In Today’s Journal
* Let the Characters Be Who They Are
* A Little Poem
* The Writing
* Of Interest
* The Numbers
Let the Characters Be Who They Are
What follows is a mini-scene, part of a conversation between Sam Granger and his grizzled first contact for this job, Federico Cantán.
Just thought I’d share. Always let the characters be who they are and say what they say.
Federico’s cigar had gone out the window a few miles back. I looked at him. “How long ‘til we get there?”
The near corner of his mouth curled into a half-grin. “Ah, you are a young quiz master.”
I chuckled. “A young quiz master with 35 confirmed kills.”
He jerked his head around. He wasn’t smiling. “With your rifle or your statistics?”
I fell silent.
After a time he said, “My apology. TJ wouldn’t have sent you on this one if he did not think you were up to it.” He gestured at nothing. “Eh. I am older and tired. Sometimes I grumble. Pay it no mind. But in time you will learn to ride like a stone when you are being transported like one.”
He paused, then wagged a hand. “A couple more hours for this part. Then a rest and maybe something to eat.” He laughed. “Maybe even a woman, eh?” He glanced at me. “You know what those are, right, young quiz master?” He wagged the hand again. “I’m joking. The women will probably all be locked away. The farmers do not like us much.” He tapped his chest. “Because we outshine them.” He reached across the cab and slapped me on the chest. “You outshine them.”
A long moment later, he wagged that hand again. “Then maybe a snack or a final meal, then maybe some sleep, but up off the ground unless you want a snake crawling in with you.” He shook his head. “Nasty things, snakes. And then another couple hours in the early darkness.” He clapped me on the left shoulder. “And then a three-kilometer hike with only the quiz master and his poor spotter sidekick, and then a settling, and finally, you, the quiz master, will deliver the goods.”
You’ll be able to read this novel one or two chapters at a time beginning on May 1 at Your Morning Serial.
A Little Poem
This thing popped into my head a few days ago. Seems to me it pertains to fiction writing. (grin)
Should’a Could’a Would’a Didn’t
(a brief cautionary march)
Should’a could’a would’a didn’t
met upon a mind:
Should’a said “I could’a done,”
Could’a said “I would’a done,”
Would’a said “I should’a done,”
and Didn’t? “Never mind.”
The Writing
Oh, this novel! This thing’s running away with me!
By 9:15 yesterday morning in about three hours I’d written over 2800 words and cycled over it at least three times. Then, of course, I kept writing.
Not only is the POV character excellent but I’ve already encountered three or five secondary characters who could MC their own novels.
Probably they won’t (but maybe) but currently I’m just hoping this POV character will want to come back at least two or three more times and bring them with him. Plus introduce me to more characters, whom I don’t doubt will be as different and exciting as they are.
I’m also getting a ton of short stories out of this novel. (Don’t worry, no spoilers. Those stories won’t hit the Stanbrough Writes substack until July or August.)
And I expect to begin posting this novel, one or two chapters at a time, on Your Morning Serial on May 1st. I’m thinking of posting them every day so reader will have easier continuity as they move through the novel.
I think I might even be heading toward a sub-series, maybe one even to rival the 7-novel subseries of Soleada Garcia (and featuring Charles Claymore Task).
Do I need to say I’m a little excited? (grin)
Of course I wish the same for you. If you haven’t tried letting go and just writing off into the dark, please do. Trust yourself and your characters and let them tell the story that they, not you, are living. Or that you’re living only vicariously (as I am).
There’s no better feeling than a story that’s running faster than you can keep up.
Of Interest
The importance of your author website
6 Tips for Creating Chemistry Between Characters A good article. Or (you knew this was coming) just write what happens and let the characters create their own oomph. As for “Don’t forget the subtext” and “Ebb and flow,” take your time and let the characters put everything on the page.
The Numbers
The Journal…………………………… 780
Writing of Blackwell Ops 42: Sam Granger
Day 1…… 2873 words. To date…… 2873
Day 2…… 1873 words. To date…… 4746
Day 3…… 3717 words. To date…… 8463
Day 4…… 2353 words. To date…… 10816
Day 5…… 3236 words. To date…… 14052
Day 6…… 3767 words. To date…… 17819
Day 7…… 4457 words. To date…… 22276
Day 8…… 5428 words. To date…… 27704
Fiction for April……………………….. 77302
Fiction for 2025………………………. 344252
Nonfiction for April…………………….. 14680
Nonfiction for 2025…………………… 96210
2025 consumable words…………….. 433952
Average Fiction WPD (March)……… 3681
Annual Fiction WPD…………………… 3046
2025 Novels to Date…………………….. 8
2025 Novellas to Date…………………… 0
2025 Short Stories to Date……………… 23
Novels (since Oct 19, 2014)…………….. 112
Novellas (since Nov 1, 2015)…………… 10
Short stories (since Apr 15, 2014)……… 293
Short story collections……………………. 29
Whatever you believe, unreasoning fear and the myths that outlining, revising, and rewriting will make your work better are lies. They will always slow your progress as a writer or stop you cold. I will never teach the myths on this blog.
Writing fiction should never be something that stresses you out. It should be fun. On this blog I teach Writing Into the Dark and adherence to Heinlein’s Rules. Because of WITD and because I endeavor to follow those Rules I am a prolific professional fiction writer. You can be too.
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- On Writing Fiction
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- Writing Resources
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Questions are always welcome at harveystanbrough@gmail.com. But please limit yourself to the topics of writing and publishing.