Kenn Ghannon: Blog

I know it's been a few weeks since I've posted anything; don't worry, I'm still writing but the holidays are for family so I've been spending quite some time with mine. I did, however, want to give you some news on my efforts.

I'm a mercurial writer -- it means I write things as I feel them. Even when I don't really care for what I'm writing, I still write -- I wonder, sometimes, if I don't suffer from some strange form of OCD since there are times I don't WANT to write and I just can't help myself.

"Ring of Command" -- I started writing this 2 years ago. I wrote 11.5 chapters before I put it aside. I finished up chapter 12 and started posting it (proof-reading one final time before sending it over the ether to SOL) a chapter at a time. When I finished chapter 12, I was elated and thought I'd really start writing this again in my spare time -- and I haven't. I will, however. It's just a matter of finding the time. Meanwhile, I'll likely post another chapter very soon (maybe today!) and then start stretching that out a bit until I write the next chapter. I don't want to run out of buffer...

"Mirror" -- I'm about half way through chapter 13 (and my editors are beginning to fear I've abandoned it) and I've run into some conceptual issues that caused me to re-think some of what I'm doing. Luckily, I've come up with some solutions using two characters that were meant to be more-or-less throwaway characters and I'm implementing that now -- it doesn't require ANY re-write (thankfully) but it does mean I have to adjust my chapter plans a bit.

"Beautiful 2" -- When I posted 'Beautiful' I received a very large number of e-mails that were disappointed that I hadn't carried David's character to a happy ending. I never intended to actually write a 'sequel' but some of the e-mails got me thinking and before I knew it the sequel had invaded my mind. I'm about 11 pages into it, writing piecemeal which is never good, but remarkably it IS coming along. Even more remarkable, I was able to pick David's character up after a long hiatus -- something I didn't think I'd be able to do. So, expect this when it's finished (no timetable).

"Not Enough" sequel -- I've got the basic outline but...Marc's character is very difficult for me to write. I really need to be in a dark place to do it and, at the moment, I've actually been quite content for my life. You wouldn't think Marc was a dark character but there is a certain ruthlessness and drive to him that I just don't share. I need to invade his mind and I haven't been able to do that. THERE WILL be a sequel...it's just going to take a little while.

There are other stories in my hopper in all manner of states from outlined to partially written. Some will never see the light of day and others are just waiting their turn. Hopefully, I can share them with you soon.

For now, though, I hope that all of you have a very happy and prosperous New Year.

I'm a little amazed at all of the feedback I received for Chapter 1 of 'Ring of Command'. It wasn't all positive but the negative was all constructive -- and none of it contained the death threats I'm so used to receiving (I kid!).

My plan was to post a chapter every 2-4 weeks depending on the amount of time I had but...I'm going to strike while the iron is hot. So, I hope you enjoy the second chapter...

No, I don't have ADHD -- at least, I don't think I do. However, when I'm writing a longer story occasionally I'll find a chapter or two in the middle which are basically "housekeeping" chapters -- chapters where the story is moving the plot forward by working through background stuff. It's not very exciting in an of itself but its necessary to get from point A to point B. When I get to such a chapter (or two) I start to "lose interest" -- meaning, I stop writing it for a bit to better coalesce the chapters in my head and to try to find a way to make them more exciting. I've come to that in my Mirrors story -- a place that is absolutely necessary but not really exciting. I've been stuck on it for about 2 months now (I'm sure my editors, bless their hearts, have pretty much given up on me -- but I have made some headway!!) and I'm still not entirely sure how to best increase the pace of this chapter. Sometimes, I hate writing...but I have to write, so...

That leads us into what I do when I get to that point. Sometimes, I just don't write. Others, I'll start going through some stories in my queue and either flesh them out or start writing them. That happened to me last year, actually -- and I started writing a story that I'd been meaning to work on for a while. I've added a chapter lately and I think I'm going to post it -- BEFORE ITS FINISHED -- and then just post more when I feel like it.

I hit a point last year where I was interested in mind control stories. I've read some really good ones but most in that genre are just...horrible. Unbelievable to the point that I couldn't suspend my disbelief long enough to get into the story. I decided to try my hand at it -- try to make it to the point where it wasn't completely unbelievable. Did I succeed? I kind of doubt it but I'll let you be the judge.

...and with that disclaimer (sort of), may I humbly present Chapter 1 of "Ring of Command"...

So, I only received two responses to my previous post (and they were votes for two different stories!) so I've decided that I'm just not going to post any of them. I keep riding between the two extremes of not wanting to post incomplete works and being so excited about some of the things I'm writing (they're all good in my head, anyway) that I want to share it with everyone even before it's complete.

Now lately, the 'wait until it's done' has been winning because I've had some severe writer's block (as well as a few too many things outstanding on the 'honey do' list) and haven't written ANYTHING. I asked a friend of mine (who's a professional columnist for a technical magazine who writes an article EVERY month) what he does for writer's block. His answer surprised me...he told me he writes CONSTANTLY. He sets aside so many hours of his day and writes -- doesn't matter if its good or bad, he forces himself to write and then comes back and edits it until he can stand it.

So...that's the mode I'm in now...wish me luck.

I'm not sure if any other author has this happen to them but I find that sometimes I need to just back off a story for a bit. Nothing serious, just step away and work on another story for a day or so until the next part of my primary story comes into better focus.

My problem is that I have far too many in my hopper. Which one do I work on? I've got some with many chapters already written, others with less and some that are nothing more than a brief One Note about an idea I had maybe 4 or 5 years ago.

So, I've actually been kind of working on three when I need a break from "Mirror". I thought I'd share them here because I was thinking about posting a chapter or two of one of them which would force me to write it when taking a break so I could get another chapter to post...but which one? So, I'm going to leave it up to you. Send me an e-mail with your choice and on August 17th, I'll tally them all up and post chapter 1/Prologue of the story you've collectively chosen (if any...maybe I won't get any votes!). Then, as I get more written, I'll post/update the new chapter -- no schedule, mind you, just as it gets written. {"Mirror", of course, is going to get most of my attention but I definitely won't post that one until it's finished -- it's just too intricate}

1) "Unexpected Results": A story about a 13 year old (at the beginning of the story) who learns that he is a Psion -- a person with vast psionic power(s). This story follows him as he meets a family who helps teach him what he is and what he can do as he works to fit in their society while juggling the "normal" world. [Codes so far: mf mF MF inc mom son bro sis mc]

2) "A New Life": Jonathon's brother Chris lost more than the use of his legs to an IED, he lost his ability to have sex and make babies as well. Chris and his wife Charlene want children, though, so they come up with an interesting solution -- have Jonathon father a baby with Charlene. The question leads to some interesting problems for Jonathon. [Codes so far: mf mF inc bro sis in-law]

3) "College: Freshman": Quinn's father was a master carpenter and all-around handyman -- he flipped houses for a living through a construction company he partnered with his brother Mark on. From age 10, Quinn would join his father on the job during the summer, learning his father's craft. Unfortunately, Quinn's parents have died in a tragic car accident, leaving Quinn and his sister to live with Uncle Mark and Aunt Brenda. Now in his first year of college, Quinn has convinced his Uncle to buy an apartment complex in the college town and renovate it. Follow him as he works his way through college -- and many ladies along the way. {This particular story is mostly background right now; I know little about construction/demolition and have done a fair amount of investigation without writing a lot...therefore, no codes for now}

So, it's up to you. Take your pick, e-mail me, and let me know which one interests you more! :)