[10/05/2025] Just got back from a day out and washing the car. Turns out the power washer was turned off so the water pressure was low. I only realised until after I started putting things away. Because I’m that kind of stupid, haha. This post’s an update, mostly. And I get to talk about writing a little.
In other, better news, I got a job. Woo! It’s a cleaner role, and I’m not telling any more stuff because of privacy. But it’s something to support myself and I really need that. Variable hour contracts are only good if you have other, more regular work to support yourself.
Anyway, today’s topic is the latest draft of the short story I’m doing. After getting someone else to look at it (Nick Stead, good bloke, very nice of him). He read the first few chapters and gave some good advice. Namely, cut out the big opening paragraphs that dump a bunch of names and dates into the reader’s eyes. It’s all about show vs tell (it’s basic but that’s still something you need reminding of). Rather, I need reminding of because I forget things. And I don’t want to go back and check for fear of cringing at my old work. See also the old comics I used to draw that were blatantly a Spider-Man rip off (I named it the Phantom, which as it turns out is a real comic that existed).
And no, you don’t get to see those. Because I threw them out, presumably. That’s the nice thing about forgetting, even I don’t know anymore. But, back to the book. The opening paragraph of chapter 1 was kinda shiiiiit. It said the date and what had been happening, but that’s boring. Start with an action, people doing something, rather than the narrator saying they happened. I know those sound like the same thing, but there’s a difference between saying: “On August of whenever, so-and-so stabbed who-gives-a-shit,” and “THIS FUCKER WON’T STOP SCREAMING AS I TURN HIS GUTS INTO SWISS CHEEEEEESE!”
Not that I’d write quite like that. maybe as a joke, but we’ll see.
Third person tends to be better for getting info across because when I tried writing a first-person novella I felt like the character was being an arse, if I’m remembering the Tomoe book right. Again, faulty memory and not wanting to check. I wrote her to be mean and opinionated because that’s how I imagine a samurai would be.
I’ve been going through my book and removing the large portions of expository prose, replacing them with dialogue that gets the point across while being characterful. If I keep prose, it’s because it’s written well and has a good description. I’ve been told by sources I respect (my mum) that my descriptive prose and sincere writing style are my best qualities. I believe I can add both to this new draft if they aren’t there already. I tended to want to get to the characters talking rather than go into a lot of detail about the scene itself.
If I don’t do another blog post for a bit it will be due to me being busy with work or tired from work. I’ll do my best to make sure I can put something out, but don’t quote me on that.
- Thanks for reading! If you like this, please check out my published work:
- The Spider and the Moths, on Impspired.
- A Model Dwarf, Wolf in Sheep’s Therapy, on Impspired.
- Cramped Quarters, on New Contexts 4.
- Endure, Reclaim, in New Contexts 5.
- Lost and Found, in New Contexts 7.
- The Cleaner’s Burden, in Apocalypse Now?.
- The Last Man Standing on the Ash Heap, on Impspired.
- Or, you could have a look at my last blog post, here.
- Also, I have a Fiverr page, check it out if you need proofreading or copywriting work done. Link here.