similar to my book thinking. I'm not very interested in writing about vampires and/or zombies at this time. My next book is probably going to be a zombie thing which will soothe that creative itch. There's a big old horror world out there and plenty of scary things in it. I think I'll be able to manage.

I think that's the best part of preparing to create a low budget script - the creativity involved. The number of locations, special effects, actors,  animals, etc. can all have a tremendous affect on the budget. I think I'm zeroing in on a supernatural idea could be very effective while being very economical. There are some other contenders too. I am jazzed up about doing a script though.

The first challenge - keeping the 1st draft under 100 pages. As a novelist, I gotta be sure to minimize the exposition.

[horrorscifiguy]

Well, I started out with nearly 20 general ideas for a low budget horror/suspense script. Got the list of serious candidates quickly down to 4. The winner will emerge soon enough.

The various day jobs I've worked over the years never seemed to have a serious negative impact on my writing. Well, I did have one job where I seemed to be on-call 24/7, but the overall experience was positive. I may be in for another wrinkle in my employment history. When you work for a cash strapped school district, gotta sleep with one eye open, know what I mean? And as summer tilts toward its eventual end, the fall presents itself as my busiest time of year and strangely, my most productive, so here's to September -November and all the good stuff it brings.

Still loving the superhero novel writing experience, but between the script writing and one eye twitching toward the next project, well, I've been in this very same spot enough times to know that I'm on the back side of a novel and that means it's time to plow through so I can get all giddy and crazed over THE NEXT NEW SHINY PROJECT!

Ought to be able to sell a well-written zombie epic.

Okay, back to the grind.

[horrorscifiguy]

So, I'm down to 2 script ideas. I've all but decided which is the lucky winner, but unlike the way I do my book writing, I have to be much more organized going into it. The rules of executing a solid script are so much different than the free flow method I can use doing my books. I think writing a great script is one of the hardest creative challenges. After all the poor screenplays I read during my time at Showtime Networks, geez louise...

Anyway, I hope to get started on the first draft before Labor Day.

Have researched and found a couple more publishers to submit Good Night My Sweet to. I'm suddenly anxious to find it a home before the end of the year. I think I can do my part to make that happen. Guess we'll see.

After a minor mental glitch, I've figured out my next move on the superhero novel. What I'm hoping to be THE signature scene of the book is almost at hand and I want the set up to be perfect...I'm so excited about the scene & I'm hoping folks who dig The Dark Knight & Watchmen will really enjoy what I'm putting together.

I suppose I need to start some serious reseach into some publishers who might consider taking it on. I certainly think the subject is timely...smile.

[horrorscifiguy]

Changes changes changes...but good.

Just about ready to start the script. High school football kicks off a week from tomorrow night so my free time is just about spoken for until early-mid November, but that's okay. I seem to find ways to stay very productive during the busy falls.

Got sick last weekend and still clawing back to full strength. Hope to be 100% by Monday, but gotta get some quality words on paper Saturday & Sunday.

And if I'm gonna set up an event for Halloween, I gotta get it on PRONTO.

Getting late. Time to go nite nite.

[horrorscifiguy]

Haven't had the hankering to write a short story in so so long...I consider book chapters as mini-short stories.

Started the new job but the days are free flow as the new company is in the midst of crawling/walking/jogging/running. I'm really looking forward to settling into a more regular routine in late fall. Just been too tired to write so far this week. The weekend is free though...

Got just a few details to lock in for the script, but I wish I could snap my fingers and be done with the current book despite the fun I've had writing it. For the first time in Y-E-A-R-S I'm really starting to get excited about the zombie project. Gonna be so dang ugly...ha ha ha.

The other night I dreamed that actress Olivia Wilde was starring as my Butcher Bride in a Lionsgate film. So real...

Hey - anything can happen.

[horrorscifiguy]

Between my new day gig and coaching high school football, it's been a slow writing week, BUT a very productive week nevertheless because today I upgraded from my Fred Flintstone era cell phone to an iPhone which allows me to use a square reader for credit card customers at conventions and book signings!

The opportunity to make more $$$ at my craft is always exciting!

And my deep hatred of cell phones just lessened a little tiny bit.

[horrorscifiguy]

I'm tired. And I didn't get a single word written over the long holiday weekend. I'd be pissed off but I'm too tired.

Hope to get something on paper this weekend. *fingers crossed*

[horrorscifiguy]

Well, I'm fighting "The Crud" going around. I feel pretty lousy, but I haven't missed any work or football practices, and I think I'm on the backside if this thing.

What I haven't put down on paper I've been writing and re-writing in my head, so one of the book's tent pole scenes ought to be pretty aewsome by the time I get through it. It makes me excited to think about it.

I've also been able to completely zero in mentally on the low budget horror script, almost down to the details of character names, etc. I have a working title but not the real TA DA title yet. It'll come.

If I'm lucky, maybe I'll have 2 books and a graphic novel make the scene in 2013.

And if I'm really, really lucky, maybe a movie too.

[horrorscifiguy]

Am I the only writer that consistently solves story issues while on the brink of sleep and/or during dreams? Happens with me regularly, and the solutions are sometimes the best parts of the projects I'm working on.

I call it the twilight mind. Best creative weapon I possess.

And I THANK GOD every single night for all the blessings I've been fortunate to receive when it comes to my abilities.

[horrorscifiguy]

Been too busy (and for a while, too sickly) to write, but there's always room for the "good news" and "bad news" game...

The GOOD news is, since I've inherited my daughter's iPhone, I can now use the Square credit card device for sales and signings. I think it's the coolest thing since Paypal, and I really think it'll be a hit for me at the next Con. There's no doubt it'll have a positive affect on sales.

The BAD news is that I have no Halloween signing set, which S-U-C-K-S for a horror/dark sci-fi writer. Absolutely sucks. I really thought I'd have a new book out, but I haven't found a publisher for it. *shakes my head*

Dude.

Really?

[horrorscifiguy]

Made a couple of important creative decisions today:

I wanna create a "scary" children's book. I just think it would be a lot of fun.

And because of American Horror Story, I going to start tinkering with creating a television series idea or two. I've got a great cop show idea, along with a unique take for a horror series...so...

Can't wait for high school football season to finish so I can dive back into some serious work.

[horrorscifiguy]

My 100 post? Really? Wow.

Tick tock...tick tock...football season is coming to a close in 11 days for my freshmen team. Varsity is still fighting for a playoff spot. What's that mean for my writing? Full attention and concentration. The energy  that I've put into this season was significant, and I'm ready to focus it like a laser back into my writing.

On a side note - I've got a book signing down at the Edwardsville Public Library this coming Sunday afternoon, so I'll get a chance to try out my Square in a combat situation! Jazzed to sell some books. Been a while since I've been behind a table pimping my work. Wish me luck.

 

[horrorscifiguy]

It's currently a commercial break for the AMERICAN HORROR STORY season premiere. I'm creatively amped up like a two year old on a Halloween sugar rush.

I'll soon be able to apply all my high school football coaching time to my writing again.

And I just saw a short teaser ad for JUSTIFIED.

Dude. Am I ready to rock or what?

[horrorscifiguy]

God works in mysterious ways. Truly.

As out of the blue as possible, I received an offer to write a script for a short film. (approx. 30 min) It's not a genre project, but it is a paying gig, and great experience for me as I begin work on my first horror script in quite some time.

I'm really looking forward to the challenge on several levels.

I'm also excited about the horror script, but I haven't come up with a good working title yet, which is odd for me. I'm sure one will come.

Halloween is just a week away. Just something else to look forward to. Trick or Treat?

More like Treat and Treat...