Writing Historical Fiction Archives - Page 11 of 33

Ideas to Form – Open Book Blog Hop #407

December 18, 2023 By Captain Maiel

♦Welcome to another edition of the Open Book Blog Hop!♦

Topic #407

Describe your steps for moving from a story idea to a finished story.

Welcome back to another Open Book Blog Hop! The authors included in this ongoing series wish to thank you for your reads. Even more so, we appreciate that you share our writings with friends. If you’re new to the series, welcome aboard. The authors engage and impress weekly. Prepare to become a regular reader.

Ideas moving into full form is a process in every aspect of the world. Think of the architecture around you. The washing machine you use. Even the flooring you walk on. Everything began as an idea. Usually, those ideas were seeded by need. As you know, writers need to write. We aren’t feeling well if we can’t!

a map lies on the table with books and writing implements, as a person takes notes. Photo by Oxona on Unsplash — ^{Photo by Oxona on Unsplash}

When an idea comes to me, it is often inspired by some catalyst. While you may think there isn’t a necessarily a need inherent in that, I’d beg to differ. If you peel back the layers of that onion, eventually you will find out that the author needed something and it created quite a mental journey to form into that creation they will call their book.

The need that seeds a writers craft is beyond the need to write. That is the tool we have found is most useful to our desire to communicate and explore ideas. Getting back to the idea popping into my head, that little spark will light up my brain, often with a question, and eventually grow into the mental scenes that eventually organize themselves into a book once written down.

Have you heard an author ever say that it is like taking dictation from some higher source? That’s sort of what it feels like when you go from spark to scene. Your mind has mulled it about enough that it feels like a conversation with someone. That someone, I’d suggest, is our inner-self who asked the initial question or presented the need to get us to that point. We could even call it a muse.

When I feel that I have mulled an idea over enough to begin writing, I’ve answered the important question of is this just an idea that I need to write down for a scene, will this be short or long form, does it merit writing down at all? Once I have determined if I am looking at a snippet or the start of something grander, and after I am certain I have something worth the time and effort it will take, I begin writing (and researching where necessary).

The arduous task of writing your idea comes in stages, often spurred on by a flood of ideas and just as often slowed by the absence of them. If I can manage to get a few hundred pages down, I know that I can eventually finish the story and have done a great job drafting that first go. At that point, I will let the work rest, so that I can consider the rest of the story and other details that have not yet come to mind. Ideas are funny little things in this world of writing. Not all lead to fully formed books or scripts. Not all are clear as to where they belong if they’re snippets of something else. The struggle is nerve-wracking.

Having let my idea gestate, having become more of an egg preparing to hatch, I will return when I feel the pull again. In fact, I’ve been feeling the pull of OP-GHO more steadily, and it may be time to polish the draft and get to an editor. The anxiety of that is all that keeps me from jumping on the project again. There’s a lot to do, and am I not sure I am in a place where the time needed is available. Yet, that pull…

^{Image by Stefan Schweihofer from Pixabay}

Diving back into a writing project with fresh eyes is exciting and frustrating. Seeing all the pimples your little teenager has and the task of getting them all cleared up before the prom is an undertaking–both emotional and physical. Long hours at the computer have physical repercussions, but so does fearing your writing may not be up to snuff yet, or that the idea isn’t coming along as hoped. All the headaches and body aches are tension in your physical body. Our emotions are tied to this. Never have I looked forward to the rollercoaster. However, the excitement of forming that idea can overshadow the negative bits.

Essentially, the process is staring into space daydreaming, writing in the corner muttering like Gollum, deep dives on google or in used books, more Gollum, Advil, coffee, doubt, a miserable break in which you decry your ability or desire to continue, and then repeat until the package is ready to go to the editor. Phew! It’s a ride.

While I may sound a little down about it. The truth is, I wish I could afford to just do this all the time. I truly love it. Every minute of it! Yes, even complaining about it! What a wondrous gift writing is.

To find out how the other writers get from idea to form, click on their links below. Don’t forget to subscribe to the blog by dropping your email address in the block at the top right of this page. You’ll receive one email, once a week with the link. Have a wonderful holiday season and we will be back in January!

The Origin – Open Book Blog Hop #402

November 13, 2023 By Captain Maiel

♦Welcome to another edition of the Open Book Blog Hop!♦

Topic #402

Do you have an ‘origin’ story for any of your stories?
Where do your ideas come from?

You bet I do!

I have an entire series of videos on TikTok (if you look at my bookmarked videos, collections, and find the public list Trailokya, that’s where you’ll find them all), also on YouTube, and a load of posts about my book series’ origin here. Talking about this aspect of the books is one of my favorite things about them. I wish I could share directly the things I have seen that inspired these stories. It is nothing short of amazing and impressive. Hey, I mean, that is why I bothered to learn how to write well and make books of it all.

Let’s take a look at the first article I wrote on the origin topic:

The Trailokya Trilogy came to me in a dream. Actually, it’s come to me in a series of dreams over about 30-33 years or more. From recurring themes to continuing sagas, sleeping is quite the adventure. I guess I was always blessed with this imagination or a conduit into something like the greatest first person role play ever. (Yes, I used to game—until everything pretty much went online and this introvert backed out. Glad I did for not having to deal with trolls, but sad because there are awesome games out there I would really enjoy.)
Trailokya Trilogy Inspired by Life, Mythology and Dreams.

The Trailokya Trilogy contains a lot of interesting nuggets for a reader to uncover, like a treasure or Easter egg hunt. Names, details (like celestial objects, animals, weapons), and even the covers of each installment contain symbolic or deeper meaning. For instance, the Three Doors you’ll see gracing the front of each book have special meaning to me as the author, but also to the characters in the stories, and eventually the readers who consume them.

I previously stated a good portion of the narrative originates from my dreams (sometimes nightmares). Looking back on them, I found the ongoing fantasies created a story. When I was a child, these doors came about when escaping bad dreams. They were a way out, away from the monsters. I’d say, they started the journey. Of course they took just as much of an ethereal prominence in the series.

There’s a lot to cover with and beyond origin, so I encourage readers to get into the series and then seek further reading here on the blog to help them uncover all that there is to find in the books. It will not disappoint, because it has never disappointed me. I can’t be the only person who would find such things interesting, can I? Of course not. These are human experiences, steeped in cultures and histories, not a lone anomaly. It is a vast journey that can be revisited to discover new details. It runs deep!

Check out the origins of the other authors’ books by clicking on their links below. Don’t forget to drop your email in the box at the top right to get this hop delivered to your inbox weekly on Friday! See you next time.

Phenomenal Construction – Open Book Blog Hop #399

October 23, 2023 By Captain Maiel

♦Welcome to another edition of the Open Book Blog Hop!♦

Topic #399

What is a book you admire for something specific: world building,
characters, dialogue, setting, plot twists, etc.?

The answer I give is likely predictable if you’ve been on this hop for a time. Honestly, as I wrack my brain to think of another, there is no comparison to be had. This author’s work nails every single detail in the question regarding their construction of their books. From the world building to the etcetera, there is no other book that achieves such a level of near perfection. Some may argue that this author only almost got there, or they may name something else that grew to love, but if we’re being fair, this is absolutely truly the king of world building, character creation, dialogue, setting, plot twists (in its time), and all the rest.

The entire body of J.R.R. Tolkien’s work could be submitted as an answer for this question. In fact, I struggle to pick the leader among the usual suspects. Currently, I am reading The Hobbit to my six year old. This revisit has been quite a lovely experience, as I get to share something I love with someone I love. She is a big fan of Bombur the Dwarf, by the way. If it’s not Smaug, it’s Bombur. Growing up, I liked the cantankerous Thorin best (and Smaug, of course). The Hobbit, however, is not the book I’d cite.

I’m tempted to put forth The Silmarillion as the premiere among his work. What a truly phenomenal piece of construction! It appeals mostly to my historian brain, as it reads like familiar historical document texts. (Later this will make a great deal more sense.) There is a lot to learn in this work about the world of Tolkien, and much is surprising. Don’t you love a good origin story? Due to the thickness of the construction and a it’s niche nature, I’ll skip it to suggest the one that is also my favorite on film. Wait. Did I dislike any of them? Not in the least. The films are fantastic pieces of art, and I waited so long for them to exist. There is nothing I’ll be caught complaining about in them.

The book I feel, in this moment, fits the bill is The Two Towers. Of course, here, we are already well-introduced to our group of nine. The addition of the Rhohirrim comes in this portion of the Lord of the Rings trilogy, along with the surprising and horrific abuse of their king and his niece at the hands of Worm Tongue. Indeed, this is also the point where we come into contact with a specific and ancient monster: Shelob. She is far worse than Smaug. I can’t even imagine becoming her victim and that terrible death. At least fire is quick!

The dialogue that takes place in the keep of Edoras is phenomenal. There is also the talk between Sam and Frodo in and around the Shelob episode. We learn in this book that Saruman had betrayed his kind and Middle Earth for Power. Gandalf becomes Gandalf the White, returning from the after world. We see the forces that our beloved characters will face. We meet the Ents. Our group of 9 is now 8 and broken up across the map on their path to destroy the ring and stop Sauron.

Out of the rubble of The Fellowship comes the re-construction of our quest, but not before we blow it all up again! This is also the book in which the battle of Helm’s deep takes place. The dialogue is, again, superb throughout this portion. While reading this part, I was convinced that our three travelers were not to make it free from this end. Perhaps Aragorn would manage to escape in some construction, but surely not all of them. But, despite the powerful enemy they face, they rise above.

Tolkien was a master in bringing you to the brink only to reward the reader. Readers today will say that the work is predictable, or doesn’t go far enough, but they’re reading it out of its time. In other words, these books were unique in their time of release, and for many decades hence. It is because of Tolkien’s writing (themes and other details) that we can feel that it is now the usual course of a work. He set the bar, and others tried very hard to reach it.

To bolster my opinion, I’ll also remind readers that he was not just an author and poet but an academic level philologist (you can find out more about philology on the link, but essentially it means he studied, translated, interpreted, and worked with historical texts–such as Beowulf). Tolkien graduated from Oxford and later taught there as well as at Leeds and Pembroke. He was a veteran of World War I and served as a codebreaker in World II. These things greatly fed into the works he produced.

The effort and imagination that went into the construction of these works is as immense as the impressive education he received. I have a great deal of respect for his art and learning. It is difficult, however, to truly choose which of his books should take the spot of best, as they all seem to be one very large epic history of an all too real fantasy realm. In that, I can relate greatly to him.

Check out which books the other authors selected by clicking on their links below. Don’t forget to subscribe, so you can receive this hop weekly.

Soundtracking to Inspiration – Open Book Blog Hop #398

October 16, 2023 By Captain Maiel

♦Welcome to another edition of the Open Book Blog Hop!♦

Topic #398

If your WIP had a soundtrack, what songs would be on it?
Do you write with some sort of background noise or do you prefer silence?

I’ve written in the past about the soundtracks that I created while working on those books that are already published. You can look at those here. Each one had a playlist. So that is no different for my work in progress: OP-GHO: Operation Ghost. You can bet, because it is a sequel, that the list is pretty similar to the one I had for OP-DEC.

OG takes place in the 1940s right in the middle of World War II. The music I generally listen to is period appropriate, so anything up to that point is viable for the list. Would I have some harpsicord? Obviously not. Thus, the year of the setting and other relevant circumstances matter for what goes into the queue.

I like to find old radio programs and recordings. I also don’t limit my background sounds to just music. I’ll put on the television to occupy the part of my brain that never switches off. For that, in the past, I have used a lot of cartoons. It’s super busy and light, and my brain doesn’t focus in on it much. Putting on anything that would take the focus from the work at hand is counter productive. Therefore, I don’t mind if my kiddo puts on her programs or someone puts on something to watch as I sit in my chair with my laptop, tapping away.

Focusing on the work not only takes time, but the right mood. Music is a great way for me to click back into my groove, and movies are no different. Film from the period especially helps me get back on track. A long commute from work always provided a great way for me to find inspiration when I endured them in my life. Now that I live much closer to the day job, and don’t have a straight route, I can’t daydream about my writing. Since my days go by working and my evening focus is my daughter, it is much harder.

Music and film continue to inspire me when needed. I’m not concerned that I’ll lose my drive to write. It remains a skill I have at the ready, and quite often use at work. I’m only getting better! So, when I do sit down to write, I’m rested and fresh, and usually very inspired from all the mental trips I’ve taken on the ideas I have.

While I often use music and film to help me fix my mood to write, I also find that silence can be a great benefactor of inspiration. When there is silence for an extended period, my brain will fill the gap with all kinds of musings. This is super useful for working out ideas I may struggle to fully realize.

I guess this just shows my flexible nature! Depending on the instance, I will lean into music, a movie, or silence to get the job done. Let’s see what the other author have to say by clicking on their links below. Also, enter your email address in the box on the top right to have this hop delivered to your inbox each Friday. That information is never sold or shared with anyone. See you next time!

Non-Traditional – Open Book Blog Hop #395

September 25, 2023 By Captain Maiel

♦Welcome to another edition of the Open Book Blog Hop!♦

Topic #395

If offered a large advance by a traditional publishing company and told to produce a series of books in a certain amount of time, that obviously you would have to give up the rights to (maybe they would alter your writing too) and do all your own marketing, would you take them up on the offer?

Before I respond about ghost writing let me talk about where I stand on publishing in the first place. The best I can characterize my publishing style is non-traditional. While I was published by a real publishing house and not just independently, as I am currently, I would not go back. The experience of both sides of the coin has taught me a great deal about the differences between the two. A lot of what you think you know about publishing is false, and propagated by movies and television, who really don’t have a great window into that world. The worst manifestation of traditional publishing is the ghost writer. That shapes my response on this question.

a boo ghost sits out on on dreary hillside, wearing black pants and sneakers. — ^{Photo by Tandem X Visuals}

If you’ll remember, in the past, I wrote on the blog hop and spoke on my YouTube channel extensively about publishing. My opinion is pretty clear on which side I fall. Independent is the way to go, unless you’re a celebrity who already wields a lot of clout and doesn’t have heavy lifting to market their work. For them, publishing is diversifying their already decent income.

Once you have name recognition, it may be of use to you to have a big publisher handle your work, and do all the paperwork. However, unless your name recognition is going to sell thousands of copies (enough to cover into the future, such as your advance and bolstering your notoriety), you won’t get that package deal from a publisher. Rather, they expect you to market your work, whether you are independent or traditionally published. That is the landscape of writing today and it isn’t changing any time soon. Not only does a traditional publisher take the majority of the profits (at an average of 90%), but you will also do the sales for them all on your own. That doesn’t strike me as a fair deal at all. You see, they think you should feel privileged to have caught their attention and use their label. What a racket!

First of all, in response to the question, never give up your rights to your work. Ghost writers do this all the time. I don’t know how they feel okay with it at the end of the day. I’d be a wreck knowing that I could not only NOT take credit for my labor, but also that I could not use any of it to promote the work under my name. When hired to ghost write, they purchase your anonymity along with your skill. Honestly, the pay fails at a fair trade or even good enough to erase your credit.

Second, let me say that I don’t think any creative should operate in someone’s preferences for the creatives products. If they have such high opinions of their own opinions, then they aught to sit down and get typing their self. After all, they believe they know best. Plus, the information and tools available via computers can help them get on their way. Don’t forget, they know their ideas are so much better than the actual writer hired. (And, yes, that was deep, stinging sarcasm.)

The recent writers strike should provide an eye-opening view into the publishing world for newer writers and experienced writers alike. There are still many hold-outs for traditional publishing despite what we see year after year. There are also the many people who think what we do is no big deal and/or contributes little to society. Between the public and the publisher, please realize that there is an agreement to get you to sell yourself cheap. The public would love nearly free books and the publisher loves the idea of reaping all the profits and giving authors very little in return. Know your value.

Too often, the public views writing as a hobby done on the side of a well-paying career, unless one turns out wildly popular. People who perpetuate the myth do not seem to be aware of how much writers do in the world. It would be a fun experiment to snap the magic fingers and disappear writing for a full week or more, just to give them a taste of a world absent writers. Every day job I held, I leaned in heavy on the writing skills, regardless of the enumerated duties. Writing underpins every sector of work. Every. Sector.

Lastly, I’ll remind the reader that advances are advance payments on projected sales. That means, whatever advance you obtain on a book, you must sell enough books to cover the payment it before royalties roll in. More often than not, writers will fail to do this. Their next project will get passed over, and they will struggle to find representation or a publisher to put them forward again (unless, again, they’re celebrities), likely cancelling any books they may have additionally signed. Remember what I said above: you plan and excecute sales pushes.

Let’s break this down. Pretend you present as a new writer with a small platform established on social media. The publisher gives you $10,000, because they think your book can sell if given the proper airing to the public. So, why won’t your advance rise to the occasion of creating a successful marketing campaign AND keep putting dinner on the table. Ten grand might get you a mediocre campaign. Return on that investment (ROI) usually ranges at about 10% per dollar spent. That’s certainly not going to feed you or convince your publisher to keep publishing you. So now you’ve made them 1,000 dollars. Your platform grew by about 3% permanently. Congratulations. Your next book has been cancelled, and you’re back to square one and with a poor performer under your belt.

a boo ghost stands on a hillside waving, waring black pants and sneakers. The scene is desolate fall. — ^{Photo by Tandem X Visuals}

Newer authors tend to forget that their platform is the first thing they need to build before they release a book. Without that platform, all efforts will be wasted. Publishing today is no harder than it was decades ago, except that a great deal of information around the process was difficult to obtain in the past. Today, you have a means to move in writerly circles and get the read of the room at your fingertips. You have the opportunity to build a readership without having to leave your home base for weeks on end, touring signings. Thankfully, also, it’s a lot of free ad time. Everything you do, when your socials are set up showcasing you as an author, is promoting that work.

Continuing with the platform you’re expected to build, think for a moment of the attempt to grow your readership via ghost writing. Recall that I said you cannot take credit for the work. That is the point of being a ghost. You hide behind the person taking credit. Don’t you think this is now an impossible task?

Unless you breach the contracted silence on your participation, and risk lawsuits that could devastate you financially, you’ll never be able to talk about ghost writing work. So all those great works you did for the benefit of others cannot benefit you further than the small paycheck you collected. Honestly, I cannot see why anyone would use their skill set to solely enrich someone else’s life (when that life is almost always already super enriched). Always watch out for yourself and know that your skills have value. Make sure you get credit! Then you can talk about those works with your readers and build their confidence in you.

In the end, my answer is a big no. I am no ghost writer. My name will appear on my work. They are not pet projects or vanity experiences. I am an artist and writing is my job. I will also take a larger percentage of profits by remaining independent of opportunistic practices, which seek to feed off my intellectual property while starving me out. Otherwise, I may indeed end up a ghost!

It is always up to the writer what they accept for themselves and their labor. Therefore, I take part in breaking the cycle of parasitical business operations. I hope that you will, too. (Keep in mind, that I understand if you need the money, but what a hard road you chose.)

Click on the links below to get other perspectives on this great question posted to our authors. To get this hop delivered to your inbox each Friday, drop your email in the box at the top right.