I’m writing a quick update for anybody who checks out this blog regularly. If I don’t post something here every few months I feel I’m cheating the die-hard fans out there who occasionally send me email as they patiently await for the sequel to Slaughter Disc. While I have routinely learned to never say never, I can practically guarantee there will never be a sequel to in terms of a motion picture. If I am successful writing this first novel – and it certainly seems like I’m doing so -then I will eventually write a novelization which deals with the events surrounding the origins of Andromeda Strange, however it will be based more on the original short story I wrote way the fuck back in high school. The tale will be called Strange Vengeance and it will be bloodier and more graphic than a sequel, or my original film, could ever hope to be.
But enough on that for now. I am happy to announce that I have passed the 100 page mark while writing the first draft of Shady Palms. As I have stated numerous times before, my free time is few and far between lately, so I typically only get a few days a month to work on it. If I could devote my time solely to writing, I would have probably been wrapping up the final draft of the novel rather than patting myself on the back for achieving another small mile-marker.
I think most all aspiring writers have their own personal roadblocks they have to overcome when crafting a story. For me it’s the 100 page mark. When I started writing years ago, I would be happy with the occasional short story that ran 40-60 pages long. Then when I started writing screenplays, most were around 90-100 pages until I tackled Redress, which is currently sitting around 135 pages and desperately in need of a final review.
As I cross the 100 page mark, I’m actually at 111 pages as of this blog post, I think the story is exactly where it needs to be. My main characters are defined, the intrigue is in the air, key plot points are set in motion and the blood is spraying across the walls ever so often. When it comes to drawing from the original source material, I’m about halfway through the old screenplay and I’m staring at page #7 of my 14 page treatment. All signs point to the middle of the story, but I know there is more to this story to tell.
If you’ll excuse me, I’ll get back to writing the story for you…you’re really going to love this when I’m done.
Posted in: Shady Palms, Strange Vengeance.
Tagged: Bedbugs · Cheap Motels · Creative Writing · Horror Novel · Sequels
Jun 26th, 2010
by Dave Q.
I have crossed another mile stone while penning this first draft of Shady Palms. I am happy to say that I have completed the second part of the book and added another 12,000 words to the manuscript!
Tentatively Part Two of the Story is entitled “Furlough” as it deals with a new main character and her release to work at the Shady Palms as part of a crooked work furlough program. In the original screenplay I had hinted at some of the struggles this character had been challenged with through her life but not I have the liberty to explain things a little more and flesh out my characters motivations a little more.
As of right now, I have written approximately 1/3 of the story. In the end I think I will have a total of five parts in the book, each one dealing with a specific time frame in the story. As I look back at the original screenplay and look forward to the development of the characters in the novel, I have often found myself using the former work as a skeleton to build the muscle of the story on.
As I conducted research on radioactive materials used for medical treatments, I found that I would have to go back and tweak parts of the story so they were clinically correct. I have also been spending tome researching the long term effects of radiation on a quarantined zone in Chernobyl. At first I was just looking for hideous photos of genetic mutations of people and animals but I ended up coming across information at was a great benefit. As I had discovered, fallout from the Chernobyl Accident, not only caused thousands of cancer cases, it may have also grossly mutated insects in the fallout zone. Some people still debate this, but scientific evidence points to the fact most of these mutations were caused directly by exposure to ionizing radiation. I was thrilled as I consumed all of the information I could on the subject. After all, I am writing a story about killer bedbugs mutated by radiation.
I am greatly appreciate the words of encouragement some of you have been sending me. I am trying to add a few thousand words every week to the story. Thanks to the fact I have some extended time off this summer, I am finding that I have more time to spend working on the novel. At times I am extremely optimistic about my progress. I may even complete my first draft ahead of schedule…that is if I don’t suffer a hard drive crash or a FarmVille relapse.
Posted in: Shady Palms.
Tagged: Bedbugs · Cheap Motels · Creative Writing · Horror Novel
