B.R. Black

Thriller and Horror writer

Tag: Wound

  • New words vs. old words

    New words vs. old words

    I’ve been having trouble deciding if I want to just add a bunch of new words to my revision of Wound or make sweeping adjustments and changes to the words I already have. Logistically, there is little difference between the two, but somehow when I’m working on each episode, it feels like night and day.

    One of my smaller characters, Armond, entered and left the story in a way I didn’t predict and as I continued into Seasons 2 and 3, I always regretted how we left things. It was like a mutual break-up, but one where nothing was resolved and each party just decided not to fight anymore. The pain has lessened but there is no satisfaction.

    And if I wasn’t feeling satisfied as the writer, I can be sure my readers weren’t either.

    When I came back to season 1, I wanted to give Armond more sense of being part of the group and not just an aside character. He felt outside the main group – and while group dynamics always produce an in-group and an out-group, I didn’t feel like I’d establish relationships and boundaries to make that apparent. It was only the first episode, and my mind was on Bev.

    Technically, it was on Jake. I always start with a character when I write a story. Whether it’s something they said, or some weird situation they’ve gotten themselves into. The first sentence of a story draft usually starts something like, “John Doe spat out his cigarette as he failed to strangle the duck.”

    (quietly puts that sentence into the idea box)

    Unless it’s dialogue, then I start with that. I don’t necessarily want to start in media res or in the middle of the action, but more interestingly, I want to start in the middle of a thought.

    Next time, I think I’ll talk about why that’s a mistake and setting description is more important at the very start. See you then.

    Thanks! – B.

    swish (⊃｡•́‿•̀｡)⊃━⭑･ﾟﾟ･:༅｡.｡༅:ﾟ:*:✼✿

  • Who are you, again?

    Who are you, again?

    One of the things that’s most surprising about my total revision of Wound series, is how much I know about my characters by now, but how little I knew about them at the early stages. I think this is typical when you write a character-driven story. If you’re not letting them move the plot along and show who they are, then you’re not doing it right.

    That’s not to say a good character profile is wasted effort and makes for arc-less characterization. It doesn’t, unless you stick to it. I have shied away from trying to flesh out my characters before they do anything, but at some point, you gotta write stuff down.

    I’ve shown a few of the picrew images I use (I’ll be commissioning original artwork soon – you can send me recs on Instagram) but while I was revising the first chapter I realized so much about Bev has changed (or has been discovered) since that first moment.

    For one thing, I finally know what color her Jeep is.

    This seems like a little matter, like it’s inconsequential, but once I realized that she and Carol had similar tastes in cars (at least in color and power) that uncovered a connection between the two women that only enhances their abrasion and tension.

    And I only discovered the car thing because I needed to start writing stuff down in a character profile. I’m so glad I waited until now to do it.

    Picking out a birthday, or an occupation without actually seeing how they act and what their personality is like, seems like procrastinating (something I have a lot of experience in). But I had some definite continuity issues in the first go-around with Wound that I want to correct.

    But it also meant I didn’t pick up on those connections (“oh, you like red cars too, I see”) that could have added depth and richness to the overall story. Connections between characters also increases the stakes when terrible things happen to them.

    I’ve nearly finished episode 1. I’m taking my time at the starting gate with this revision (and I am restarting the Swamp Story series this month as well, so busy!). Check back every week or so to find out what I’ve uncovered next.

    Thanks! – B.

    *swish* (⊃｡•́‿•̀｡)⊃━⭑･ﾟﾟ･*:༅｡.｡༅:*ﾟ:*:✼✿

  • A Change of Seasons

    I think it’s shows real growth when you’re ready to say, I’m done.

    Since 2021, with the start of Kindle Vella, I’ve been haphazardly posting my horror serial, Wound, with the weird name and ensemble cast, I kind of fell in love with this bunch of rascals and tried to throw as much mayhem their way as I could think of.

    Over time it’s become apparent that my love has not been shared.

    Not necessarily because of a defect in my story, writing, or characters–though those things certainly exist–but because I was never consistent nor persistent enough to find traction on the platform and I allowed myself to go through waves of discouragement instead of putting my head down and plowing through.

    It didn’t help that every time I went to the main Vella page I always saw the same one or two stories sitting atop the #1 spot.

    I’ve already written about my issues with the platform, but I’m not suggesting that that’s the reason Wound never really found an audience. That lies mostly with me (I say mostly because no matter how much advertising or consistent posting I could muster, people’s choices are out of my hands). So, in the desire to move forward to other projects, I’m ending Wound at the end of Season three.

    I know, I know. I can sense your disappointment.

    I’m disappointed, too, but I have found that I don’t have the energy to sustain 25 additional episodes after this fall. Seventy five is a good number to go out on.

    Will there be more adventures for Paul, Carol, and Bev? Will Blake ever fully realize his power? Where’s Darlene? I’m prepared to answer (most) of those questions, if anyone’s asking.

    I reserve the right head back to Franklin, Wyoming at some further date, because we all know, the dead aren’t always dead.

    Stay tuned to hear about my next project(s) – a revamp of my other Kindle Vella series and a new thriller novella series.

  • The Long Game

    I’m more of a completionist than a loyalist and my time on the Kindle Vella platform reinforces that idea. I’ve not had a lot of traction there, since I don’t write spicy romance. Also, my vampires (aside from Paul) aren’t all that sexy and really could use a good killing, not kissing.

    So, while I believe there is a healthy horror library of stories on there, I don’t seem to be part of it. And that’s OKAY!

    I will still be publishing the last two seasons of Wound on Vella first.

    It’s about completing the task and while it’s not necessarily the best thing for me to be focusing on now (with all the other projects I’m juggling), it feels good to be with these characters and make their lives horrible.

    My goal is to end Season 4 right around Halloween this year. That will be the end of the story.

    I’ll take two months off (to work on other things) and then revise all four seasons into novellas and then releasing them with a bonus prequel – Season 0.

    Don’t ask me what happens there, it’s full of secrets.

    I’m not sure what to do with the “Extras” so far. When I get a hint of back story, or side story, that compels me, I’ll write a short piece and then put it aside.

    One of the stories is about Mrs. Collins separation from her husband. The other is a nice story about the twins. The Collins family intrigues me since it’s so different from my own.

    Anyway, I’ll let you know if any other tidbits come to mind. I’m writing this blog post while episode 6 cooks in the back of my brain oven.

    In the meantime, episode 5 is written and will be uploaded later today.

    You can also follow my writing progress on NaNoWriMo.

    *swish* (⊃｡•́‿•̀｡)⊃━⭑･ﾟﾟ･*:༅｡.｡༅:*ﾟ:*:✼✿

  • Dear Kindle Vella: It’s not you, it’s me.

    One of the first decisions I made this year (aside from my “Late Start” post) was to remove myself from Kindle Vella and admit that it’s not the right platform for me. I enjoy writing serial fiction. I loved discovery writing with it and coming up with interesting cliffhangers in each episode. The problem is that to make the platform viable, I need to be a much more consistent writer. And more prolific.

    Perhaps I need to be a better writer, as well, with a better idea.

    When I first started, I was surprised by the bonuses Amazon handed out, and for a couple of months, it felt like I was really earning some money with my writing. But I still didn’t keep up with the pace and found that with each episode that went without comments or feedback, without a sense of people actually reading my story, the little bit of bonus money wasn’t enough to keep me writing. I may have dreams of supporting myself with my writing, but money has never been the motivator for me. 

    I’m like an old Chevy in the winter, hard to start, but put me at the top of a hill and I’ll keep going.

    So, my specific goals for January are: Getting the first Season of Wound revised and extended a bit to be published as the first novella in the series. Finishing up Art History and getting that ready to be published as well, because the sequel, Lacrossed Lovers is just itching to be written. Both of those titles will be released on Kindle Unlimited (at least at first). I’d like to finish up a couple of short stories and post here, and I need to hop into my new weekly flash fiction as well (I’m adding another tier just for that. Stay tuned!)

    I have no idea what I’m going to do with Just a Blue Moon Phase. I like some of the characters, but first-person present is not something I enjoy writing.

    In other words, I’m trying to align my practical goals with my year-long theme of “FINISHING!” I’m even writing this blog post nearly a week early! Go me!

    How do you take your big ideas and break them down into workable goals? I could use all the suggestions!

    *swish* (⊃｡•́‿•̀｡)⊃━⭑･ﾟﾟ･\*:༅｡.｡༅:\*ﾟ:\*:✼✿