Monday, June 1, 2009

And I Just Shot May Out of a Cannon

...along with Kanye West. Check out what Jeremy D. Brooks has to say on the subject. Personally, I think Kanye is an ass and I hope nobody buys his steaming pile of dog shite book. (sorry...wasn't going to go there)

So I lived in the land of short stories and flash fiction for the month. Five short stories (ranging from just above flash length to 3K), four flash fictions (two are for a "secret" project), and nada on anything longer. It felt like I'd found an old friend again, writing all those shorts.
But it's the house I want to talk about--er, summer. (sorry, I was quoting "House Taken Over" by Julio Cortázar...one of my favorite stories of all time)

I want to start laying the pieces for a horror novel for an adult audience. At this point, it feels like climbing freakin' Everest without those nice Sherpas to help. The ideas are swilling around, but I probably need to mash some together to make the plot novel-worthy. I want to outline the darn thing by the end of June (and write at least two shorts), then set to writing during the long, hot trek that is July in these parts.

That's my goal.

In the meantime, if I were to choose cover art for a collection of my short fiction, I would go "David Sedaris" (um, his latest book featured a piece by Van Gogh), and use this:

Head of a Drowned Man by Théodore Géricault

16 comments:

Carrie Harris said...

Mucho creepy picture. It suits your style REALLY well!

Yes, that was supposed to be a compliment. ;)

Barry Napier said...

Odd...I have recently started mocking up my own short story collection cover...if I ever get one together, that is.

Alan W. Davidson said...

Ka-Tsch...someones really cracking the whip now. I should break out mine as well!

K.C. Shaw said...

Of course you went back to shorts. It's summer, it's hot, you don't want to wear jeans--oh, wait. Different shorts. :)

Congrats on May, and good luck with the new horror book!

Jamie Eyberg said...

Congrats on the productive May! Super Secret project?! Must you titillate us so?

Aaron Polson said...

Carrie - creepy is full of awesome

Barry - too much fun, really

Alan - have to keep those minions working...y'know?

K.C. - thanks...I need luck (and Sherpas)

Jamie - Don't get too excited. (really)

Unknown said...

good picture.

mad luck with the book writing. i only write shorts, so books seem very difficult to me. lucks!

Aaron Polson said...

Thanks, Samantha. I'm only "outlining" so no worries. Yet.

Fox Lee said...

Woot on May, good luck with the novel!

Cate Gardner said...

I love outlining. :) It's like procrastinating without the guilt.

Oh, and tell me you're not giving up on your YA writing.

Katey said...

Mmmm Gericault. Good pick, you just made my Art Nerd heart go a little faster.

It looks like it's been a productive month! I wish you much luck and focus on the upcoming outline project. I find that the attempt to articulate seemingly random plot ideas tends to make things gel for me. I keep a journal for the purpose, it's been so useful. Let us know how it's going, I do love to hear about process!

Aaron Polson said...

Thanks, Natalie.

Cate - oh, I'm not giving it up (I may try to write an adult novel, but we all know it will turn out YA)

Katey - There will be updates and cursing. I promise.

Danielle Birch said...

It would make a brilliant cover. Quite a productive month I think.

Benjamin Solah said...

Whenever I've lost my way attempting a novel, coming back to short fiction has always made me feel better.

Aaron Polson said...

Danielle - it isn't Géricault's most famous, but it spoke to me.

Benjamin - Shorts are comfortable that way.

Jeremy D Brooks said...

Huzzah! Cool picture, really cool title for it.