Writer’s Shop Talk: My Productive Writer’s Monday

Seamlessly Weaving Fiction: A Day of Creative Triumphs

Late Morning, Tuesday, December 3, 2024, Miami, Florida

Yesterday was a fantastic day for writing. Not only did I manage to craft my daily blog post – an after-action report of a session of Sea Power: Naval Combat in the Missile Age, written in the style of a magazine article – but I also completed the third scene in the 21st chapter of Reunion: Coda. Essentially, I wrote two different works of fiction, each with its distinct tone and genre, all in one day. I’ve never done that before, so… go me!

Though both projects were significant, Scene Three of Chapter 21 is the most important. While I thoroughly enjoy gaming and creating short technothrillers from my after-action reports of Sea Power, my novel remains my true passion project.

Honestly, I didn’t think I’d be able to produce that scene, considering that I spent several hours crafting that “alternative history” Time magazine article based on my last playthrough of Sea Power’s version of CVBG Norwegian Sea. As I mulled over my afternoon work plans during lunch, I figured the most I could accomplish was writing an outline for Scene Three and leaving the actual scene writing for today. But sometimes, inspiration strikes like a bolt of lightning, and before I knew it, the words flowed effortlessly onto the page.

It helped that I chose to write the scene as a news story on the WABC website instead of the usual first-person POV I use when I tell Jim Garraty’s tale. Writing the scene as a simulated news story allowed me to advance the plot uniquely and engagingly.  Using this format, I could present details and perspectives that Jim, as a character, wouldn’t logically know or be able to share with the reader.

The news story structure also provided a sense of immediacy and realism, drawing readers into the unfolding events as though they were happening in real time. It offered an omniscient viewpoint that broadened the narrative scope, delivering crucial information and context that would otherwise be challenging to incorporate through Jim’s limited perspective.

This method proved especially effective for revealing background information, political motives, and the broader implications of the characters’ actions. By stepping outside Jim’s viewpoint, I could enrich the story’s world-building and deepen readers’ understanding of the complexities at play, all while maintaining a riveting and dynamic narrative flow.

It also helped that I was already in “fictional journalism” mode, given my earlier write-up about CVBG Norwegian Sea, crafted in a similar style.

I’m not entirely sure what today’s afternoon session will bring. Experience has taught me never to expect to write a new scene immediately after finishing another. Still, one can always hope for inspiration to strike twice in the same place, right?