In case you missed the very brief post, the fiction behind Steven is done! Forty-seven chapters, each about the length of a short-short. That made 24 issues, intended to be two years’ worth of comics, in three story arcs. I have yet to type it up, but it will be done soon. And in celebration, I have posted another chapter of Steven’s story on my short fiction page.

What’s next? Well, I wrote a short bit in a back-and-forth series for a White Wolf LARP that I’m in. Moving is nearly complete and unpacking is underway, not to mention OBGYN appointments (I did mention that I’m going to be a father, right?) meetings regarding the web comic, that nagging desire to write the Mayan Steampunk piece, but, rest assured, The Glass Crown is the next focus of my attention. Oh, and I’m not abandoning Adam’s Name, either. If I remember correctly, I’m about a third of the way through the Chicago chapter.

What? Web comic? Did I say web comic? Maaaaaybe. ;)

A note about the Google Group – anybody can post, it’s not just an announcement list. If you’d like to start a new topic, or respond to one in progress, feel free. :) If there’s something of mine you’ve read, or a direction that you’d like to see taken, or a question about a character you enjoy that I didn’t cover, feel free to ask and/or comment and/or post. For instance, I know somebody got emotionally attached to the main character of The Remembrance and cursed me for it. :) “Damn you, Dave!” I know someone else who wanted to lob it through the window long before finishing up the first five chapters. Once she got through that part, she enjoyed herself.

Anyway, I’m always looking for input.

Relevant links:

Steven – http://steven.davidmcrampton.com/
The Remembrance – http://remembrance.davidmcrampton.com/
Short Fiction page – http://www.davidmcrampton.com/fiction.php
Google Group – http://groups.google.com/group/DavidMCrampton

I sense a pattern in syntax.

Steven is done. DONE I SAY!

I am SO close to finishing Steven. Up until today, I hadn’t gotten a chance to sit down and write since last week. Or, I’d squandered what chances I -did- have. Heh. In any case, the ending is flowing out of me, even with my determination not to rush it. I -always- seem to rush endings.

And, you know, what ending isn’t a beginning, after all? ;)

A new chapter of Steven went up yesterday over on the Short Fiction page:

http://www.davidmcrampton.com/fiction.php

Any feedback is more than welcome.

Soon, I’ll be working on The Glass Crown again! I’m incredibly excited.

I spent yesterday before work writing in the last issue of Steven. It’s half done, and I’ve got the last chapter of the last issue rattling around in my head. I’ve also posted more of Steven’s Book 2 on the Short Fiction page, so feel free to stop by and eat up that chapter. :) I had so much fun developing Blaize from Steven’s prodigy to a mentor in her own right… and she really rose to the challenge.

Steven’s page: http://steven.davidmcrampton.com/
Short fiction page: http://www.davidmcrampton.com/fiction.php

I hope to finish Steven entirely on my lunch/dinner break tonight. I’m going to give the sequel a shot as my main project afterward, which I know at least a few of you will be happy about.

Any tips for me on how to write with distraction? Up until now, I’ve needed to sequester myself with headphones, and derail pretty easily when interrupted, either from outside sources or my own need to look at shiny things. Being a Dad figure for kids is going to necessitate an ability to write amidst chaos, I’m thinking. :) So, any advice would be very helpful.

Book 2 of Steven continues as Steven makes his way to Detroit. I’ll probably put up the next chapter later this week, as I’ve been lax in getting them up regularly. Check it out over here.

I know that lack of feedback is a normal issue with people who write… when it’s good, there’s nothing to complain about, I guess. However, I’m wondering how to find out if people are reading the stuff I’m putting out there – if it’s useful to have out there – without asking in a whiny, nasal voice. I guess this sort of qualifies as asking, doesn’t it?

I’m feeling a ton better today than I have in weeks. I’m pretty sure that I’m leaving, or have left, the mono behind. I need to make sure that I’m still getting a decent amount of sleep as I’m packing and such, but I can’t wait to reschedule my sleep test and get the CPAP. Being more awake, I’m hoping, will allow me to concentrate better while writing. I have to remember – it’s okay to suck. That’s what first drafts are for.

The end of Steven isn’t about Steven, shockingly enough. Well, the -very- end will be. I finished the fiction for Issue 23 on my lunch break today – Chen’s Chinese FTW. I’m still kind of frustrated with the small number of words that are hitting the page, but at least I’m finally happy with their quality. I’ve not seen many comic books have defined endings that run much longer than six issues. This one, which is planned for 24, has time for a little bit of angst. The assassin discovers that he has killed his own brethren, but does it matter? Who has sent him? Does it matter?

I am very happy with how the end of this story is flowing into the beginning of the next. There never really is a beginning or an end, is there? :) One story always seems to flow into the next and into the next.

Issue Progress:

I’ve updated the writery website with the new issue count for Steven. Over 90%!

I can’t believe that I’m so close to getting this fiction written. And, as promised, I have posted the first segment of the fiction behind Book 2. This story arc begins with Steven waking from the fogs after his most recent death. The next installment, Blood Rite, will bring back Blaize and the woman that barely escaped the fire in Steven’s loft. As always, parental guidance is suggested, adult themes, etc., park bench. Input is appreciated and requested.