Many of my best stories started out as accidents. I would be messing around with words and ideas for no real purpose when out of nowhere a complete story would blossom in my mind—plot, characters, and all. In the case of M: The Plastic Prometheus, it turned out to be an entire novel. Earlier this … Continue reading A Spontaneous Novella
Building a Mythos
For years, I’ve wanted to tell stories that have different exteriors yet share a common thread. They could take place in the past, future, or present. Set on Earth or in a world far different than ours. They could span the spectrum of speculative fiction. Yet all these stories would be interconnected, taking place in … Continue reading Building a Mythos
A Detour into Fantasy
I’m entering the fifth month of my new obsession with science fiction and fantasy (SFF). Last month, I focused solely on sci-fi. The genre is somewhat new to me, and I wanted to build a foundation by reading the classics and penning some stories. April, however, has been all about fantasy. I read some great … Continue reading A Detour into Fantasy
My First Steps as a Sci-Fi Writer
It was a gamble veering off into a new genre after writing horror all these years, but I am so glad I made that choice. Science fiction is fast becoming my new obsession, with so many ideas flooding in and so much to explore. I was worried in last month’s post that I would quickly … Continue reading My First Steps as a Sci-Fi Writer
The Next Chapter
With my novel finished, I’m ready for the next chapter of my writing journey. But what to do? I love this freedom, a thousand directions I could go in. After much thought, I’ve decided to get back into writing short stories before I start another long project, but not necessarily horror. Before I go any … Continue reading The Next Chapter
My Novel Graveyard
I have trouble finishing long writing projects, which is why it felt so great to complete the final edits of my latest novel last week. First drafts take me no more than a couple months to write. I’m in the zone, obsessed with the words I’m putting on the page. The problem comes later. I’ll … Continue reading My Novel Graveyard
Finishing a Novel
The last time I completed the final edits of a novel was back in 2018. The book was called Snap. It was my first long submission and received several polite rejections. A couple years later, I submitted a novella called The Preposterous Theater, which was deservedly rejected. Now my novel M: The Plastic Prometheus has … Continue reading Finishing a Novel
What I Read – December 2023
I’ve been immersing myself in good horror as I finish the final edits of my novel. Two of the books below are Bram Stoker Award recipients. I also focused on reading gothic literature so I could get a better understanding of its pacing and atmosphere. December is my month for reading longer books. Around then, … Continue reading What I Read – December 2023
Resolutions 2024 + Top 10 Books
This was a productive year. While I didn’t accomplish everything I set out to do, I progressed as a writer, reader, and person. I read some great books, worked on projects that I’m proud of, and even added a little bit to my bibliography. I attended two conventions that inspired the heck out of me, … Continue reading Resolutions 2024 + Top 10 Books
My Novel’s Homestretch
This month has been an editing marathon. My goal was to finish the edits for my gothic horror novel by the end of December. I’ve halted all my other projects to do so. However, despite my efforts, it might seep into the beginning of January. Via Wikimedia Commons What Needs to Be Done My editor … Continue reading My Novel’s Homestretch
Zé Burns | Blog 